Becoming: Honouring the Class of 2026

Dear Graduating Class,

There is a moment, just before a threshold is crossed, where everything feels both complete and just beginning. This is one of those moments.

You have arrived here through dedication, vulnerability, and a willingness to step into the unknown. This path has asked you not only to learn, but to feel, to reflect, to question, and to grow. You have sat with discomfort, held space for yourselves and others, and allowed creativity to guide you in ways that are not always linear or predictable. That is no small thing.

As you prepare to leave the nest of Kutenai Art Therapy Institute, you carry more than knowledge. You carry presence. You carry the ability to witness, to attune, and to create spaces where others can safely explore what words alone cannot hold. Leaving the nest does not mean leaving behind what has held you, it means taking it with you, embodied in your practice, your values, and your way of being.

There will be moments in your work where you may question yourself. Moments where things feel uncertain or unclear. In those times, return to what you have learned here: trust the process, trust the relationship, and trust the creative space. You do not need to have all the answers. Your presence, your curiosity, and your willingness to remain open are often what matter most.

As Monica Carpendale reminds us, “Thank you for showing up and working with the pain in the world.” This work asks something of you, however it also offers something back. It is a path of deep meaning, connection, and continual becoming.

Remember, too, to care for yourselves. The work you are stepping into is powerful, and it requires ongoing reflection, support, and nourishment. Continue to create, to explore, and to stay connected to your own process. Your art is part of your practice, not separate from it.

You are now part of a community that extends beyond this moment. A community rooted in creativity, relational care, and the belief that healing can happen in many forms. You do not walk this path alone.

As you step forward, may you continue to create spaces that invite expression, connection, and possibility. May you remain grounded in your values, open to learning, and inspired by the work you are doing.

And may you remember that what you offer matters.

Blessings from,

Nicole Le Bihan (Academic Director) & Melissa Welsh (Executive Director)