Cultivating the Growing Self

Khanna Blithe O. Cortes-Amores, MAOT, OTRP, clinician, assistant professor at Cebu Doctors’ University, and co-founder of The Growing Self, a mental health occupational therapy clinic in Cebu, Philippines, provided the cover art for the fall issue of The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). The watercolor painting, titled Peace (2017), features a dreamlike image of a serene female figure with hair that merges into the limbs and branches of a tree. A leafy green vine winds upward around her torso, becomes transparent as it partly overlays her face, and defines the crown of her head. Colorful abstract petal and earthen forms comprise her shoulders and torso, set against a vibrant blue sky. Art making is an intuitive process for Khanna, inspired by human emotions and the tropical flora and fauna of her region. Khanna states, “creating art is a cathartic process that helps to translate my soul into an external part of me.” Likewise, she employs creative interventions including drawing, painting, and Ikebana to help clients who struggle to communicate, illuminating their interests, preferences, and identities. At times, clients uncover innate artistic abilities of their own. As a proud Cebuano, she is committed to increasing the understanding and availability of mental health occupational therapy in Cebu, planting the seeds of well-being to help her community thrive.