My name is Alyssa and I am very excited to join Healing Sounds as an Expressive Therapist! I am a board-certified Art Therapist and Resident in Counseling with experience in various settings such as residential facilities, acute psychiatric hospitals, and private day schools. I have most recently been working with adolescents in a residential behavioral health facility, specifically with survivors of sex trafficking, substance abuse, and mood disorders.

As a Healing Sounds team member, I am looking forward to helping educate and expand the community’s knowledge of art therapy and its benefits. You might be asking, “What is art therapy?” Art therapy is a mental health profession that combines studio art processes and materials with psychological theories. It was developed as an alternative approach for individuals, families, and communities to heal through the creative process. Many clients often have difficulty matching words to their feelings leading to low engagement in talk therapy. Art making is a great way to visualize and process internal challenges to promote resilience.

Art Therapists observe the art making process, engage in verbal discussion, and use the final product to diagnose and provide specialized treatment for clients. Individuals of all ages and needs can benefit from participating in art therapy services regardless of their art making experience. Art therapy is not art class and there are no evaluations requiring perfection of a technique. Some benefits of art therapy include increased self-concept and resilience, reduced anxiety, strategies for coping, and promotion of healing of past trauma.

Art therapy sessions vary from provider to provider as each has their own artistic and therapeutic styles of working with clients. I meet my client’s needs in the moment in a creative, person-centered, and non-judgmental atmosphere. I utilize the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) as a framework to determine my client’s level of creative functioning and to encourage use of the most appropriate material. As an artist-therapist, I encourage exploration of both traditional and unconventional art processes and materials to expand and your perception of art making. Materials I provide during sessions can vary from traditional drawing and painting to everyday items such as cardboard and bubble wrap that are not typically viewed as art media.

Learn more about Art Therapy in our Frequently Asked Questions page and our Art Therapy page. I am taking new clients on Fridays beginning in January 2021. So, contact me today so that we can create art together!