Career Change Challenge • 11min read

From Flying to Healing: A Pilots Journey to Becoming an Art Therapist

The Fear

The roar of the engines was deafening as Sarah taxied the plane down the runway. She could feel her heart pounding against her chest, and she tried to steady her breathing. This was it; she was finally going to face her fear of heights.

But as the plane lifted off the ground, Sarah’s stomach dropped, and a wave of panic washed over her. She gripped the controls tightly and tried to focus on flying, but all she could think about was how high up they were.

As an experienced pilot with years of flight time under her belt, Sarah had never expected to develop a phobia for something that used to bring her so much joy. But after several flights where she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread, she knew something had changed.

Sarah sought therapy in hopes of overcoming this newfound fear but found herself unable to make any progress. Despite months of counseling and exposure therapy techniques, every flight left Sarah more terrified than before.

Eventually, Sarah made the difficult decision to resign from her job as a commercial airline pilot. It wasn’t easy giving up something that had been such a significant part of her life for so long, but she knew it was necessary if she wanted to regain control over her phobia.

Now without a job or direction in life, Sarah felt lost and unsure what step to take next. Little did she know that this setback would lead her down an unexpected path towards healing and self-discovery.

A New Beginning

After leaving her job as a pilot, she felt lost and without direction. She had loved flying, but the fear had taken over, and there was no going back for her. One day, while browsing through books at the library, she stumbled upon an art therapy book that caught her attention.

The concept of using art to heal seemed fascinating to her. The more she read about it, the more intrigued she became. She decided to try it out on herself by buying some paints and canvas and started painting whenever she felt anxious or stressed.

As soon as the paintbrush touched the canvas, all of her fears dissolved into thin air. It was almost like magic; every stroke of paint brought calmness to her being that no other form of therapy could bring.

It wasn’t long before she realized that helping others with their mental health issues was what would give meaning to her life again. Therefore, after much consideration and contemplation, she decided to pursue education in art therapy.

She enrolled in a course at a local college where they taught everything from theoretical concepts to practical applications of art therapy techniques. She learned how different colors could affect emotions differently or how creating personal artwork can be healing in many ways.

Every class gave birth to new ideas inside her mind. And when it was time for fieldwork internship placements during studies - which allowed students hands-on experience working with patients -she knew this is what made sense for her future career path: becoming an Art Therapist!

Her journey towards healing took another turn when she joined college because now not only were there opportunities waiting around every corner but also people who shared similar interests as hers!

First Patients

After completing her education and receiving certification, the pilot-turned-art therapist was excited to start working with her first patients. She began by volunteering at a local hospital, where she worked with patients struggling with anxiety and depression.

During her sessions, the art therapist encouraged her clients to express their emotions through various forms of artistic expression. Some of them found painting to be therapeutic, while others preferred drawing or sculpting. The goal was not necessarily to create something beautiful but rather to release emotions that may have been difficult to express verbally.

As the sessions progressed, the art therapist noticed a positive change in her patients’ mental states. They seemed more relaxed and less anxious after each session, and some even reported feeling happier overall.

Working with these patients also had a profound impact on the art therapist herself. She found that by helping others express themselves creatively, she was able to better understand her own emotions and experiences as well.

Despite some challenges along the way - such as patients who were resistant to therapy or those who struggled with severe mental illnesses - the art therapist remained dedicated to using creativity as a form of healing for both herself and her clients.

Looking back on those early days working with her first patients, she felt grateful for having discovered this powerful tool for promoting mental health and wellbeing.

Challenging Patients and Resurfacing Fears

As a relatively new art therapist, the pilot was excited to work with patients who needed her help. However, she quickly realized that some of these patients had severe mental illnesses that required more than just creative expression to heal. She found herself struggling to connect with them and provide the right kind of therapeutic support.

One patient in particular, Jane, suffered from bipolar disorder and would often become extremely agitated during sessions. The pilot tried various techniques to calm her down - deep breathing exercises, visualization techniques - but nothing seemed to work. It was mentally exhausting for both the pilot and Jane.

On top of this challenge with patients like Jane, the pilot also struggled with resurfacing fears during therapy sessions. While observing a patient’s artwork or listening to their story, she would sometimes recall past traumatic experiences related to flying planes. These memories would trigger feelings of anxiety and fear that were difficult for her to shake off.

Despite these challenges, the pilot knew that giving up was not an option. She sought guidance from her supervisor and colleagues on how best to handle difficult patients while also managing her own emotions in session. She learned about cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques that could be applied in art therapy settings and began incorporating them into her practice.

