Mailart Postcards

I have been making a lot of postcards lately because of the workshop that I am teaching for 6 Degrees of Creativity.  So, I wanted to show you guys some of what I have made:

If you want to check out 6 Degrees of Creativity, or Sing up for the workshops, click this link!!

Memorial Day at the Office

Since I work for Veteran's Services, we decorated the office and did an art therapy project for Memorial Day.  We put out flags and pinwheels along our entry way:

And we got people to make a Memorial Day Garland.  I had pre-cut stars (stars are surprisingly hard for people to draw) and we invited staff, faculty, and students to write the name of someone they wanted to remember or to write a message of thanks.

Here is a picture of the finished product:

It wasnt a huge thing we did, but it was a nice way to remember those we have lost.  We are going to keep it up too!

6 Degrees of Creativity Registration is now open!

I recently told you that I am an instructor for this years 6 Degrees of Creativity class!  If you sign up you get four different workshops by 4 lovely art therapists!

Want to sign up for these awesome workshops?  Of course you do!! Click here to view more details

ACA Conference

In March I got to go to the American Counseling Association Conference in Orlando, FL.  My Journey started at DFW where I found this art in the terminal:

I was absolutely LOVING the weather in Orlando because it was so nice - much warmer than Texas, but not yet hot.

At the ACA Expo the Association for Creativity in Counseling hand an art activity for us to do.  We used alcohol inks on the back of dominoes to make cool, one of a kind, magnets:

Here is the table when I made my domino:

Here is what I purchased at the Expo... a chart to explain feelings.  This will be (and already has been) useful for working with my clients, and it looks like an artists pallet so that is a plus!  The cards at the bottom are a deck with therapy exercises/directives.  I also got it for help working with clients.

A sink mirror selfie... I was very glad that I had this belt bag because carrying around a back on my shoulder all day was making my arm hurt!

One of the best things about the conference was finding out about the Military and Government Counseling Association and meeting other people who work with military and veterans!

After the conference was over, before I went home, my awesome best friend came to get me and took me to Downtown Disney.

We had lunch at Bongos - a Cuban restaurant - and it was delicious! 

Here I am with my awesome best friend:

It was great seeing her again after 6 months!!  I really enjoyed this conference, but it certainly did keep me busy 7am until about 10 or 11pm each night!!  I learned a lot and I even signed up for next year which is going to be in Montreal!  It will be my first trip to Canada and I am really hoping that I can take a few days before/after so that I can explore the city!

6 Degrees of Creativity Workshops

Hello friends!  I am very excited to announce to you that I will be an instructor for this summer's 6 Degrees of Creativity Workshops!

If you follow this link you can read more about the other instructors and I, and some about the workshops!  More information to follow in the coming weeks!

My New Job

I was asked "what is your job at the college?" by one of my lovely readers, so I decided to do a post about my job - and some of the cool things I have done since working here!

My official title is "Veteran's Counselor."  I work with student veterans and family members of veterans (dependents) and help them with mental health counseling/art therapy/social services.  So, I do individual counseling, group psychoeducation (classes about mental health topics) and a lot of referrals to other community services.

I also work with the school and help them with school wide events.  I helped with a recent job fair that we had.  I helped out when we had Women in Technology Day.  Future and current women students were invited to network and learn about different fields.  I led a discussion about what it is like to be a woman in a traditionally male field.  Here are some pictures from the event:

Welding

Students from the Lineman program demonstrate what they do! 

A female student from another campus tries out what the lineman demonstrated

And I had a table at our health fair.  I did a mural about self-care (mental, emotionally, physically or spiritually) and had information about veterans services at the school and in the community.


Overall I really like working here.  Most of the people here are super nice - and a most have been working here for quite a while.  What I like most is helping the students!!  If you have any other questions, I would love to answer them, so ask away!!

