Thursday, January 10, 2013

Welcome



Welcome to my Website!

So glad you have taken the time to visit my website. Here you will find information about my work as a therapist and my creativity workshops. 


These are stressful times we live in. The Covid-19 virus is affecting all of our lives in one way or another.  Job loss, depression, relational difficulties, concerns about staying safe only add to all the other stressors in life.  As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I'm here to listen, give feedback and help and support women through the ups and downs of life. Together, we can identify your stressors and coping abilities, methods to develop strengths and learn tools to manage anxiety, depression and lower the effects of stress in your life.  Anxiety and depression can keep you stuck and unable to manage your life, but with support and guidance, you can feel better.  More and more women are developing chronic illnesses and are struggling to identify what they want to do with their lives.  Loneliness is on the rise as is the long term effects of trauma. The good news is, you do not have to suffer alone. You do not have to live day-to-day in emotional pain. Together we explore the issues that can affect relationships including those you have with yourself. One technique I use is cognitive behavioral therapy to uncover thought patterns that contribute to low self-esteem, anxiety and depression that can block happiness. Understanding the core beliefs you carry within is an important step to identify self-sabotaging behaviors. Support is only a phone call away.

You deserve to have a life you are excited to wake up to.

As women, single, married, widowed, partnered or divorced, we must learn self-care, how to set healthy boundaries, how to say "No," and when to ask for help. With self-exploration, understanding how past trauma can affect one's life today,  the healing process can begin!



My Therapy Practice Specialties
  • Individuals
  • Art & Talk Therapy
  • Women
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Career & Work Dilemmas
  • Creative Freeze
  • Chronic Health Issues
  • Being Single in a Coupled World
  • To be a Mother or Not 


My fees: My fee for individual, 50 min session is $125. If you are struggling financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic, you can also work with me through the OPEN PATHS PSYCHOTHERAPY COLLECTIVE, which provides sliding scale fees. Go to their website at: www.openpathpsychotherapycollective.org for more info. 

Video Therapy

Due to the cover-19, therapy sessions are being held via telephone and/or video conferencing. Confidential remains my

Talk Therapy

I bring a wealth of life experiences both professionally and personally to the work I do with clients. I provide a safe and warm approach to therapy using a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Mind Body approaches. 

Whether we use traditional "talk" therapy and/or integrate creative expression, personal therapy can be an adventure rather than a drain.  Knowing oneself is an amazing gift to give to yourself. A therapy begins when we first connect over the phone. I will ask you a few basic questions about why you are seeking therapy at this time in your life and what your goals are for therapy. I will explain to you briefly how I work, my fee and the location of my office. If we decide to work together, we will set an appointment date and time.  I will email you my intake form and questionnaire for you to fill in and bring to the first session.  On the scheduled date, we will meet. I try to make clients feel comfortable to talk about what is going on in your life. I don't "fix" clients; I help guide and support you.


Art therapy is a mental health profession that uses different art mediums to express thoughts and feelings. Images, colors and symbols will trigger feelings quicker and easier than words alone. It is not about how good an artist you are, it is about putting your feelings down on paper or expressed with clay. The process is here and now. It is not about the product. Client and therapist discuss the what it was like to create the art and what came up while creating the art piece. Therapists do not interpret, the ask questions to help clients make sense of their art.

I do not take insurance, but I can provide you with a SuperBill that you can submit to your insurance company.
My regular 1 hour fee is $125. I take checks, cash and Paypal and Venmo.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
24 Hours
1800-273-8255

Teen Hotline
800-852-8336

            A few tips for coping with the COVID-10
            •  PAUSE.Breathe. Notice how you feel
            •  TAKE BREAKSfrom COVID-19 content
            •  MAKE TIMEto sleep and exercise
            •  REACH OUTand stay connected
            •  SEEK HELPif overwhelmed or unsafe

            General public health information


            WORKSHOP NEWS
            QUARANTINE ART MAKING 

            Pick up your paint brushes, oil pastels, art journal, colored pencils and start creating to decrease anxiety, loneliness, frustration and more.


