With a smile on her face, Desislava Anakieva, art therapist at our Social Rehabilitation and Integration Centre in Kyustendil, shares her journey from being an artist to taking on the important and inspiring role of helping people with disabilities express themselves and overcome their difficulties through art. For her, work is not just a profession – it is a way of life where mutual learning and support are at the heart of everything. In the following lines, you will read about her perspective on creativity and social work and how she deals with the challenges she faces in her daily life.

• Tell us a bit more about yourself.

I graduated in fine arts pedagogy at Sofia University. I was a school teacher for 5 years, then a freelance artist for many years.

• How did you start working at Cedar?

I found out by chance about the vacancy as an art therapist at the foundation and went for an interview. I took on this new challenge and that’s where I’ve been working for 3 years now.

• You’re an artist, how did you decide to be an art therapist and do social work?

I needed to start something new. Working as an art therapist appealed to me as I felt it suited my background as an artist and the fact that I enjoy interacting with different people. So, I took this path, which is not easy but it is rewarding and teaches you a lot.

• Do you have difficult moments at work, and how do you deal with them?

I can’t say that there are no difficult moments. We work with people with difficulties and we are there to support them and help them through. In the time I’ve worked at the foundation, I’ve got to know everyone and we’ve built relationships of understanding and trust. I engage them in activities and projects that meet their abilities and needs while being enjoyable. The best part is seeing them smiling and happy with what we do and create together.

• What do you like most about your job?

This job gives me the opportunity to develop my creativity as I get to touch people with different individual personalities and difficulties. That is how we learn from each other. For example, the idea of doing mosaic paintings came to me while working with Vicky. It’s hard for her to cut properly, by outline. But when we do a mosaic, that’s not necessary. So, the difficulty can give ideas for coping or for new possibilities.

• What do you like to do in your free time?

I love spending my free time with my son, talking and having fun together. I love painting, listening to good music and anything that touches my soul. That makes me feel good and inspires me.