A professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago was placed on leave for asking students to imagine a therapeutic plan for a queer Arab woman. This highlights how oppression stifles imagination, hindering progress.

The incident reflects decades of suppression of Palestinian voices in creative and academic spaces, creating an atmosphere of fear and censorship that many are struggling with today.

Art therapy should empower, not control. Limiting potential dreams and solutions only limits our futures. We must stand up for freedom of expression in every studio and classroom.

Toni Morrison once said: 'The function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work.' This applies to all forms of creative expression, including art therapy.

Let’s embrace imagination without bounds, using art as a powerful tool for healing and nurturing.