Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaley Wajcman
Hi Kaley, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Growing up, I was always drawn to helping professions. I connected with individuals who had stories to tell. There was always so much more beneath the surface for me, and I knew that creating meaningful connections with people was something that was just so powerful. In terms of creativity, I was constantly making art and creating something out of found objects throughout childhood: I painted my furniture, decopauged the door to my bedroom (sorry mom and dad!), and spent much of my free time in the art room throughout middle and high school. In middle school, I shadowed an art therapist who lived in our community. At that time, I had no idea what Art Therapy encompassed, but together, the two words resonated with me. But was this ACTUALLY a career? Working around art and materials to support people? Say no more!
I went on to study art and received a BA in fine arts and then a masters in clinical art therapy while I was living in NY. Just after graduating, I moved back to Overland Park as my husband and I were starting a family and I was eager to explore my career here in KC.
Since beginning my career in Overland Park back in 2012, I’ve been blessed to work with a variety of populations and in a variety of settings including older adults, griefwork, individuals with Parkinson’s, LGBTQ+, adults with IDD, community art spaces, and running intergenerational programming. Most recently, I was working at and developed the art therapy program at Children’s Mercy, where I was blessed to work with and learn from some incredible professionals and support families through various stages of their medical journeys and with complex needs. These opportunities truly shaped how I like to provide care and what I have brought with me in my work to this day: Though I may be supporting one individual, the care I provide also encompasses the whole family unit. I am a mom of 3 myself, and I know that if my child is hurting or struggling, naturally, I am as well – and vice versa. I recognized that there were many families that were able to utilize my services while in-patient, but then weren’t able to access similar care in the community. For example, sitting with families bedside for months on-end supporting their child going through aggressive cancer treatment impacts all involved; the whole family unit, and me as support provider. Art Therapy offers a transformative opportunity for all ages and abilities, different than traditional talk-therapy. I see our town (and globally) at a really pivotal moment to help combat the mental health crisis through new modalities that reach families through the tools they need. I am determined to help close the gap in care in our community and help address the mental health crisis in Kansas.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have been very fortunate that one open door has continually granted me other new opportunities along the way. That doesn’t mean my career path has been “easy” – but it has allowed me opportunities to adapt my career to serve a variety of populations as my clinical skills and confidence have evolved and that fit my needs as a working mom. Art Therapy spans the lifespan, which means that it is not exclusively utilized with a specific demographic or population. There have been times when I wasn’t suited for a particular population and had to step away from roles because it wasn’t a good fit for me clinically. This can be so hard for me – naturally I want to always be the person to support anyone that comes my way, but professionally, it’s important for me to defer a patient or client if I’m not the best clinician for THEM. Learning to accept that I cannot reasonably do “all the things” has helped me to develop discipline as a professional.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a board certified and registered Art Therapist. I am located in Overland Park. In addition to my private practice, I partner with various local organizations and grants in the community, as well as various public schools, to facilitate small group and individual art therapy services. The name “Creative Pathways” embodies how I see the power of art truly transforming how we heal on a neurologic level, impacting us on a whole-body level. Research shows us how valuable the arts can be to heal trauma and develop a greater understanding of our unique experiences. “Pathways” refers to neurologic pathways in the mind. And “creative” represents using art as the tool to get us there. I also love the play on words with “pathways” which can represent the journeys we take in life.
What does success mean to you?
Success is feeling so wholly fulfilled in what we do. When your daily practice feels aligned with your values. I have always been entrepreneurial (and come from a family of many entrepreneurs). Being my own boss was less important to me than finding a flow of practice that felt fully aligned with how I want to serve the community. Being at this pivotal moment in my career as my practice is blossoming feels so fulfilling and I feel so blessed; It feels like a culmination of a decade of career opportunities converging.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: creative_pathways_kc
