Southwestern College Santa Fe, NM
Blog › Student & Alumni Stories
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Capstone from a Distance: Zine pages, blood, sweat, & tears
Our Capstone process underwent a new iteration this year. With the class split in half with students who are learning at a distance, and students who are local to Southwestern...
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Arts-Based Research: Symbols of Internalization and Identity
One of the required courses in our Art Therapy for Clinical Professionals Masters program is a 1-credit Arts-Based Research course. Students are asked to choose a symbol to engage with...
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The Magic of Trans-Formation: Alchemy, Gender, and JKR
Trans- (prefix): From Latin. (1) On the other side of : across : through : beyond (2) so or such as to change or transfer Southwestern College offers a...
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Integrating Brain, Body & Heart!
I attended the NEI Certificate Program class “Integrating Brain, Body & Heart Intelligence” taught by Tim Burns, M.A. The course is one offered periodically in the Applied Interpersonal Neurobiology Certificate...
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An Alternative Higher Education
When I applied for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Southwestern, I knew I was seeking an alternative form of higher education. If the second half of the college’s...
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Knowing when to say “when”
I attended the Ecotherapy workshop “Exploring Kinship Relations Using Ecotherapy and Art Therapy” and so enjoyed being out on campus spending time walking through the gardens, meditating in the labyrinth,...
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“Healing the Racial Complex in our American Psyche” by Kate Latimer, Program Chair MA in Counseling
As I reflect on the recent guilty x3 verdict of Dereck Chauvin in the murder of George Floyd, I hope Mr. Floyd’s family feel some relief with the jury’s...
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Finding My Inner Strength by Chelstina Rosera, SWC student
Finding My Inner Strength, March 2121 Inner strength is this magical power we all have yet often forget it’s there. When you tap into it you can achieve great things....
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“Dark Night” – Poetry by Ross W.B. Putnam, Alum of SWC
Dark Night © by Ross W. B. Putnam Dark soul in the night Not sleeping again I rattle through the hallways of Where I’ve been, ...
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“Time Crystal” by Molly Ponkevitch, SWC Student
TIME CRYSTAL After W.S. Merwin I see that I will be lying in a patch of shriveled Juniper berries all skin and seed ...
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“Rising Hope” by Aubrey Leigh Newton
Rising Hope: At first, I see the road ahead, to be long, and treacherous. The mountains I see, as steep, and unforgiving. I feared, challenges unknown, and obstacles well-placed...
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Graduation Blessing from Graduating Student: Awbrey Willett
An Allegiance to Gratitude for Southwestern: Inspired by the Onondaga Thanksgiving Address Today we are gathered to celebrate our graduation from Southwestern college. We look upon the virtual faces around...
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Ecotherapy, Self Care and Nature
This conversation between SWC President Ann Filemyr, Ph.D., who also serves as Director of the Ecotherapy Certificate, and alumna MelindaJoy Pattison explores the benefits of Ecotherapy, especially during the pandemic...
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Alum Anne Lebednik Video on Art & Creativity
In Art & Creativity, Southwestern College alumnus Anne Lebednik explores the value of integrating creativity and artmaking as a practice in our lives. Anne explains how we can approach this...
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Reflections and Transitions by Alum Chuck Hohl
During the pandemic and time of social unrest, similarly to many of us, reflections have been occupying most of my time. I have been ruminating on my role as a...
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Art Can Save Lives
By Ruth Dennis Years ago, I saw a line that art can save your life. At the time, I just thought it was another artist being arrogant. The art world...
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Radio Interview of President Ann Filemyr by Alum Melinda Joy Pattison
On April 6, President Ann Filemyr joined alumna MelindaJoy Pattison on her weekly radio talk show. Since graduating, she has established herself as a mental health advocate sharing news and...
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Southwestern Soundbites: Whitney Tressel on Certainty in Uncertain Times
Photo of Whitney Tressel, taken by Adria Malcolm. Welcome to Southwestern Soundbites! In this episode, Courtney Shackelford talks to Whitney Tressel; current Art Therapy and Counseling student, graduate assistant, travel...
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Southwestern Soundbites: A Second Master’s Degree and Art Therapy
Hello, and welcome to Southwestern Soundbites. In this episode, Dru Phoenix talks about her experience as someone who already had a Master's degree and later decided to pursue another Master's...
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Diane’s Story
By Diane Chavez I finished grad school at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2015. I never thought grad school was possible. I went to the emergency room...
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A Therapist in Times of Covid-19 : by alum Allegra Borghese
As I write this, I am completing my final doctoral externship at a VA medical center in New York. My last day in the office was Friday, March 13th,...
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Some Reflections on Providing Therapeutic Services in the Changing Times of COVID19
By Val Valentine Wow, what a difference a month can make! I went from a full private practice with between 25-30 face to face clients a week, to 15-20 clients...
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Message from Alum Carie King during the Pandemic
Photo by Carie King, taken on a road trip to Grand Junction, CO. Carie grew up in Maine with a wildlife biologist / photographer, so her appreciate of Earth’s beauty...
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An Alum Updates us during the Pandemic
Aloha my Southwestern colleagues! My name is Tess Yong Kim, and I am a graduate of 11/10/2018. I began my clinical practice on 2/6/2019 as an LMHC (Licensed Mental Health...