Hello! Welcome to my very first Circle Sessions on Mental Health! My name is Anne, and I am a Milspouse artist turned social worker establishing a creative therapy program for the military community.

I wanted to share an emotional regulation skill that has really helped me cope with my chronic mental health symptoms. Painting circles. You heard correctly.

Every other Friday of the month starting tomorrow, you will learn about a new coping skill, why this skill works, my journey

Most importantly, Circle Sessions is about showing someone processing mental health symptoms and visually depict that process!

Excited to have the opportunity to share the story behind my mission and how this company was founded!

Anne is a mixed media artist, mother, and milspouse - painting to make a difference. After beginning her career as a graphic designer, she found her true calling when she picked up a paintbrush during one of the most difficult seasons of her life. While it began as a personal healing journey, she soon discovered that the answer to her coping with mental illness could, in fact, help others too. It was then she made the decision to fuse her passions.

The goal of my art business is not just to sell artwork; it is to use the proceeds to make creative therapies—which have been proven to help those who experience specific military related mental health symptoms—accessible and available to the military community. When you purchase something from me, you support that mission.

I have always been creating since I was a toddler often only needing a drawing utensil and paper to be happy. The social work path came later after a particularly difficult solo tour. I found my true calling when I picked up a paintbrush during this time. That is when I discovered that the answer to my coping with mental illness could help others too. I began applying to graduate school to become a clinical social worker who advocates for military mental health policy reform and to learn how to create an art therapy program for military families that utilizes the military spouse community.

If you are a military spouse entrepreneur or any military affiliated entrepreneur, I would encourage you to take a peak at MSEG. Inside you will find sections that focus on WHY spouses should choose entrepreneurship, HOW to get started, many RESOURCES and hear the story of twelve successful FEATURED SPOUSES.

Originally posted in Legacy Magazine Volume V

In our seven years served we have lived in five states, had two children and survived one solo tour deployment which began five days after our daughter was born. Little did I know that our current station would be where I would not only finally embrace my military journey but begin a new path that continues to this day to evolve into my purpose in life.

Originally posted on The Choosing Brave Podcast

Anne leads us in a discussion on her personal experience with Bipolar Depression (specifically Bipolar Depression 2). She shares how social media can be both a support and distraction as well as how to get courageously vulnerable in life.

Originally posted in Legacy Magazine Volume VI

In the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to welcome two friends into the ever-growing service member community. Both ladies reached out at different times about how their love for a service member was strong enough to commit to the unknowns of this life.

Originally posted on the Inspired Women Podcast

Listen to the Inspired Women Podcast host, Megan Hall’s interview with Anne on Art & Bipolar Depression.