Lately, I’ve been diving deep into trainings on relationship dynamics and perfectionism. There’s something fascinating about how we interact with each other—how patterns form, how tensions arise, and how we can learn to untangle them. I often liken this process to working together to untie a knot. It requires patience, perspective, and a willingness to step back and see the bigger picture.
One of the things I’ve really honed in on is my role as a cheerleader in this process. Encouragement is powerful, and I’ve learned that metaphors, breathing techniques, and mindful art-making are incredible tools to help people navigate their relationships—whether with others or within themselves.
Most recently, I’ve been excited about mind wandering. This is the process of allowing the mind to float from one topic to the next without rigid control. It’s a natural state that fosters creativity, problem-solving, and self-discovery. When we give ourselves permission to let our thoughts meander, we tap into a more playful, curious version of ourselves—one that isn’t weighed down by expectations or over-analysis.
Art therapy is a beautiful conduit for mindwandering because it activates different attentional systems in a non-threatening way. The novelty of a creative task, combined with the low-pressure nature of art-making, allows for greater freedom of thought. When we’re not fixated on getting it right, we open ourselves up to new insights, ideas, and possibilities.
I’m excited to continue exploring this and to share these insights with my clients and community. Growth is never linear, but it’s always an adventure—and sometimes, the best ideas come when we stop trying so hard to find them. - Aubrey Baptista, MA, LCMHC, QS, ATR-BC
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