            As an art therapist and psychotherapist, AND a creative mentor, I see my role as helping to inspire women to explore their fun-loving and daring creative side, which we all have!  And, how you can use art to express thoughts and feelings that might be difficult to express with words alone. Engaging in a creative practice can add calm, joy and insight into your life.  What is so amazing about process art, is that it is not about right or wrong or whether you consider yourself artistic, it is about allowing yourself a safe place to play and explore what comes out on the page! It is not judging what you create, but allowing yourself to enjoy the freedom of the process.  I combine my varied background in the arts, psychology, spirituality, and women's studies to my work with women. 

            • Aids in Managing depression, anxiety, and stress
            • Increases insight into your life
            • Improves motivation and focus
            • Provides time for you
            • Adds joy to your life
            Collage






            A creative practice:



            Through the process of art-making you build a healthy, loving and trusting relationship with yourself.  I believe the saying goes, the most important marriage you will ever have is with yourself! Why is this important? Because, whether you are in a relationship or find yourself alone, which chances are you will at some point in your life, you have enjoy your own company. That's right. So, I help women like themselves whether alone or partnered. It is essential to your emotional well being. I will write more about that later.



            Lastly, if you are a woman lacking motivation, or living with a chronic illness or wanting to feel happier and more content in your life, I might just be the therapist you are looking for.  Or, my workshop Women and Creativity might be worth checking out. I offer in person, group and workshop sessions. Many challenges can get in the way of getting to an office appointment therefore, traditional in office sessions are not always an option. There is nothing worse than being in emotional pain, wanting support and guidance, but not having the energy or time to make it across town. Having choices is what women need today.  


            MANDALA









            Monday, October 1, 2012

            ANGER


            Anger is just one of the primal emotions that if not understood or expressed constructively, can sabotage a person's relationships, career, academic life and one's ability to live an emotionally healthy life.  From a young age, we are given messages either consciously or unconsciously from those around us about our feelings and how or how not to express them. Anger, if not taken care of, is one emotion that can have us responding aggressively towards others or, kept inside of us causing health and emotional problems down the road. So, learning how to express anger constructively is vital to your well being. One way we can express anger is through art. Though, I will give you some tips on how to get to know your anger and steps you can take to calm yourself in the face of the anger beast.

            First of all. What do you know about your anger? Do you have a tendency to lash out at others? Does your anger make you sad? Does your anger scare you and those around you? What were you taught about anger growing up? Were you allowed to be angry in your home? I don't mean throw or hit things or people, but were you given permission to say I'm really angry and I need help, or, were you told it's not OK to be angry? What do you do with your anger now? How do you take care of yourself when you feel angry? Let me give you some ideas on ways you can take care of your anger when it surfaces.
             Get to know your anger, i.e, don't push it down.  What you might want to do the next time you feel angry is:
            1. Don't React!
            2. Breath - Focus on your breathing.
            3. Think before you speak.
            4. Listen to other's opinions.
            5. Walk away if you feel yourself getting ready to strike out at someone or something.
            6. Go some place safe and hit a pillow.

            In terms of art, I recommend you identify the color of your anger. How big is your anger? Does it take up the entire piece of paper or just a small area? What shape is your anger? If your anger were an animal, what would it be?  What are the triggers of your anger? How do you know when you are angry?

            ART EXERCISE.
            On a piece of paper, create an image of your anger. In other words, create a picture that represents your anger using, colored pencils, crayons, paint, collage or any medium you wish. What art material you use is not important. Give your anger a name. When you are finished with your art, you might want to dialogue with it. On another piece of paper, I'd like you to create a picture that represents what you know about your anger. The triggers, what helps you when you're angry?  Who can you talk to when you are angry? These are all important things to know about your anger and ways to take care of yourself when you do get angry. Also, identify in your body where you feel your anger and sooth that area as you breath and take some time out.

            Peace.


            Wednesday, September 26, 2012

            Psychology of Color

            Have you ever noticed how color can shift your mood? Color is all around us. But what is color?  "Color is light and energy." (www.arttherapyblog.com.) I've purposely created this post with many colors for you to see your reaction to the various colors. An example of how color can affect our mood is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which causes some individuals to experience depression in the winter months, when darkness arrives. Or, have you experienced a shift in mood when you look at a rainbow? It is really amazing how color can affect our state of being and it is important to know what colors calm us, excite us, bring us down, etc.  For the exercise below, you can mix colors or use the colors as they are. 

