Project Spotlight: Queer Expressions

In early 2025 my client and friend, Wednesdae Reim Ifrach, contacted me about an exciting new opportunity; a book contract detailing both their own personal art therapy journey and how their therapeutic approach also guides their work with patients. (Wednesdae is a trans/non-binary art therapist, counselor, author, and educator dedicated to providing gender-affirming, trauma-informed care that emphasizes healing-centered engagement, body justice, intersectional social justice, and equitable access to eating disorder treatment. )

If I'm being painfully honest, the last couple years have been particularly intense for me from a mental health perspective. My friend winning is a win for me, and I was elated for them.  But there was more! 

They wanted me to take their author photos, and photos of their art for the book.

Holding a book I contributed to is surreal. I've been lucky to have this experience a few times, but this is my first in an academic space which I'm very excited about. In celebration of Wednesdae's book, Queer Expressions launching June 23d I am finally sharing some photos from the session and some thoughts from Wednesdae about the process.

Where did the concept / idea for Queer Expressions come from?

            So I had done an interview on somatics and expressive art therapy for Dazed, and one of the acquisition editors at North Atlantic Books read it and approached me about writing a book around somatics, expressive art therapy, and queer body trauma. These are topics I have had training and long-standing education in; this is the work I do, but I never imagined I knew enough for a book. As I wrote the proposal and integrated feedback, we found a way to have the personal and professional meld to become what is now Queer Expressions.

What was the most challenging part of writing Queer Expressions? What part did you have the most fun creating?

I think the hardest part is ignoring all the self-doubt and just organizing myself. It often felt like I was arranging a lifetime of education and experience into pages and word numbers and chapters. At the same time, there was something exciting about compiling that personal knowledge, reviewing all the books and articles I had read and collected over the years, and finding research that affirmed my stances or even better changed my mind, and therefore how I was doing my job. There was so much personal and clinical growth that happened as a result.

Is it exciting having so much of your story out in the world? Does it feel vulnerable? Both?

I think on many levels it’s exciting. I’ve put a lot of time and effort into therapy, clinical supervision, and my own growth, and I’ve made a lot of mistakes and learned a lot about myself in that process. If others can learn from that personal experience and my clinical work, then I hope it means they get to experience the same growth and growing pains. And it does feel vulnerable. All the artwork in that book is mine, and small pieces of me are throughout it. It means when the criticisms and judgment come, it will be of me and my work. I’ve had to prepare myself for that and the grief that will come with it

I know that Queer Expressions is really just the beginning for you - what are you most excited about that's on the horizon?

I’m looking forward to finishing my PhD and seeing where this book takes me. In the most magical world, I’d love to make some therapeutic workbooks and card decks, tools that people and their therapists can use to continue to support Queer people in their healing. Separate from that, I’m creating an MA in Expressive Art Therapy program where I teach, and I am so excited that the next chapter of my work and my life is being surrounded by art, healing, and the things that brought me to this work in the first place.

How do you feel like Queer Expressions fits into your body of work as a multidimensional human and professional?  (or what role do you feel like it plays if there is one!)

My personal journey started with art therapy and a lot of support in high school, learning about Queerness. I feel like this book was a coming home and an ending to a chapter and a new beginning. It brought together my own journey, my clients’ journeys, my clinical work, my art, and little pieces of each part of the places I’ve been.

What impact do you want to see your work have in the world?

If I could have everything I want, I’d want this to open up people’s eyes to what we’re doing to each other as humans and how the hate and trauma we cause marginalized people is also our own undoing. Healing happens in community, art documents our culture, and our bodies know how to heal when given the right environment. What if the answer was learning we have to co-create a creative environment as a global community where oppression has no role. It’s very idealistic of me.

In truth, if I meet one person who says they are no longer haunted by the trauma because of this work, I will very much die a happy and grateful human.

How do you (or how do you encourage your clients to) stay open and curious when the world feels increasingly divisive and hateful?

That is a hard one because I have to stay open and curious even when I don’t want to. Right now, I am talking with clients about the history of art, especially Queer art, and how vital creativity and creation are to our survival and thriving.

Where can people find you if they want to learn more?

They can find me at my private practice- Rainbow-recovery.org

Or my online portfolio at Wednesdae.org

I hope you enjoyed hearing from Wednesdae! Stay tuned for more client spotlights and featured projects.