Slowly but surely, progress was made with Jane as well as other challenging patients. With patience and perseverance on both sides of the therapeutic relationship, trust was established between them all; leading towards better healing outcomes.

As for the pilot’s own fears, she learned how important it is for therapists themselves to seek out their own support system as they help others navigate through their issues. By working through her own trauma via counseling outside of session time or journaling at home regularly when triggered by something in session or elsewhere; she became better equipped at handling any future emotional waves brought up during sessions with clients or personal life events altogether - strengthening herself, and the quality of care provided to her clients.

Breakthroughs

The art therapy sessions had been going on for a few weeks now, and the pilot turned art therapist was pleased to see some progress in her patients. The first breakthrough moment came when one of her patients, a young woman named Emily who had been struggling with depression and anxiety, created an abstract painting that represented her emotions. Emily had always found it difficult to express herself verbally, but through the use of color and texture in her painting, she was able to communicate how she felt.

Another patient, a man named John who suffered from PTSD after serving in the military, experienced a breakthrough during a sculpture-making session. He had initially been hesitant to participate in any creative work due to his fear of failure, but with gentle encouragement from the therapist and his fellow patients, he began molding clay into shapes that represented his memories of war. As he worked on his sculpture over time, John began opening up about his experiences and expressing the pain he had kept buried inside.

But it wasn’t just the patients who were experiencing breakthroughs - the pilot-turned-therapist herself was also learning valuable lessons about healing through creativity. Through observing her patients’ artwork and listening closely to their stories, she gained insight into their struggles and learned how best to help them navigate their emotions.

As they continued with their sessions over the next few weeks, there were more moments of inspiration and growth for both the therapist and her patients. They were all beginning to see how art could be used as a tool for self-expression and healing - something that would stay with them long after their therapy sessions came to an end.

Personal Growth

As the pilot turned art therapist began to work with more and more clients, she began to see how her own personal growth was intertwined with theirs. Through the process of helping others heal through creativity, she found that she was also healing herself.

One particular patient stood out in her mind: a woman who had suffered from severe anxiety for years. The patient would come into each session visibly tense and on edge. However, as they worked on their art together, the tension slowly dissipated until the woman was able to relax completely.

Witnessing this transformation in her client made something click inside of the pilot-turned-therapist. She began to realize that despite her own fears and anxieties, she could still help others heal by being present for them during their moments of need.

Over time, as she continued working with patients and honing her craft as an art therapist, the pilot found that managing her own fears became easier too. While it wasn’t always smooth sailing - there were still moments where her old phobias crept up on her - she now had a set of tools at her disposal that allowed her to manage these feelings effectively.

Looking back on everything she’d been through since leaving behind life as a pilot, the art therapist felt grateful for all of it. Even though it hadn’t always been easy or comfortable, everything had led up to this moment - this place where she was able to make a difference in people’s lives while also growing and learning along the way.

This realization filled the pilot-turned-therapist with immense gratitude for all of those who had helped guide and support her over time - from mentors in school to patients who shared their stories with vulnerability and openness.

With newfound clarity about both herself and what mattered most in life, the art therapist felt ready to continue down this path indefinitely - grateful for every opportunity that came along but fully invested in using creativity as a tool for healing and growth.

The Journey from Flying Planes to Becoming an Art Therapist

As the pilot sat in her art studio, surrounded by various colors of paint and art supplies, she could not help but reflect on her journey. She had once flown planes for a living, soaring through the skies with a sense of freedom and adventure. But after experiencing intense fear during one flight, she realized that flying was no longer an option.

Feeling lost and unsure of what to do next, she turned to therapy. It was there that she found art therapy - a form of healing that combined her love for creativity with her desire to help others.

Becoming an art therapist was not easy. It required years of education and training, as well as countless hours working with patients who struggled with mental illness. But every moment was worth it when she saw the progress made by those in need.

Over time, the pilot began to see how her own struggles had led her down this path. Her fear of flying had forced her to confront deeper issues within herself - ones that could only be addressed through self-reflection and creative expression.

Now, as an experienced art therapist, the pilot felt grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. Though each patient’s journey was unique, they all shared a common bond: the power of creativity in overcoming mental health challenges.

Looking back at where it all began - from flying planes to becoming an art therapist - the pilot knew that every step had been necessary for her growth and healing. And though she still missed being up in the clouds sometimes, nothing compared to the feeling of helping someone find their way back into the light through artistic expression.