Expressive Art Therapy

Processing life through creative media lets your unconscious strengths help you heal. The creative process itself can provide a perfect balance of safety and realness to support change. Often, there is less need to talk about difficult topics, or even things that you have consciously forgotten about but still feel nagging at the edges of your mind. I offer virtual sandtray and creative experiences to help non-artists and artists alike to gain insight and heal.

While I work remotely I do a great deal of art therapy with clients who are interested. I send materials to clients homes, as well as do art therapy with material individuals have at home.

Expressive Art Therapy is a multi-modal approach to heal; it is an adjunct I use to more traditional methods. It may include music, writing, dance, art and more.

As a creative person, I enjoy incorporating expressive arts into my practice with interested clients; including drawing, doodling, collage, journaling, or writing exercises. As an eco-therapist, I encourage clients to observe and integrate natural materials and objects into their lives and use them in creative ways. As a trained MSBR provider, I may include mindfulness and visualization into creative sessions.

Certified in Healing Trauma with Guided Drawing: A Sensorimotor Art Therapy Approach to Bilateral Body Mapping by Dr. Cornelia Elbrecht’s Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy (2019) Certified in Level 1 & 2 Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy with Dr. Cathy Malchiodi’s Trauma-Informed Practices & Expressive Arts Therapy Institute (2018-19)

I've always been an artist and musician, but you don't need to be to use expressive arts in therapy! My training over my career has included many professional classes, but a highlight is being a trained Remo HealthRHYTHMS Drumming Facilitator. I've used my skills in individual sessions, group therapy, and in the community in large groups.

I completed a Certificate in Intermodal Expressive Arts with Expressive Arts Florida Institute. In addition to a Master of Social Work, I have a Master of Music. I use a multi-arts approach in individual and group therapy. This means I use visual art, music, movement, writing, and mindfulness as therapeutic tools to initiate healing and change. I am a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) with the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA).

Utilizing the arts in therapy can be a powerful (and playful) way to process, cope, and experience insight. Expressive Arts Therapy (ExAT) is an approach to therapy that utilizes any art modality or a combination of art forms—writing, visual art, dance/movement, drama/enactment, and music—often shifting from one art form to another to help clients in their process of healing, transformation, and recovery. I have three years of graduate-level training in expressive arts therapy.

Art is a way to express your inner self without the limitations of words. Colors, sounds, flavors, and all other sensory experiences are information that can be communicated through various mediums of art. Art leads to connection where there may be isolation. In all shapes and forms, connection and communication is the purpose of art, and connection and communication are the foundations of healing. No level of artistic ability required

As a Certified Experiential Therapist (CET1) I utilize the expressive arts as part of my practice including writing, sand tray, music, role play, and elements of drama therapy and psychodrama. The expressive arts compliments other therapeutic models and theories.

Over 20 years of practice developing and implementing expressive arts therapy programs and activities with children, adolescents, and adults. Systems aware and trauma-informed care that is scientifically proven to relieve feelings.

Certified in Healing Trauma with Guided Drawing: A Sensorimotor Art Therapy Approach to Bilateral Body Mapping by Dr. Cornelia Elbrecht’s Institute for Sensorimotor Art Therapy (2019) Certified in Level 1 & 2 Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy with Dr. Cathy Malchiodi’s Trauma-Informed Practices & Expressive Arts Therapy Institute (2018-19)

I am a certified expressive arts practitioner (CEAP) and I integrate this work both in person and in Telehealth settings in cases where it may be helpful for one to get out of their head to discover feelings that may be lingering. Expressive arts is used as an adjunct and is a multi-modal approach to healing. It may include; dance, drama, journaling, music, writing and more.

Expressive arts therapy can help you get in touch with parts of yourself that aren't so easy to access in other ways, and it enables you to grow and heal without having to talk directly about issues. As a poet, storyteller, dancer, and guitarist, I can say that the arts are profoundly healing-even when you have no formal talent or training! Additionally, I completed graduate work in expressive and creative arts therapy and psychodrama.

I utilize art in many modalities as a way to help themes to emerge, to promote the subjective side of the clients that often is put aside by our rationalization. Language is not just verbal and sometimes trying to add words to our experiences is hard and may not be so accurate as we perceive. Other times, art can be an instrument of relaxation, stress relief, and relationship building.

Artistry not required! I use active imagination to explore images, symbols, and dreams. These share a common thread in containing messages from the unconscious. Psyche communicates to us in the world of symbols and images. I have specialized training in Dream Analysis, Painting Therapy, Spontaneous Drawing, and am currently enrolled in a 2-year Sandplay training working with symbolic image creation. Let’s decipher the messages from your unconscious to realize your higher Self!

Sometimes, the words we use to describe what we are going through (talking) doesn't completely explain our pain or difficulties. Some things are difficult to put into words, yet are felt and sensed quite clearly. This is where non-verbal practices (art, movement, music, writing, storytelling, ritual) can be helpful, as they express--via creativity--the how, what and why of our situation. I am trained in facilitating expressive arts therapy sessions, and have simple tools to offer.