You've probably tried talking about it. And talking helps, but it can only take you so far…
I offer another way to explore what’s behind your everyday symptoms – through Art Therapy practices that let you create from a curious place.
Transpersonal Art Therapy
Transpersonal art therapy integrates creative expression with transpersonal psychology to support deep healing, self-discovery and connection to meaning. Using art-making, guided imagery and symbol work helps people access nonverbal aspects of experience—facilitating insights into identity, relational or existential themes. I personally believe transpersonal art therapy is for everyone, and especially for those seeking holistic growth, trauma processing or enhanced creativity in the service of personal development.
You don’t need to be “good at art” to benefit—as Transpersonal Art Therapy emphasizes focus on the process over the product of utilizing creative expression towards healing. Together, we’ll explore what shows up in your creative process and gently connect it to your lived experience, helping you build awareness, understanding, and new ways of relating to yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sessions often include a combination of conversation and creative exploration. We use art materials to process emotions, experiences or reflect on themes that arise in therapy.
We may utilize different styles of expression, using doodling, abstract designs and contour drawing. Sometimes non–traditional art materials (e.g. natural objects or collage materials) are intentionally introduced to you in order to expand your creative expression.
The process is collaborative and guided by your comfort level. I am specially trained to facilitate the type of art making best suited for your specific needs.
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Art therapy can be especially supportive during times of transition, loss, trauma, or when life feels overwhelming. It offers a steady, compassionate space to process what you’re going through at your own pace.
Research shows that engaging in the creative process can help reduce anxiety and depression, increase a sense of control, and support emotional healing. It can also provide a gentle way to cope with stress and even shift attention away from physical discomfort.
Art Therapy combines both “bottom up” and “top down” approaches to target various client needs with the integration of sensory experiences and mind-body connections.
More than anything, art therapy creates space for you to reconnect with yourself—helping you move through difficult experiences with greater clarity, resilience, and self-understanding.
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Depending on the session, we might use materials such as:
Drawing tools (pencils, markers, charcoal)
Collage materials
Paints or watercolor
Non traditional (leaves, branches, string, book pages etc.)
You will always have guidance and support in how materials are used during the process.
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No! While art therapy is often used with children, it can be incredibly meaningful for all ages, adolescence through late adulthood. I have personally supported ages 10 to 100 years old through art therapy and creative expression. Many adults find that creative expression offers a different pathway to understanding their inner experiences.
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It’s very common to feel hesitant at first. Art therapy is always invitational, not required. You are welcome to engage with the creative process in whatever way feels comfortable, and we can move at a pace that feels safe for you.
Trauma Informed Care
Looking to dive deeper into personal history?
In our work together, I aim to create a space where you feel respected and in control of your pace. We focus not only on processing difficult experiences but also on building skills, strengthening resilience and reconnecting with your sense of stability and self-trust. Healing from trauma is not about forcing yourself to revisit painful moments, but about gently supporting your nervous system and helping you move toward greater safety and well-being.
Trauma-informed therapy can look different for each person, but it may include:
Moving at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you
Learning grounding and emotional regulation tools to support your nervous system
Exploring patterns that developed as survival or coping strategies
Building awareness of how thoughts, emotions and body sensations are connected
Using creative or reflective exercises, including art-based approaches when helpful
Developing a stronger sense of agency, boundaries and self-trust
What could this look like in session?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
In CBT, we work together to identify unhelpful thought patterns and gently challenge them while building more supportive ways of thinking and responding. This approach is practical and skill-based, helping clients develop tools they can use in everyday life to manage stress, improve mood, and navigate challenges with greater confidence and clarity.
Feeling stuck in thought spirals?
A typical CBT moment in session might look like exploring a situation that was stressful and breaking it down together —>
What came up?
What thoughts popped up automatically?
Then we look for ways to shift those thoughts into something more grounded or balanced, which helps change the way you feel and act.
How will this look in session?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Need practical tools for everyday use?
In DBT-informed therapy, clients learn practical tools in areas such as:
emotional regulation
distress tolerance
mindfulness
interpersonal effectiveness.
These skills can help you respond to difficult emotions with greater awareness, strengthen communication in relationships and create more resilience in daily life.
In a DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) session you’ll typically find a structured, collaborative atmosphere where therapist and client work together to identify goals and practice skills. A session might look like —>
practicing grounding techniques
learning ways to manage big emotions
or building skills to navigate relationships with more ease and clarity
When challenging behaviors occur, we will work together to understand triggers, vulnerabilities, consequences, and what skill could change the pattern.