Visual Truth: A Series on the Honesty of ArtPart 1In 2005 Stephen Colbert coined the word “truthiness” and it still mischievously pops into my head when I witness discussions where no real facts seem important. As an art therapist I probably honor intuition and perception as much as anyone so it might seem a little incongruous…
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Claudia Escareño-Clark shares some reflections on her group work experience during practicum at Southwestern College. …
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In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that I am a film geek and child of the 80s. Bear with me.
That moment comes when you've been in grad school so long that you don't see how the training you are receiving has anything to do with working with clients. Perhaps that is…
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I don’t think that anyone explores the shades of grey better than art therapists. Okay, not the 50 shades within the popular book and movie, but the uncomfortable place between black and white thoughts and beliefs. I’m embarrassed to admit that I gave up on reading the 50 shades book because I was so annoyed…
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As I venture into another quarter here at Southwestern College I am having a difficult time figuring out where I will eventually fit in. I am currently entrenched in the theories and perspectives we are learning in family counseling, and though it may be called family counseling, I cannot separate some of the issues I…
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SWC’s Conscious Entrepreneurship Initiative will be hosting a workshop on February 7th on getting your WordPress site up and running. No experience is required, and you’ll be able to leave the workshop with at least a basic page set up. I say basic because you’ll probably want to spend hours afterward fine-tuning it. But there…
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Learning to Lose: The Freedom in Failure by Claudia Escareño-Clark
Have you ever heard the question, “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” A while ago I fell down a self-help/find your passion rabbit hole where questions like these were supposed to somehow propel us into finding our dreams. I would like to…
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Claudia Escareño-Clark explores the impact that assimilation and being an immigrant have had and how this will impact her work with clients. …
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What I have learned at Southwestern College is that each quarter brings with it new experiences. Sometimes they are wrapped in neat little packages with cute little bows, and sometimes whatever I receive I’d like to send back and pretend it was addressed to someone else. That being said, sometimes the most painful experiences lead…
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As graduate assistants at Southwestern College we get to do a variety of tasks, depending on our strengths and interests. While doing social media and blogging, I came up with the idea last fall to do a series of videos. What I realized is that while I was fortunate enough to already be living…
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"You will gain a second family that is much like your own . . . silly, funny, supportive, loving, beautiful, and special." - Krystle Cardoza
Most Southwestern students are not locals. Several of us made the move from New England states, others from Florida, and some even from as far as Alaska. For many, myself…
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"My clients are the best of my teachers, and I am forever grateful to them." - Karen Wennberg
A few months after graduation, I worked up the courage to take a job offer serving a population that is often avoided and forgotten by society. Addiction brings individuals affected to a place where there is little…
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“Beautiful Girl” by Claudia Escareño-Clark and Gabby Valdez
Gabby's Reflections:
My assignment for my Multicultural class was to pick a topic “Outside of my Comfort Zone” pertaining to a cultural view. I chose to make a film documentary, which took much discerning to make public, about body image. In seeing the final cut, it was such…
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