Expressive arts is….

the practice of using imagery, storytelling, dance, music, drama, poetry, movement, dreamwork and the visual arts all together in a session, to foster human development, growth, and healing. It is a collaborative process between the therapist and client, facilitator and artist, teacher and student. And its goals are about optimum well-being, rather than diagnosis or dysfunction. Most importantly, it's about listening to our own body knowledge, intuitive wisdom, and honoring our emotions as valid ways of knowing.  

Are you looking for therapy or facilitation, what’s the difference?

Expressive Arts Therapy

Utilizes a therapeutic and multimodal approach - to facilitate self-expression, explore feelings, thoughts and beliefs, that may be reflective of a problem, issue, or medical diagnosis in a client’s life. The therapist provides guidance and instruction to help clients discover their own meaning from the art making session. Once insight is gained, clients can apply that wisdom towards their healing or decide what to do with that knowledge - either to address the problem, develop a solution, or take action if desired. In short, expressive arts therapy is the combination of art and talk therapy in a single session.

Expressive Arts Facilitation

Utilizes a multimodal approach and non-clinical form of art making - to facilitate self-expression, discovery, and healing. The expressive arts facilitator provides guidance on how to create spontaneously, play, and utilize art as form of well-being and a tool for self-care. Opportunities to share and reflect are offered in these sessions, and therapeutic things may happen, however, this is not considered to be a form of therapy.

My Style

My approach to expressive arts facilitation and therapy is intuitive, collaborative, and person centered. I also follow the five stages of the creative process that are rooted from my Appalachian teachings. I integrate my teachings from expressive arts therapy school, along with my meditation and spiritual practices. A typical session is a blend of breathing techniques, deep discussion, art making prompts (with or without music), therapeutic writing, oracle cards, and poetry. I also work with additional modalities (see below).

  • Guided Meditation

  • Painting

  • Therapeutic writing

  • Dreamwork

  • Drawing

  • Breathwork

  • Intention Setting

  • Collaging

What happens in a session?

Step 1: Opening - Breathwork or Guided Meditation is introduced to mark the beginning of our time together and to help you get centered and focus. This is also an opportunity for you to set your intention or reflect on a goal you’d like to achieve in the session.

Step 2: Moving In - This is when I check in with you and listen for any feelings, thoughts, or content, that yearn to be witnessed and heard. Based upon my intuition and experience, an idea about how to best support and/or challenge you, will bubble up. An art making prompt is given to help you access the root issue.

Step 3: Insearch - During this phase of the session, you’ve deepened into the art making and possibly have found your flow. Oftentimes, another art modality is introduced and woven into the session for further exploration and discovery.

Step 4: Finding Voice - At this point, your art will begin to speak to you. Insight will emerge and things will start to become crystal clear. As the artmaking comes to an end, you’re invited to reflect and share your experience of the session.

Step 5: Taking Art Into the World - In the last stage, healing messages or inner guidance shines through. And then with that wisdom, you can decide how to honor the message. Will you take a step? Make a change? Or just be with that knowing? Sometimes homework or a journaling assignment is given for further reflection. As the session comes to an end, a closing activity (e.g. breathwork or visualization), is introduced to aide in the transition back into your day.

Common Questions

Do I need to be an artist or have art experience to benefit? Absolutely no previous experience is needed or required. Contrary to belief, you may be able to allow yourself to create more fully without any prior experience. I have worked with beginners who have no experience to professional artists. Art is for anyone and everyone and it’s a wonderful tool for self-expression, discovery, integration, and healing. All you need is a open heart and mind, and to kick that inner critic to the curb!

Will you teach me art techniques? No, this is not a art class so I won’t be teaching you how to create a painting, poem, collage, etc. However, I will be introducing expressive art prompts to help inspire your creativity! Expressive arts therapy and facilitation values the product (e.g. your art piece) because it tells a story, but the focus of these sessions are not on technique. Instead, the focus is on how you feel and utilizing art to express yourself!

What if what I create looks elementary or ugly? Again, although the product is important (because it tells a story), it really does not matter what it looks like. This is not an art class, a competition, or a performance. There are no critiques, letter grades, or numerical values that will be attributed to what you create. Expressive arts therapy and facilitation is about the process of creating. It’s about using shapes, lines, forms, colors, strokes, words, energy, movement, and play to visually express yourself. It’s about unleashing your creative energy and allowing whatever needs to bubble up to rise, welcoming it, and allowing it to have a voice. And guess what, sometimes what emerges isn’t always pretty, in fact, it can be really messy and ugly. But this is all part of the process. Art is reflective of life and life is messy and hard sometimes. Remember, you are creating for YOU and no one else. The expressive arts process serves as a safe container for all things repressed to be expressed - to be acknowledged, heard, transformed, and healed.

What supplies do I need? Anything you have on hand! I don’t believe it’s necessary for you to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on art supplies. Paper, pencils, pens, markers, and crayons, will all do just fine. If you’re interested in other supplies, please let me know and I’ll be happy to provide you with a list.

Can you look at my artwork and tell me what I’m thinking or feeling? No, I do not analyze your artwork. I believe you are the expert of your life and have all of the answers that you need inside of you or within reach. However, I will serve as guide and propose questions to help you reflect, discover, and make meaning from your creative process.

How often should I see you? It really depends on you and what you’re looking for. I see some clients once a week, bi-weekly, every three weeks, once a month, or on a as needed basis. I encourage you to tune into what you need and find a frequency that feels right for you.

Do you work with insurance? Yes! I’m currently contracted to work with Cigna, Evernorth, Optum, Tricare, and United Healthcare. I’m also waiting to hear from a number of other major insurance companies, so stay tuned! If you don’t see your insurance (above), I’d be happy to assist you with this process of inquiring about a single case agreement. Please note that for reimbursement purposes, I will have to give you a diagnosis which will follow you and be part of your permanent medical record.

What are your current rates and which forms of payment will you receive?

30 minute session = $99.99.

60 minute session = $149.99.

90 minute session = $199.99.

Please contact me directly so that we can speak about rates. I accept a variety of payments.

Ready for the next step?

To schedule a free 15-30 minute discovery call, click on that little button below!