Who needs time when you’ve got art? 
While art may not heal all wounds, the act of creating and engaging with it has been shown to uplift mental and emotional well-being. As a dedicated art therapist whose passion for helping others began right here at WMU, Jacqueline Carmody (B.A.’11, Art) knows firsthand the transformative power of the arts.
Hailing from outside Chicago, Jacqueline was instantly charmed by Western’s art department, downtown Kalamazoo and the University’s welcoming community. Her journey at Western Michigan University began with a single major in fine arts with a focus on painting.
A class called “Intro to Expressive Arts,” taught by Gay Walker, motivated Jacqueline to broaden her perspective. “She inspired me to become an art therapist and mentored me on how to get started on that path,” she said. By blending the arts with psychology, she added a second major, embracing a new career outlook.
As a student, Jacqueline took full advantage of Western’s hands-on, experience-driven approach to education. She immersed herself in art shows and clubs, as well as became a teacher’s assistant and research assistant in the psychology department. During the second semester of her junior year, she studied abroad in Seville, Spain, sparking a love for travel and learning about new cultures.
Another highlight of Jacqueline’s collegiate experience was her internship at the Aphasia Clinic in the Health and Human Services building, where she collaborated with speech pathology students to provide clients with art-making tools for self-expression and communication.“ I also completed an internship where I used behavior modification techniques with children diagnosed with autism at a local school,” she added, “and I volunteered frequently at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts.”
These diverse experiences not only deepened Jacqueline’s understanding of art therapy, but also ignited her desire to make a bigger impact, especially in the health and wellness sector.
Having an art studio at Gwen Frostic School of Art during her senior year and exposure to an arts community alongside other creatives was impactful for her, too. “I spent hours sharing ideas and creating with other like-minded students,” she said. “Since then, I have always made sure to have a personal art studio space. I value networking and being an active member of art communities and collectives.”
After graduating from Western, Jacqueline completed a Master of Arts in Counseling: Art Therapy at Adler University in Chicago. Today, she’s a board-certified registered art therapist (ATR-BC) and a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) with a flourishing career that spans multiple dimensions of art therapy.
Currently, Jacqueline works in private practice, facilitates weekly art therapy groups for Special Children’s Charities in the special education classrooms of a Chicago Public School, and is the director and creator of Twist Out Cancer’s signature Twistshop program. Twist Out Cancer is an international nonprofit that provides psychosocial support to cancer survivors and their loved ones through creative arts programming.
Last year, she had the honor of presenting her program at the prestigious European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference in Madrid, Spain.
Reflecting on her time at WMU, Jacqueline recalled several professors who made a lasting impression, like Richard Depeaux. “His teaching style was fun and he told the best stories,” she said. “He would take the class out for pizza at Bilbo’s and we’d talk about art and life.”
Jacqueline’s mentor, Gay Walker, also left an indelible mark.
“Gay was extremely encouraging and patient. She met with me one-on-one as I navigated the next steps in building my resume and applying to graduate school for art therapy,” she said. Walker’s own artwork, particularly a series focused on her cancer experience, directly influenced the work Jacqueline does today within the cancer community.
Jacqueline continues to produce original paintings, watercolors and drawings in her home studio in Chicago as part of her self-care routine. Along with her partner, Rudy, and her therapy dog, Prima, she enjoys exploring new cafés, traveling and spending time in her backyard.
When it comes to advice for current Broncos, she offered, “Cherish every moment and get to know your teachers. They are cool humans with inspiring stories to share. You will thank them later for their advice and wisdom.”
She also encouraged students to live on campus over the summer. “I spent all of my summers in Kalamazoo and took summer classes. All my friends stayed during the summer and we had so much fun,” she said. “It was an amazing bonding experience.”
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