Whats Up Lately

Hello friends!  Long time no see, right?  Sorry about that!  Here is what has been going on:
I moved out of my parent's house and into an apartment so that I would be all set up before starting my new jobs.  I started my job at Catholic Charities and worked 1.5 days before I was offered a full time job in another city.  I accepted it for many different reasons such as - pay and benefits - but most importantly because it was working with my desired population: Veterans!  In the middle of all of that I took and passed the NCE and had a procedure done on both of my feet which left me a little hobbled for a bit.  I have now healed and I already started my new job.  I am a counselor at Texas State Technical College and I will be working exclusively with student veterans.  Because the job is located about an hour and a half away from my current apartment I am moving again!  Twice in less than 2 months! So, this coming weekend, after Christmas I am packing everything up again and moving to Waco, TX.  Anyways, I think that is enough rambling for now - I just wanted to let you know why I was absent for so long!  I am REALLY hoping to get back to blogging on a regular schedule.

Good News!

Hello friends!  It has been a busy week, but I wanted to take a few moments to share some good news with you!!

Today I was offered, and I accepted, a part-time (29 hrs/week) position as a recreation therapist at Hickory Trail Hospital in Desoto, TX.  The hospital is a psychiatric hospital that treats children, adults, seniors, and those with substance abuse history. Even though it is a recreation therapy position they know I am an art therapist and are ok with me doing art therapy!  I will also get to make use of my skills as a group fitness instructor!  Desoto is only 20 miles from my family which is awesome because that means I will be able to spend time with them!

I do not yet know what I will be doing about my living situation.  Desoto is not the biggest city but there are a lot of surrounding cities and I could even stay in Arlington if I wanted to.  So, now the house/apartment hunt is on and it will be tricky because I want to live in a good neighborhood but it has to be somewhere that I can afford!

That is all for now friends!!  Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope to post some art for you tomorrow!!

FSU Veteran Creative Arts Workshop 2014

A few weeks ago I went back to FSU to help with their annual creative arts workshop!!  Here are some photos from the first day when we were set up on the Union Green and had a make-and-take event where any student could stop by and learn about paper making and make some paper!

FSU Student Veteran Center's new logo ready for screen printing!

pressing water out of the paper with a Gator!

 And pictures from the workshop:

It was a lot of fun!  I went as an art therapist  - so I was there if anyone needed someone to talk to.  I helped with the workshop too.  I also made a few sheets of paper!!  Here are some photos:

Half Army - Half Navy Paper

Half Air Force - Half Marines

Some fabric that was dyed purple...and put a retro lady on it

I loved helping with this event!  I am super excited to be working with Peace Paper Project again in November when they are going to Texas Tech University.

ICAD 23- 27 July

Hello friends!  How are things going?  I've got more ICAD creations for you today!!

23 July:

24 July:

25 July:

26 July:

27 July:

Still a few more ICAD left to show you!  I really enjoyed this little project.  Did you play along too?

Graduation Day!

Hello friends!  Today I am Graduating - Rachel Mims, MS Art Therapy!  Of course I will eventually post some photos but it may be several weeks before I get that chance!  I am so excited that this day has finally arrived!  Go Seminoles!

ICAD 8 July - 12 July

Wow... how have not shown you the last 20-ish ICADs??  I better get on the ball...let's go!!

8 July - we drove from Tallahassee to Lafayette, LA:

9 July - arrived in San Antonio:

10 July - collage using pieces from the arts and crafts marketplace:

11 July - Conference was like an art therapy party:

12 July - San Antonio was HOT!!:

Come back tomorrow for some more ICAD creations!!

AATA Conference Day 5

On Saturday we took a nice long stroll along the river walk...we saw a lot of awesome mosaic art:
 

And a few other cool things:

Veterans Memorial

Fish Under the Overpass

And we ended up at the Pearl Brewery Farmer's Market:

We had Gluten Free Crepes for breakfast and walked around and checked out all the stalls:

We went to more conference sessions and then went to Market Square:

And here is my journal page:

This was the last day of the conference, but not the last day of my trip, so there is more to show you!!