Meet Kathaleena Thirtle | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board-Certified Art Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathaleena Thirtle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathaleena, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I belonged to a family with very few financial means – we primarily lived in motel rooms, moved every 28 days from room to room and motel to motel. Our food was sourced from expired goods that grocery stores throw away or church donations, and we lived penny to penny through welfare. It was especially difficult in high school. It was around that time that my mom was recovering from two brain aneurysms, and I was living with my older sister. This meant that more often than not, it was the social responsibility of community members to raise me – girl scout leaders, teachers, coaches, neighbors, the parents of my friends. Without community I would have been sunk. I had this insatiable, indomitable want to communicate with and serve the heart of the structure that built me and sustained me. I may not have had monetary resources, but I had imagery. That meant that I could connect with people at their core, transform public spaces, and advocate (through my art) for all those experiences that deserved a platform, and all those people that deserved my thanks. I always had the distinct believe that art had to mean something and do something. It was the greatest humanitarian tool I could wield for good, and when I did people listened! It took some time to figure out which avenues I could follow that would both financially sustain me and function as a force of good, but once I found the concept of Art Therapy everything clicked into place. It was a no-brainer. Art Therapy meant that I could be the person I needed most when I was struggling and didn’t have a voice. It mean that creativity could not only be functional, but sustaining, enduring, and potentially life saving. I can say with confidence, it most certainly has been,

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In my personal practice of art, I love to create watercolors. I was a self-taught artist, so most of my work was born out of only having access to graphic-oriented art, like images you’d find in magazines, on billboards, and on cereal boxes. I always had a notebook and a pencil on me, sketching and recreating anything I could get my hands on. The materials I used to use, and still gravitate towards, are cheap and easily accessible. I didn’t have the means to access much of anything in my early days. When I was finally able to work with my first set of watercolors, it was with a set purchased from the dollar store. Most materials after that were usually gifts or hand-me-downs from those caring adults that realized I had an affinity for art. It developed a practice where I was using the watercolors more as ink pens. It made the lines harsh, bold, and graphic. So I really was a product of my environment, and still create that way today.

I tend to focus on quotes, which was a cornerstone for connection and exploration as I was navigating my sometimes lonely and difficult world. I may not have always had access to safety, but I always had books and songs. Powerful words anchored me, and it’s been an honor to pay tribute to those safe harbors through my art. I also imbue words of my own, and I find such peace and gravity in possibly being able to give to others what was given to me. In the same vein, I’ve been able to contribute murals to most of the places that supported me and lifted me up. This includes every site I’ve worked at since becoming a therapist, my high school, friends homes, hospitals, friends homes, public sites, recreation areas, and within different communities I’ve lived in. Those murals are always really special for me, since it allows me to serve as a mirror for all those people and places that have supported me in my dreams and ambitions. They get to see the world they gave me through my lens, and it means that there is finally a tangible legacy of my own woven into the roots of everywhere I’ve been. For someone who came from nothing, that stability and continuity is a true gift.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I tend to value depth and sentimentality over flashy experiences. I guess for me that means hitting those places that make you feel like the owners have known you for a couple of lifetimes, and the location has a story to tell. I also had the good fortune of getting to do this very thing for my husband, who is an immigrant,

Mornings should always start with a cup of coffee – and if you know where to look there’s always an indie coffee shop. Usually these places put a lot of stock in a mix of curated music, compelling interior design, and homemade small plates or baked goods. Sometimes the vibe can be a bit pretentious, but that’s all the fun. The people watching is totally an olympic sport!

With lunch you can’t go wrong by scoping out local Mexican food. All the good places usually treat you like family, might have a soccer game playing somewhere in the background, and handmake their tortillas. For me, these places serve as the backbone of community.

Middle of the day always calls for Boba, or maybe round two of coffee?

For dinner I try to find places that get as close to home cooking as possible, since I don’t have much of that in my life with not having family in the area. There’s a few stellar Italian places across LA and OC that hit the spot, but Mama D’s is a fave of ours. Sushi is always a good idea too, and a comfort food I make sure to treat all my guests to!

As far as activities, as long as you don’t mind driving and you are open to venturing out and about I would say do the ultimate Southern California adventure – mountains in the morning, desert in the afternoon, and beach by sunset! Other fav0rite adventures include going to Joshua Tree and checking out the Noah Purifoy exhibit, spending time at the Huntington Library in Pasadena, touring a Frank Lloyd Wright house in LA, whale watching off the coast, mural hunting in LA, thrifting in Old Towne Orange, exploring San Juan Capistrano, catching a live concert, dipping into some of the world-famous art galleries and museums. There’s so much! I love continuing to be a tourist in the place I’ve grown up.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This is a tough one, I stood on the shoulders of giants to get where I am today. Namely all the brilliant, talented, and magnanimous women (and a few exceptional men) that held me up and let the light shine through. I am especially moved and inspired when I get to witness do great things in the world, and I have the daily privilege of getting to experience all the sensational women I surround myself with do just that.

Website: https://www.terriblyartistic.art

Instagram: https://instagram.com/terriblyartistic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathaleena-thirtle-lmft-atr-bc-30794944/