Why this Rx?

I was inspired to create this prescription - The Rx Project - because I realized that by neglecting my passions and creative outlets (photography and writing being two major ones), that my mental health was suffering (to learn more about my personal experience with mental health, see About Me). Over many years, I have come to see the strong correlation between my creative output and mental health, and how they ebb and flow together. I also participated in two transformative experiences (described below) that reinforced this connection. These experiences showed me the power of being vulnerable through art, and the healing that can occur when we allow our stories to be shared in safe spaces, rather than keeping them buried within ourselves. Driven by these experiences, I began questioning whether the traditional, Western approach to mental health and wellness (one largely focused on psychological counselling within the context of a clinical practice, coupled with pharmaceuticals) could be challenged with an alternative approach to healing.

It is important to recognize the value that all therapies can have in creating positive change in our lives. The Rx Project is not a replacement for medication or professional support. However, I wanted to create this project as a way of recognizing the holistic nature of humans - to acknowledge that there is healing in creation - and that this work can complement a "real" Rx in meaningful ways.

Art Therapy

In Summer 2018, my friend Roseanne moved from Canada to Dubai. I took this picture the last time I saw her, when the sky was hazy from forest fire smoke blanketing the sky. Shortly before Roseanne left Canada, she sat with me and guided me through a spontaneous art therapy session. What began as afternoon tea and scones turned into something much deeper.

As I allowed my pencil crayon to move freely about the page, an external representation of what I was experiencing internally, I found that the act of creating art helped provide a launching-off point to explore my thoughts and feelings. Sometimes I have been at a loss for words, or unsure of how to speak about what I am going through. I realized that art therapy might be one way to build a bridge for communication. I began by talking about the process of creating the drawing, but this shifted into talking about my broader experience and I began to make connections to my life beyond the session itself. This type of therapy resonated with me, and I wanted The Rx Project to reflect that.

Sharing Circles

More recently, in April 2019, I was invited to a two-day retreat in Banff, Alberta hosted by IndigeSTEAM. On the second day, our group (of approximately 25 people) spontaneously entered into a circle and the facilitator set the stage for what became a full day of sharing very personal journeys, which is based on Indigenous traditions and ceremony. The fact that this experience and the art therapy were both spontaneous is not lost on me. I wouldn't describe myself as a spontaneous person, and can struggle with anxiety both in the absence of a plan as well as when things do not go according to plan. However, seeing that two unplanned activities resulted in significant positive shifts for me demonstrates that there is great value in opening ourselves to paths unknown and unseen.

The sharing circle allowed each person, in turn, to share whatever they felt comfortable with - the prompt had merely been to share what had brought us to that space, working in STEM education. The stories we shared were filled with pain, with laughter, with real emotion and real challenges. Everyone cried. Some of the things I brought into that circle are moments from my past that I experience deep shame about. And yet, for some reason, very rapidly in that space I felt that there was safety and a suspension of all judgement. The experience was more cathartic and healing than countless therapy sessions stacked together, and I felt real connection that was healing.

Into The Rx Project I wanted to bring the essence of creating something physical (artistic) derived from the art therapy, and the sense of community and storytelling that came out of the sharing circle. These elements were so powerful to me that I knew I wanted to build something that would capture the healing that can come from these types of experiences. I was surprised with both the art therapy and the sharing circle how quickly I was able to move into a more open headspace with an open heart for processing my emotions and working towards learning from them, rather than getting stalled or swallowed by the intensity of feeling. My hope is that The Rx Project will similarly provide an easy and accessible path that immediately welcomes people into creating, sharing, and experiencing growth.

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