Raising an Art Therapist: How Creativity Transformed My Daughter’s Life

The day my marriage ended, I knew life would never be the same—but I never expected that my daughter's journey through grief, anger, and healing would one day lead her to help others find their way through the darkness.

When my daughters were just five and eight years old, my husband and I divorced. While it was a challenging time for all of us, it was especially for my younger daughter, Amanda. Her emotions often surfaced in ways that were hard to navigate, but they ultimately shaped the incredible person she is today—an art therapist and healer through art.

Amanda Balmores, restART studio Executive Director & Co-Founder

As a child, Amanda had difficulty processing the changes in our family. She expressed her grief through anger and fear. Her behavior became her way of seeking attention and making sense of the upheaval in her young life. I remember her shoving messy foods into her mouth with her hands, tipping herself over on chairs, and frequently threatening to run away. Family outings and social activities were often disrupted as she tried to navigate her emotions in the only ways she knew how. 

As a way to help her express herself differently, we’d create with crayons, paints, scissors, and glue. She would place color-coded scribble drawings under my door as a way to communicate when words didn’t come. Her art often reflected her feelings, sometimes taking the form of dark, fragmented images. I had to hold my tongue when her work revealed black scribbled shapes on broken paper, knowing it was her way of processing the turmoil within.

As time passed, she seemed to adapt. But when I began dating again, unresolved feelings resurfaced, bringing back her grief and anger. Despite these challenges, there were always glimmers of her resilience and creativity. Even then, she was an extraordinary soul with remarkable gifts, though her art often took on a maimed and distressed appearance. The weight of her emotions made life difficult for everyone involved, including herself.

Her teenage years brought more struggles. A critical point came when she suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as a result of a sports accident. We were told her cognitive recovery would be slow as she’d process things differently. What we didn’t anticipate was the detrimental effect it had on her mental health. The summer she prepared for college was filled with ups and downs. In good times, she could clearly see a plan for her future and knew that art was definitely part of it. In the bad times, she’d be overwhelmed by anxiety and depression.

By the time she reached college, she was still facing the challenges of deteriorated mental health and created a piece called “Anxiety,” displayed here. 

This piece of art was so profoundly impactful to me - I felt I was seeing a glimpse of the torture she was feeling. I recall her calling from college at all hours with pure anguish in her voice, and thinking, “I can’t say goodbye because it might be the last time I talk with her”.  

One other pivotal event, a "wrong place at the wrong time" situation, threatened to derail her future entirely. As a mother, watching her navigate this period was heartbreaking, but I never gave up hope for her.  

One day after that situation, we were on a quiet drive.  She had been expressing self-loathing and hopelessness. I said something and it seemed to shift everything:

"There is no bad decision or thing that you can do that will ever, ever make me love you less. There are no conditions and no bounds to my love for you." 

In that moment, something clicked. It was as if she finally saw herself through the lens of her potential rather than her struggles.

She began to channel her emotions and experiences into her art. Art had always been a part of her life, but now it became her anchor, her purpose. She poured herself into her work, transforming her pain and growth into something meaningful. Her art most often shows grounding, light, and balance now, a reflection of her personal transformation. It was incredible to watch her blossom, not just as an artist but as someone who used her creativity to heal herself and eventually help others.

Today, my daughter is a thriving Art Therapist. As the Executive Director and co-founder of restART studio, Amanda helps people navigate their own challenges through the transformative power of art. Her empathy, insight, and skill make her exceptional at what she does. She’s taken the lessons from her own journey and uses them to guide others toward healing and self-discovery. Her work is a testament to her resilience and her ability to turn adversity into purpose.

Raising an Art Therapist wasn’t always easy, but it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I’m endlessly proud of the woman she’s become and the difference she’s making in the world. Her story is a reminder that even in the face of challenges, there is always the potential for growth, healing, and success.

If you or someone you love is facing challenges, know this—healing is possible. Growth is possible. And sometimes, art can be the bridge that helps us find our way forward.

Written by Lisa Bevens,

Mother of restART Studio Executive Director & Co-Founder, Amanda Balmores