What should I expect in our first session?
Our first session will be different from all the sessions that follow, both in format and in length. It will be much more structured and twice as long (90 minutes versus 45). It is also the only time that I’ll use my laptop during our sessions. I’ll offer you Model Magic to play with while we talk, which my clients tend to enjoy and find grounding. I’ll ask you a series of questions in order to gain a foundational understanding of your history and of who you are (emphasis on “foundational”—I could never learn everything about you in just 90 minutes, of course!). This foundational understanding will allow me to establish a treatment plan for you and will inform our sessions as we begin our work together.
How do you describe your therapeutic approach?
As an art psychotherapist, I offer a “Yes, and…” to what talk therapists provide. I am trained in traditional talk therapy techniques, but also in guiding clients through the creative process as part of their therapy work. By incorporating visual communication—with a focus on process, not technical skill—clients can reach greater depths of expression, exploration, reflection, and insight than can be achieved with verbal communication alone. My therapeutic approach is integrative: I incorporate techniques from a range of treatment methods in order to meet each client’s individual needs (see “Specialties,” above, for treatment approaches I use).
I treat the therapeutic process as a partnership, rooted in trust and cultivated within a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment. My work is grounded in empathy, authenticity, unconditional respect, and multicultural consciousness, and I always consider how the intersection of one’s personal identity, society, and culture impacts their daily experiences.
What research areas are you interested in?
I am currently a member of a research team that investigates embodiment experiences of trans and non-binary individuals including phantom body parts, the impact of these experiences on the individual, and their relationship to perception and consciousness (all research is IRB approved). One of our core findings is that these experiences are individualized and incredibly meaningful for those who have them. My hope is that our ongoing research will generate increased understanding and awareness of these experiences within the medical and mental health fields and positively impact patient/client care.
What’s something your clients might be surprised to learn about you?
Becoming an art therapist was my third (and final!) act. Prior to discovering art therapy, I had extensive careers in editorial features writing and marketing. In each, I enjoyed the day-to-day work, but once I switched over to marketing I struggled with the feeling that I wasn’t helping others in a meaningful way. Making a life-altering decision to change careers in my 30s was scary, but it was also the best thing I ever did. Now I go to sleep feeling more satisfied and fulfilled than ever before, and I can speak from personal experience when I say that it’s never too late to take steps toward increasing satisfaction and fulfillment in your life, if they’re lacking. (And, good news: it doesn’t always need to be life-altering!)