January 10, 2019
Mollie K. P. Borgione, ATR-BC, PC, facilitates the Healing Arts art therapy program at Hospice of Western Reserve, in Cleveland, Ohio. “[AATA membership] has helped me in writing articles and in making presentations for educators and mental health professionals about how art therapy is used with grieving adults and children,” says Borgione.
Her life journey took many turns before leading her to art therapy as a career. After years of working in retail furniture, Borgione quit her job and went to college, earning her bachelor’s degree in Feminism, Creativity and Spirituality. Although she was advised that a career in art therapy may be right for her, she worked for a home care supply company for several years before coming to a crossroads in her late 40s that led her to art therapy. She decided to return to school and graduated with her master’s in counseling and art therapy from Ursuline College in 2009.
“Art therapy is so effective because it acts as a buffer or a pause to the problems and issues humans encounter in life,” says Borgione. “Creating allows a respite from these things for just long enough so that individuals can regroup, refresh and see their lives from another perspective. Through the process of art-making and the guidance of a skilled art therapist, people discover solutions that they didn't even know were possible.”
“Comfort” by Mollie Borgione. Watercolor. 2016.
Artist’s statement: “I realize as I look at this now, that to people on the West Coast, ‘Comfort’ may not be their title of choice for this watercolor. However, this painting began as random colors being dripped into a circle. As the colors ran together, a tree began to emerge, and I elaborated on that. I see it as a Yin and Yang balance of intensity and coolness, passion and peacefulness, destruction and growth. That opposites can coexist in the same space brings me comfort.