Rachel M. Duclos M.Ed, M.A.

Expressive Collage

For self-discovery, inspiration, and support.
To nurture your intuition and creativity.
For healing and for joy.

About SoulCollage®

About SoulCollage®

Accessible, fun, and profound.

SoulCollage® is an expressive arts technique and process that cultivates self-discovery, creativity and intuition, and provides support and guidance. You can work individually, as a couple, or in small groups.

SoulCollage® begins simply. You choose images from hundreds of choices – whatever attracts your attention in the moment – and you create one or more collages from these images. You can orient your work around a theme, but a theme for your early work is not necessary or even preferable.

Next, you give each collage a name and engage in an exercise called “I am one who.” Once you have an initial sense of your collage, I prompt you with some simple questions. You answer the questions in the “character” of your collage. Additional questions and exploration will emerge from these answers. Your work with your cards becomes more complex and insightful over time.
Read More About SoulCollage®

SoulCollage® was developed by Jungian psychotherapist and theologian Seena Frost during the 1990s in Northern California. The work of Carl Jung, James Hillman, Roberto Assagioli, and others form the psychological and spiritual basis of the process and technique.

The theoretical underpinnings of SoulCollage® tell us that your cards are different parts of your personality, archetypes that resonate deeply with you, people and places that are important to you, and your unique embodied self. We call these “suits” your Committee, Council, Community, and Chakra, respectively. Your cards will bring to awareness unconscious parts of yourself. 

Some SoulCollage® cards are created with intention. For example, nearly everyone has an Inner Critic, and perhaps an Inner Trickster. Many of us create a Death card, because of the literal loss of loved ones, but also other important endings in our lives. You can also make cards that represent your personal sense of transcendence: your Source, SoulEssence, and Witness cards. 

As you create and engage with your cards over time, what emerges is a greater understanding, empathy, and compassion for yourself and others. You will gain a richer appreciation for the complexity of your inner world and life experiences.

Learn more about Seena Frost, the history and development of SoulCollage®, and diverse ways to use SoulCollage® cards at The SoulCollage® Institute: www.soulcollage.com

Why SoulCollage®?

Self Discovery

Envision and explore what inspires you and brings you joy, your strengths, your challenges, and your internal sources of support and resiliency. More deeply appeciate and integrate the complexity of your life experiences. Discover how the diverse aspects of you come together – or perhaps struggle against each other – to inform your creativity, intuition, decision-making, your relationships, and most important, your relationship with yourself. 

Life Transitions & Decisions

Big moves, career changes, graduating from school, transition to partnered life/marriage and parenthood, empty nest, divorce. Change can be both exhilarating and disorienting, triggering contradictory feelings, with the potential for immense growth.

Creative Blocks

Writers, artists, journalists, researchers, architects, and graduate students, this is for you. Spend a few hours on yourself and get out of your stuck and burned out place. Find renewed energy, enthusiasm, and inspiration for the work you love.

Grief & Loss

The ultimate life transition, to a new normal – and a new self – after the death of a loved one. SoulCollage can support your work in a grief group or individual grief counseling. SoulCollage® can also support you around anniversary dates of your loss.

Milestone Birthdays

Take stock, appreciate the past, and orient yourself to your future.

Exploring Gender

The complexity of gender is essential and worthy of exploration, for all of us. I work with women and groups.

Couples

The ultimate date night. Learn something new about each other in a completely different way. (Established couples, yes, after all these years.)

Helping Professionals

Teachers, nurses, social workers, psychologists, therapists. Self-care is essential to your own well-being and ability to do your best work.

Support Your Therapy

SoulCollage® can support your therapy. Take your cards to your next session.

For the Sheer Joy of It

You don’t need a reason to engage your creative and intuitive self. 

About Me

I have studied human development for more than 30 years. I am trained as a psychotherapist, with an emphasis on relationship and family therapy. I have also worked in higher education supporting access and inclusion of students with learning disabilities.

When I was a psychotherapist, I worked with adults and children, and co-facilitated grief groups for emerging adults who had experienced traumatic loss. I also trained at the UC Berkeley Counseling and Psychological Services in career counseling. I am well versed in Positive Psychology.

I believe in the power of dreams, symbols, archetypes, and personal narratives. My own experience with SoulCollage® over several years has been revelatory. I am drawn to collage as a map for self-discovery because of the astonishment, desire, and personal truths that our unconscious selves long to communicate – complexity that only our intuitive selves have the ability to reveal. Our analytical minds can tell only half the story.

Let’s collage! I hope you’ll give it a try.

