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What is art therapy?

You may associate art therapy with adult coloring books, artistic skill, or something just for children. While creative activities can certainly be beneficial, art therapists are trained in the therapeutic use of a wide range of media to support trauma-informed healing.

No artistic skill is required to participate in art therapy. The process of making is often just as important as the final product. Sessions may incorporate a combination of talking and creating to express thoughts, feelings, and actions. The expressive nature of art therapy can support self-discovery, insight, and emotional release.

What's the difference between art therapy and psychotherapy?

You may be more familiar with traditional talk therapy or psychotherapy. Talking through problems with a psychotherapist can help alleviate symptoms and gain insight. Depending on a psychotherapist’s framework, they may teach skills, provide psychoeducation, and ask questions.

Like psychotherapy, participant and art therapist work together to tailor sessions to the individual. I believe everyone has the potential to benefit from art therapy. Art therapy may involve aspects of talk therapy but is founded in utilizing expressive methods for healing.

In many states, the field of art therapy is not protected by licensure and artists, counselors, teachers, and other specialists may advertise "art therapy" services. While art therapists certainly do not own the creative process, art therapists are master's level clinicians who have completed intensive training to support mental health issues and trauma-informed healing with a variety of media.

What is NARM? How is it different from other trauma approaches?

NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model) is a modality drawn from other approaches you may be familiar with: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Attachment Theory, Cognitive Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and Somatic Experiencing.® In addressing relational and complex trauma, NARM centers in inquiry and curiosity to avoid further objectification of the self. Rather than providing interventions or behavioral change done to you, NARM provides space for you to reorient to inherent self-regulating capacities and explore how you move toward and away what you most want for yourself.

How long will it take to see improvement?

The journey of healing is unique to every individual. Deciding on treatment goals with participants helps guide our sessions together. Timelines for therapy can range depending on whether you need extra support during a challenging time or interested in long-term growth and discovery. In general, I encourage participants to commit to three consecutive sessions to decide whether my approach is a good fit for their needs.