We usually enjoy crafting introductions, but Alaa seems to have mastered the art. “I am always shocked by my introverted nature when I am asked this question! When I am introducing myself, I say my name is Alaa Naeem, in my head I think, a Gryffindor! but then I tailor my answer to the situation, mostly I am an artist who is specialized in Art Therapy, sometimes I am this mixture of middle eastern nationalities: Palestinian Jordanian, Lebanese mother, Egyptian partner, Kuwaiti Born and raised, under my breath I say: A temporary resident on planet earth. sometimes I talk about my experience and how I started my journey as an engineer who realized that this wasn’t what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, sometimes I mention that I was born on December 27th which makes me a Capricorn, no, I am not mythological, but I am spiritual and a strong believer. Generally, I smile and let people lead the conversation until I am triggered to pitch in,” she told us.

Alaa is bubbly, full of ideas, creativity, and a zeal for life. She was born into an artistic and forward-thinking family, her mother studied graphic design in the USA way back when it was an unheard of career in the Middle East, she found her passion in teaching art as a career. Alaa believes that she was born an artist, life happened and instead she became an engineer. Yet, she was always looking for more. Years later, she started her healing journey and decided to get a diploma in graphic design and began freelancing. That was how she ended up earning a degree in Art Therapy. Since then, she has amassed a dozen certificates in different topics related to art, healing, and coaching.

Originally, Alaa started her Instagram account “from a to me”, with pretty much a diary and a pencil. At first, she used it as a space to vent, and although she had been practicing art for most of her life, she didn’t feel it was serving its purpose. “Throughout my life I think I always searched for the deeper meaning of things, to try to make sense of the events that happen in life. I am still learning how to find peace in the midst of it all and I believe this is the key for happiness; finding your inner peace,” she explained. She had bought a notebook on a whim because of the interesting quote on the cover. It said, “Things are never as bad as they seem, so dream dream dream”, and she used it for daily doodling and journaling. It became a habit, and as the collection of notebooks grew, she realized that the practice helped her grow, keep her emotions in check and stimulated her creativity.

This set the groundwork for what came later when she stumbled into Art Therapy as a profession. Some major changes in her life shook her to her core and she was forced to find ways to heal. “When I started my healing journey, I used art as a means for expression, and I realized how much it helped me and I wanted to share that revelation with everyone I knew, so I started looking into it and experimented with different schools, then I finally found a school that can help me develop it further,” Alaa explains.

Art Therapy explores and observes feelings through the creative process of making art. Alaa tells us that “It can also be wildly liberating because there are no rules in art. Instead, you’re encouraged to explore, have fun and play. There is no such thing as ‘good or bad’ art”. Art Therapy is therapeutic for a wide variety of issues like mental health problems, addiction, self-harm, anxiety, dealing with grief and so much more. But everyone can benefit from Art Therapy, especially those who do not practice general forms of art in their daily routines as a creative outlet and stress reliever.

Art Therapy is more than just encouraging people to doodle on paper or throw paint at a canvas. Professional art teachers can lead an inspirational class, however, only a trained art therapist can provide the full Art Therapy experience. There’s science behind it, which is why Alaa keeps going back for more and says “Yes, I go back to school every chance I get to learn something that helps me move forward because I believe in the value added by an academic foundation.”

Alaa’s route has been interesting and bumpy, yet she has found her calling, while also learning a lot on the way. “The most important lesson for me so far, I believe, is realizing common humanity, how we all, despite our physical differences and different circumstances, share the same emotional core and complex experience layer, and also, surprisingly, how by healing others you expose and heal parts of yourself as well. It’s an indescribable feeling when you work with someone and connect with them on a deeper creative level,” she explains.

Alaa is excited to bring more Art Therapy to Kuwait, but also hopes to see a community of art therapists and more awareness as to what it is about and most importantly, how valuable it is to the community.

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE

What do you most value about your friends?
How much fun we have being ourselves.

Which living person do you most admire?
Right now, my younger sister.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Content and gratitude.

What is your greatest extravagance?
If by that you mean, what do I spend on the most? Its traveling. If you mean a certain guilty pleasure, then its chocolate, and peanut butter, and strawberries, and caramel nougats, and coconut anything!

What is your most treasured possession?
Honestly couldn’t say… I try not to get attached to things, I even imagined losing my phone…I’d be sad for a day, but I’d get over that too… but I treasure people and memories and my sister’s bunny.

What is your greatest fear?
Currently I am working on my fear of uncertainty. Trying my best to let things go. On a lighter note, I am terrified of sharks and snakes.

What is your most marked characteristic?
Talented, and artistic!

Which talent would you most like to have?
Clairvoyance.

What is one trait you have that you are most grateful for?
Gratitude.

What is the human trait you most dislike about others?
Dishonesty and manipulation.

What is it that you most dislike?
Dishonesty and manipulation.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Between me and myself: I am grateful, publicly speaking I say “ya3ni” a lot, hehe.

What are your favorite words to live by?
Focus on the journey, the rest will come.

Where would you most like to live?
Anywhere around the Mediterranean coast.

If you could have any job, what would it be?
My job: An Artist.

What would you consider your greatest achievement?
Getting started on my healing journey.

What do you hope for the future?
Many things, I can’t count, but in the words of Ms. Congeniality: “… and world peace”

You can find Alaa on Instagram @alaanaeeem, spreading positivity, art, and a lot of joy.