Story of the She-Bat

Written by Ellie Comeau [she/her] MSW RSW

Jul 3

Illustrated she-bat hangs upside down with her iced coffee right side up. She wears lipstick, bracelets and floral clips. Draped over the starry branch from where she hangs are a pendant necklace and a red purse.

At Positive Space, therapy is rooted in community, not conformity.

When we went through our rebrand, we wanted a way to represent the diversity of our community of clients and therapists.

To create the Forest Friends, each of our team members worked with illustrator King Freddie to provide input on their design. We are so excited to share these illustrations with you, and most of all, we hope you see glimpses of yourself in them.

**The She-Bat was inspired by PSC Therapist, Ellie Comeau [she/her] MSW, RSW.**

Read Ellie's Therapist Profile

In this blog post, Ellie shares more of the She-Bat's story and the symbols she wanted included in the illustration:

Bats for me have been a source of comfort for a long time. For me, they embody a sense of curiosity, adventure, resilience, and coziness. From when they are sleeping in little nooks, to eating fruit, and to flying and hunting, bats embody the different sides of me.

When I talk with others, I often hear a lot of ick or dismissal of bats as anything else but pests. This really connects with the misunderstood neurodiverse way myself and others may engage in the world. "Too much" for the neurodiverse, "pest" for the bats, so there is a kindred comfort here.

I wanted this bat in particular to embody some of the more feminine energy that I think bats can bring. There is an awe when seeing bats maneuver in the sky that, despite looking frantic, maintains intentionality and grace.

As I transition, I find that energy is really vibrant within myself. A frantic pacing of what to do next, what’s the next step, but also an attempt to be intentional in what feels best for me.

I hope clients see that creatures, even those dismissed or disliked as pests, can be beautiful and dynamic. They can bring attributes of softness, energy, and independence, while still being frantic, chaotic, and mischievous.

I think it’s important for clients to know that they themselves are okay to be nuanced, even messy, and that’s not a thing to be ashamed of but to take joy in.