Rachel M. Duclos

Testimonials

"It was PHENOMENAL. Rachel does such an incredible job setting up a warm, comfortable, safe space. She explained and modeled everything in such a way that C. felt completely open to the process and, quite honestly, it was mind blowing. I really didn't think he'd open up so much, but I was in awe of his voicing! I felt ALL the feels. And yes, Rachel, you can use this testimonial :). We both LOVED it. "

-H and C, first ever mother and (teen) son pair in the studio

"At my first session, I didn’t know what to expect, but my first card emboldened me to tap into something inside. I drew from my unconscious to guide me, and a creative flow overtook me. I look at my cards every week. I use them as one would a spiritual guide. The collages convey something different to me every time I take them out. I see another hidden meaning or a different perspective. My collages convey my unconscious thoughts, desires, and intents. They accompany me to give me insight and direction. They speak to an ineffable inner self and help me realize my dreams and goals, intuitively."

-Karen K., Associate Professor, Ethnic Studies and Asian American Literature

"I've had the honor of knowing Rachel for well over a decade now, and I'm thrilled to see her following a true passion and doing this thoughtful work. Rachel is extraordinarily talented. She is also naturally empathic and a compassionate listener. Through her astute work she allows clients to reach deeper understanding in a safe, supportive environment. I trust her implicitly, and I look forward to sending clients and loved ones her way."

–Kristin S., Psychologist, Menlo Park

"Because I’d done vision boards in the past and loved the creative process, I was open to trying out SoulCollage, but I had no idea how profound and impactful it would be. I hadn’t anticipated the level of self-discovery that unveiled itself during my first session. This is much more than making art. Each time I’ve worked with Rachel, I’ve peeled away more layers that have guided me toward clarity about what I want out of life."

–Hillary E., health and wellbeing professional, Menlo Park

"Warm, positive, approachable, and brilliant, Rachel approaches the study and application of SoulCollage with depth and passion. Rachel has facilitated SoulCollage sessions with me both in person and remotely. Both approaches have given me insight and have left me with much to reflect upon long after the session ends. Rachel not only uses her skills to help one open up in a safe and friendly way, but also to “see” things that our analytical minds can’t come up with no matter how hard we “think” on it. I recommend SoulCollage with Rachel for specific issues and for no issues at all. The experience promises to be helpful and cathartic no matter what you show up with."

–Alexis B., Burlingame

"Initially I was skeptical that SoulCollage would be more than a few pleasant and calming hours spent sticking pretty images onto small boards. I have since had half a dozen sessions with Rachel, both in person at the studio and remotely over video calls. Turns out SoulCollage is much deeper and more revealing than the craft of a collage, the aesthetics of an art project, or the goal setting of a vision board. Rachel puts you at ease and expertly guides you through the process of letting yourself intuitively select and combine images, and explore the cards you create. The results are unexpected, thought-provoking, inspiring, and energising. SoulCollage unveils layers of who you are, what you have experienced, what you want. Try it."

–Tamara R., Menlo Park

"I was curious about this process, but didn't know what to expect. As I was working with my collages, Rachel asked a number of very specific questions which helped me see aspects of my personality, my desires, and my personal strengths in totally new ways. I knew it would be interesting, but I didn't know it would be mind blowing."

–Blair W., Psychotherapist, San Francisco

Exhibit

Here are some of my personal SoulCollage® cards, including the first step of the guided exercise (“I am one who …”).
Engagement

I am one who trains my attention on the things that I love. I value my interest, my skill, and my expertise. I am one who has a passion for what I do. I notice. I nurture. My work brings me joy, and I share that joy with others.

Inner Trickster

I am one who is charming, flamboyant, and seductive. I am one who is not what I seem. Gorgeous subterfuge is my game. I am one who teaches painful lessons. 
Witness
The Witness card represents the ability to observe and reflect upon our own experiences, thoughts, feelings, and inner world.
Night Vision

I am one who can see what others can’t, even in the dark. I am one who finds what I am looking for. The dark is easy for me. Not so much the light. I am one who is more yin than yang.

Director

I am one who makes the choices about what stays in the frame. I am one who enacts a vision and tells a story. I am sometimes afraid and too cautious. I am sadder and wiser. I am one who can look into my own heart and know what I want. I decide what stays and goes and creates the beautiful whole.

Past, Present & Future

I am one who grasps the past, present, and the future. Time rushes by like a river. The pace feels leisurely from my vantage point, but accelerates quickly. There’s been a flood, but the bones are still good, and the place is beautiful. Who knows what is around the bend.

Burn It Down

I am one who knows the stakes are high. There is no going back. I am one who knows some things must end, and that there will be sadness and fear. I am one who is leading you to a more open and nurturing place.

Time Waits For No One: My Death Card

I am one who is searing, excruciating, and cleansing. I propel you where you don’t want to go. I am one who is the change you do not feel like you can master. Time is on your side.

I Am A Fantastic Gem

I am one who is different in the most fantastic way. I am one who is not afraid to be who I am. I am one who challenges and liberates others with my freedom and strength. I have abundant personal gifts.

Blog – coming soon

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