Introducing Kaori, our newest therapist
We are so excited to introduce Kaori Wander, the newest member of our team. She brings impactful and complementary therapeutic approaches and experiences to Mezamé, in addition to the same passion and empathy that we find in all of our team members. Kaori (she/they) is certified in Brainspotting, EMDR art therapy, Resilient Heart™ Heart Math, Emotion Focused Therapy, DBT and Reiki. She is committed to a harm reductionist, decolonizing and relational practice.
I had a chance to chat with Kaori about what inspired her to become a therapist, and how she uses art therapy as one approach to working with clients. In future posts, we’ll share more about Kaori’s insights from Brainspotting, Resilient Heart, and more! Please note: Kaori is available for consultations on Tuesdays and Thursdays in July, and will start seeing clients for regular sessions from July 30.
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Why did you decide to become a therapist?
I’ve witnessed generational trauma in my own family, and in observing the world around me, I see the suffering that’s embedded in so many of our systems—like our schools, social trends and holidays, workplaces and how we standardize ‘success’. Ever since I was a kid, I was curious and hungry for answers to the suffering: why do people have to suffer? Are we really stranded? And coming home to my family, the questions weighed even heavier—am I really stranded with this feeling for the rest of my life?
I then started to realize that joy is a choice, and each of us has a choice to find and experience joy. When I learned what therapy was, it became an instinctual pursuit as my “work”—it is my life purpose. Being a therapist, and getting to explore these concepts, answers so many questions for me, and raises so many more—I am continuously learning and growing, too.
Why did you decide to focus on art therapy as one of your approaches?
I moved between Japan, England and the Philippines growing up and as a kid, really struggled to make sense of cultural and language differences. Art was the first language that crossed these cultural bounds for me. I found in art a common place where I could get along with people of so many different languages, religions, and backgrounds. I decided to attend art school to study and explore how art draws people together. Since art has always been my liberation from the rigid systems everywhere else, I couldn’t imagine doing anything long-term other than art therapy.
How do you explain art therapy to someone who’s not familiar with it?
Art therapy invites the third hand: art. I believe that creativity is an infinite space that we all hold. Infinite possibilities of where we can take our life are in this space. Art therapy is a practice to accessing this space more. As we make art about our experiences, feelings and ideas, we can start to differentiate the Self (who we really are) versus what we’re going through (our responses to the world). Art allows us to witness. When we can’t seem to create as fluidly—“creativity blocks”—there most likely is some sort of a traffic jam in our heart. We can’t talk our way out of the blocks, but we can create little by little to invite flow. Sometimes, part of the ‘block’ starts with our own assumption that we aren’t necessarily making “art,” when we are.
What can a client expect in art therapy sessions with you?
I invite people to bring in any materials, references, tools they feel most drawn to for each session. What is fun about virtual sessions is that we’re more likely to be able to incorporate our personal items into our session, since clients are usually attending from their own space. For in-person sessions, clients are welcome to bring in their sacred items and art materials; I also have sensory items and art materials available.
There’s no right or wrong way to prepare as long as you stay well hydrated, and set an intention.
Who is art therapy right for? Is it better to be good at art?
I believe everyone is an artist, born with the ability to imagine and visualize. For some people, “making art” can be a literal process of building something tangible. For others, it is an internal creative process, or dream-based. The art experience can look differently each week, or we might have our favorite material. The journey belongs to each client, and the approach is something we determine together.