Art Therapy

Art therapy is a form of creative expressive used as therapy to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Art therapists are typically trained in both therapy and art, making them uniquely qualified to use the arts for mental health healing. Art therapy helps clients express themselves and can be useful for everything from managing addictions to improving self-esteem. Art therapy is for everyone, but can particularly benefit children facing issues such as learning disabilities or behavioral disorders. Sound interesting? Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s qualified art therapists today. No prior art experience or talent necessary!

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Meet the specialists

 

I was trained as an art therapist at Loyola Marymount University, one of the first and most leading schools for art therapy in the US. I participate in research to build the field of art therapy, and I deeply believe in the healing power of art. Both at LMU and as an art historian, I studied the mechanisms by which humans make meaning with visual works, and I discovered that the connection between our lived experiences and the art we enjoy is an integral part of human evolution and health.

— Hannah Schaler, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Santa Monica, CA

Art therapy allows you to access parts of yourself in a creative way, unlocking insights through visual expression. Using modalities like drawing, painting, collaging, sculpture, and sand tray, you can give form to complex emotions, unconscious material, past experiences, relationships, dreams, spiritual aspects of self - bringing them to light through the art process. As your therapist, I help you interpret the themes, symbols and metaphors that emerge, deepening self-understanding.

— Bee Cook, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in Seattle, WA
 

I am a registered art therapist (ATR) with the American Association of Art Therapy (AATA) and have special training in a Masters' degree format from an accredited program.

— Emily Taylor, Art Therapist in Minneapolis, MN

Art therapy is the approach in which I have the most training and experience. Art therapy is a way of delivering and processing therapy within the context of creation. I studied at the Drexel Graduate Art Therapy program, and have received my Board Certification.

— Christina Marrero, Licensed Professional Counselor in Flourtown, PA
 

I am a Registered Art Therapist trained in Boulder, Colorado from Naropa University back in 2000. Art in session could look like you using the art process to give you more insights about your process. Or it could look like you doing art in between sessions to lock in the work we are doing together. It also could just be putting on the creative lens to see your life slightly differently. We need to get creative sometimes to help big grief move.

— Beth Erlander, Licensed Professional Counselor in Boulder, CO

ART is also unique in that it combines the enormous power of eye movements to allow voluntary changes in the client’s mind with well-established therapies like Gestalt, Psychodynamic Therapy and Guided Imagery. Within the ART protocol, the eye movements, along with other ART enhancements, make these therapies work much faster and more effectively. https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/what-is-art/

— Alexis Miller, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Wichita, KS
 

Sometimes words aren't enough to convey what you want to say. I've found art therapy to be helpful in allowing clients to express themselves in more authentic ways. Through drawing, sculpting, even playing games (such as Dungeons & Dragons) we can dive deeper past what is just said.

— Lance Madow, Associate Professional Counselor in Atlanta, GA

I am a Registered Art Therapist. I use artwork with my clients to help them to externalize what they are going through so that we can use creativity to elicit change. By using art a client uses the right side of the brain and unconscious to find alternative solutions to issues. When you just talk about what you are struggling with it is easier to stay stuck in the problem. It is a fun and insightful way to learn how to find solutions and create containment for the client.

— Celine Redfield, Marriage & Family Therapist in Portland, OR
 

We specialize in clay art therapy but can incorporate other art therapies as well. Within the realm of art therapy, clay has been seen to awaken creativity, foster socialization, reduce negative mood and anxiety, and aid in healing from trauma. We partner with Chris, our life coach/therapy assistant who is also a professional ceramics artist. We incorporate the pottery wheel and hand-building exercises. No judgment here, just a space for you to be you.

— Colorado Experiential Counseling, Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado Springs, CO

Accelerated Resolution Therapy is a quick and effective way to create lasting change. ART does not require you to talk about your painful past in order to heal from it. You, the Client, are in control of what is happening in session. Accelerated Resolution Therapy is an innovated approach building off of EMDR and combining a multitude of traditional psychotherapeutic techniques utilized in... Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Gestalt, Brief Psychodynamic, Exposure, and CBT.

— Stephanie Milliron, Counselor in phoenix, AZ
 

Art Therapy offers a unique avenue to explore and address issues that are sometimes too difficult to verbally articulate. In sessions, we will use art making as a way to explore and view challenges or issues that are impacting you. You don't need to be "artistic" or even have experience with art, to gain healing benefits of art therapy. I will guide you by providing a specific theme or a particular material, that will help us work towards your goals.

— Catherine Jones, Licensed Professional Counselor in Beaverton, OR

ART is also unique in that it combines the enormous power of eye movements to allow voluntary changes in the client’s mind with well-established therapies like Gestalt, Psychodynamic Therapy and Guided Imagery. Within the ART protocol, the eye movements, along with other ART enhancements, make these therapies work much faster and more effectively. https://acceleratedresolutiontherapy.com/what-is-art/

— Alexis Miller, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Wichita, KS
 

Who knew hearing or saying simply “I Got U” carried so much positive affirmation!? Such a statement has helped me overcome many personal and professional obstacles during my lifetime. I even currently say those words to myself as a form of positive self-talk from time to time. With more than 15 years of working in Behavioral Health, I created “I Got U” as a safe space to remind whomever that: I see them, I hear them, and what they say does matter.

— VINCENTE MOZELL, Psychotherapist in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

I have completed my Master's degree in Art Therapy from Wayne State University and am near completion of the requirements to be an ATR- Art Therapist Registered.

— Alison Maples, Counselor in Troy, MI
 

Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship. You do not need to identify as an artist or "creative" in order to benefit from art therapy! People choose to explore art materials in therapy as an opportunity for self-reflection or relaxation or as a way to safely release tension.

— Lauren Smith, Psychotherapist in New York, NY

You can read my blog on art therapy here! https://www.embodyandmindcollective.com/blog-posts/what-is-art-therapy-its-not-just-for-creatives-by-shaye-mueller

— Shaye Mueller, Art Therapist in ,
 

I am a licensed and board certified art psychotherapist. My training allows me the ability to conduct talk psychotherapy, but also allows for art therapy additions as well. Even remotely, art making can be part of our session. Some people identify art making in session as soothing, and enjoy sharing their work at the end of session. Some people enjoy working after session with a specific art intervention, to help continue processing. Art making can be a great addition to our work.

— Emily Brenner, Art Therapist in New York, NY

"You’ve lost hold of who you are and don’t know your thoughts and feelings". Art therapy uses creative, artistic practices to address psychological and emotional needs. Not only does art therapy work to support self-expressive practices, but it is a great way to dig into the main goals that brought you to therapy. Art therapy is a unique tool because it can access the subconscious, the part of yourself that you can’t always see, even though you know it plays a significant role in your life.

— Open Space Therapy Collective, Licensed Professional Counselor in Los Angeles, CA