            Saturday, September 1, 2012

            What's YOUR Story?

            We all walk around with a story about ourselves and our lives: No one loves me; I'm stupid; I'm ugly; I'll never be happy; I'll always be alone; I'll never have money. What's the story you walk around with inside of you? Do any of these stories sound familiar?  Have you ever thought of challenging that story? What about creating a new story? You can begin by creating a collage, a drawing, a clay image that represents a new story. This doesnt' mean you write a story that is out of reach such as I'm the wealthy person in the world...though it depends on how you define wealthy.  But, a story that is built on trust. A story that is filled with love and acceptance and a belief that I will be OK.

            Wednesday, August 1, 2012

            KINDNESS PLEDGE

            Today, ________________, I _____________________promise to speak to myself with kindness, trust, acceptance and unconditional love.  I realize the healthiest relationship I can have is with myself. I refuse to beat myself up or doubt myself.  I will move through the day and night with the knowledge that I am whole and complete and where I am supposed to be. I will stay in the moment.  I will not compare myself to others or "should" on myself. If something is not working in my life, I will take steps to make changes and ask for help. My internal dialogue will be supportive and loving. I will not criticize or put myself down under any condition. I will love myself as if I were my own child.


            Wednesday, July 18, 2012

            Feeling Stressed - Create a Mandala


            Here is a recent mandala I created using colored pencils.  Creating a mandala when we feel anxious, overwhelmed or in the mood to free ourselves of tension and stress can be a revealing and healing experience.  If you need to center yourself, regain a sense of calm or just need a space to let it out, a mandala might be just what the doctor ordered.

            All you really need are colored pencils, pastels, markers or any other medium you like.  Any size paper will do and something to trace a circle with. Again, the size of the circle is up to you. You can even use your journal! Sometimes staring at a blank piece of paper can be intimidating, so I suggestion, after you draw your circle, stare at the circle for a few minutes.  You might want to imagine you are walking around inside the circle before you begin drawing. Breathe and place the pencil anywhere in the circle you wish. You might want to ask the mandala if it has any information for you. Or, if you are struggling with a dilemma in your life, ask for guidance. There is no right or wrong way to create a freestyle mandala other then allowing your true self to speak. You can stay inside the circle and/or draw outside the circle.

            Try not to judge, or aim for perfection. Tape into your beginners mind and playful spirit and have fun! Remember, it is about the process and not the product that is so important to this experience.

            Monday, June 18, 2012

            THE MANY SHADES OF MY HEART

            Have you ever thought about drawing an image of your heart? Not the biology of your heart, but the emotions it holds, the energy it produces, the feelings it has? For instance, how does your heart feel today? Is it feeling light and free-spirited, or is there something else going on? Does it feel heavy with grief? Confused? Frustrated? Angry?

            If you had to choose a color to represent how your heart feels today, what color would you choose? Is the image soft-edged or, jagged? Does it feel small and maybe frightened? or open and alive with joy?


            The above image is one I did some years back. It is mixed media including collage and pastels.  I was feeling a variety of emotions,  and my heart felt contained and whole. This was a relaxing project, because I worked within the image of my heart. It was fun and provided me an outlet to express how I was feeling that particular day.

            Exercise:
            Pick a medium you would like to work with such as colored pencils, pastels, markers or anything that you are drawn to today.
            Close your eyes and begin to tap into your feelings.
            Bring your attention to your heart.
            Breathe in and out.
            Does a color come to mind?
            Does a a size emerge?
            Once you have identified a color and size, open your eyes and draw an image of a heart on a piece of paper. You can also do this if you have not identified a color or size and begin filling in the heart with whatever color you are drawn to.
            Begin filling in the heart image with the color or colors that came to mind.

            I suggest doing this exercise in your journal and create a heart image daily to track your feelings. You will begin to learn the many shades your heart reveals.
            Most of all, have fun and allow your heart to speak!