Reflections

When life hits me hard, my past instinct was to fall inward - helplessly tumbling within my internal experiences, engulfed by piercing sorrow, thundering meanness, and trembling fear. Familiar with this experience of being human, I now take solace in knowing that the rain will stop. Upon reflecting in the rain, I will find beauty; I will find my strength, my commitment to my values, and my willingness to experience all that is human. The following are photographs of reflections, speaking to what can be found following the rain. 

As a clinical psychologist, I use photography to facilitate mental health recovery among the Veterans I serve through the Salem VA Health Care System. As an individual in recovery, photography is a valuable tool to connect me with both my internal and external worlds. I appreciate photography's means of paving the way for mental health recovery by supporting the courage and vulnerability it takes to heal. 

The photographs presented were taken on a Samsung S20 FE phone, through the process of mindful presence. Edits were made through the phone app Snapseed. 

Experience the Hush

As the rain ceases, I become present. I experience the hush – my mind quiets and what is before me takes shape. In the damp air following the rain, the otherwise mundane becomes magical, the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

Seek and You Shall Find

I went looking for beauty, knowing it was there to be found. My eye caught a glimpse - I paused, got curious, and leaned in. As a seeker, I did find - the beauty to be captured following the rain. 

The Gift of Self-Reflection

Through self-reflection, in the rain, you will find your values, strengths, and challenges. Open yourself up to your experiences of being human, and you will find your power, compassion, and wisdom…waiting to be honored through the gift of self-reflection.  

Biography:

Katie LeSauvage, Psy.D.

Assistant Professor, VTCSOM

Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine

Dr. LeSauvage, Psy.D., has served as the Local Recovery Coordinator (LRC) within the Salem VA Health Care System for over 18 years. As a clinical psychologist, she helps to ensure the delivery of recovery-oriented care throughout the healthcare system. She also provides direct patient care through the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), where she has the opportunity to introduce Veterans to the therapeutic benefits of photography through “Veterans in Focus” groups. As an individual with mental health lived experience, she finds much purpose in giving to others what was given to her - the hope, knowledge, and skills to build a life in recovery.