What is ART THERAPY?
Art therapy is a mental health profession that utilizes visual art making in unison with psychotherapy techniques in order to promote healing and wellbeing for individuals. Through art therapy, people are able to explore their artist identities, build coping skills, work through difficult emotional experiences, improve cognitive functioning, and develop a greater sense of self.
People tend to think in pictures, which is why art serves as such a good communication tool. Art can depict abstract concepts such as emotions without having to use words. Art therapy uses tactile creation and imagination to facilitate conversation and healing through the creation and discussion of artwork. Art making also provides relaxation and healing through the act of creating it. These distinct abilities allows for clients to have a therapeutic experience when guided by a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT).
What can we expect when working with you?
There are a few steps I take in order to get started with the creative and healing process:
PHONE CONSULTATION
To make sure that this is the right fit, all new clients complete a brief initial consultation to do a basic intake assessment. Once I have determined my practice might be the right fit, the intake session is booked and I send you a link to the online client portal.
ONLINE CLIENT PORTAL
Before our intake session, I will send you a link to register for your online client portal, where you will be able to review and sign all the documents necessary to start your counseling process. These documents include; Standard Intake Assessment Form, Consent for Treatment Form, Privacy and Practice Forms, Credit Card Authorization Form, Demographics, Standardized Assessments, as well as Release of Information Form (when necessary).
INTAKE SESSION
At the intake session, we will review you (or your child’s) primary reasons for coming, history, hopes, worries, strengths, and any important information I may need to know to best get to know you. Of course, you do not need to share anything you don’t feel comfortable sharing, and it is up to you how much and what you share when we meet. I will always meet you where you are at, let’s go at your pace! While you may not feel that you gained many specific tools during our first meeting, I am focusing on building our therapeutic relationship; this will be the key to our ongoing work together.
SECOND SESSION AND BEYOND
During this time, we will begin to identify goals and specific areas you’d like to address, creating the outline for your journey towards healing and growth. Nothing is ever set in stone- your goals may always be changing. Over the course of our first few sessions working together, we will begin learning new skills, art-making, playing, confronting the uncomfortable, and empowering you (or your child) to be the best version of YOU. Healing takes time, commitment, and hard work. I am here to work with you as a team, and take the journey together!
How often do I book sessions?
I truly believe that consistency is key. I recommend weekly counseling, especially in the beginning to help build our connection and get to know one another. I schedule my clients the same day and time for weekly appointments, that way it helps built consistency and enables you, or your family, to get into a routine. Both scientific research and clinical experience has shown that it takes this type of consistency to achieve the most effective growth goals. I do offer biweekly counseling, especially for those younger kiddos who have a lot of activities! Reach out to me for more information, and to explore what may be best for you!
Do you accept insurance?
I am only in network with Cigna Insurance.
I am happy to provide you with a form called a Superbill which you can send to your insurance company for possible reimbursement – which means you are responsible for the fee at the time of our appointment and, depending on your insurance plan, a certain percentage of that may be paid back to you by your insurance company.
If you’d like to find out if you have “Out of Network Benefits”, call your insurance provider and speak with them. I recommend the following questions. 1} Do I have out of network mental health benefits? 2} If yes, what percentage of the cost do you reimburse? 3} Do I have a deductible I need to pay before I get reimbursed? If yes, what is the deductible amount?
What are your hours?
My hours tend to vary. I currently offer in person counseling Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Please call and leave a message, or email to inquire about availability. You can generally expect to receive a call back within 48 hours.
Creative Journey Counseling 