Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is reproductive mental health and is it a type of prenatal/perinatal care?
A: “Perinatal” refers to the timeframe of conception to one year postpartum. I use a more inclusive term of “reproductive” mental health, which includes:
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ambivalence around starting or growing a family
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anxiety or frustration around trying to conceive
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other fertility concerns including secondary infertility
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pregnancy and infant loss
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concerns from nonbinary individuals or couples navigating a heteronormative healthcare system
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exploring adoption or surrogacy
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grief around TFMR loss
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traumatic birth experience
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birth story processing
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adjustment issues related to "matrescence" or the "birth" of a parent
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hormone-related mood and behavioral concerns of the birthing person
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parenting stress at any developmental stage
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relationship issues and changes
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perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, a.k.a. PMADs
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supporting a partner with a PMAD*
*According to leading institutions on maternal mental health, PMADS are one of the most common medical complications related to child-bearing, affecting roughly 1 in 5 new mothers. Yet PMADs are widely unrecognized, under-diagnosed, and underserved due to lack of public awareness or routine screenings, as well as deep-rooted stigmas around mental health problems in society at large. 1 in 10 fathers also experience PMADs, specifically postpartum depression, demonstrating how the entire family unit's mental health is impacted.
​I am passionate about honoring and de-stigmatizing struggles during this formative yet often taboo life stage. Relational healing through therapy can help you feel seen and heard with the essential reminder that you are not alone.
Q: Do you offer other services that include creative activities?
A: Yes, I offer integrative arts-based wellness workshops both in person and online. Please contact me for availability and rates, which depend upon timing, group size, and whether it's on-site or virtual.
I have also created a resource for new and expectant parents called The Days Before I Met You available via Amazon. It is a participatory perinatal picture book that includes creative prompts for personal art-making and reflection - a perfect gift for a new mother or anyone seeking hands-on creative coping tools to manage big feelings around this massive life stage transition.
Q: What is art therapy and how do you use it to treat trauma?
A: Art therapy provides a safe and gentle approach to exploring complex experiences and emotions. Trauma or overwhelming events can get stored in the mind’s eye as images or within the body as muscle memory or somatic issues. They aren't accessed easily through the language processing parts of the brain, which makes them difficult to name by talking alone.
Stress and major life changes in particular can also reactivate previous trauma responses and compromise crucial creative problem solving and critical thinking skills.
Numerous studies have shown that creating with intention allows the mind and body to work in harmony; this is an example of an active reward activity in the brain that produces a mindful “flow” state. This relaxes the body with lowered heart rate and blood pressure and improves mood by evoking a sense of calm and well-being.
Q: What are the major benefits of art therapy?
A: Art therapy helps improve:
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impulse control (decreasing undesired behaviors)
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frustration tolerance (increasing self compassion)
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stress management (decreasing the stress hormone Cortisol)
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emotional regulation (stabilizing mood and increasing mindfulness skills)
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self-esteem (through mastery of material and/or creation of an artistic practice)
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interpersonal skills (through a safe therapeutic relationship)
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creative resilience (through creative problem solving inherent in artmaking)
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self knowledge (through intuitive artmaking and gaining insight during psychotherapy)
Q: Can I do art therapy on my own?
A: Humans have been using creative expression for healing since the dawn of civilization, and infants can make marks before they can talk.
Engaging in art as therapy and enjoying the creative process itself——whether it's using coloring pages, doodling in a journal, sculpting with clay, splatter painting, or ripping up magazines for collage——as a natural creative outlet can feel like a cathartic release.
Q: How is this different from working with an art therapist?
A: Establishing a creative practice within the context of an art therapy relationship–even if this means bringing in art made outside of sessions-encourages the use of art as therapy for self care.
Engaging in art psychotherapy together often involves uncovering the symbolism within a work of art or creative process itself–literally or through the safe distance of metaphor–to work toward gaining insight into deeper conflict or hidden issues.
Various art materials and ways of working with them can evoke a range of different emotional responses, which is also integrated into sessions. This allows the art media and creative process to become an essential part of the therapeutic toolkit.
Some prefer to analyze previous artwork, share visual dream content, make art during sessions, talk, or a combination of all of the above, which is all encouraged based on what is needed in the moment. ​
Q: What is online art therapy and is it as effective as in person?
A: Online or virtual art therapy can be as effective as working together in person, depending on the level of personal commitment to therapy, individual preference and scheduling needs.
For some, the convenience of logging into a session from home or on a lunch break allows for flexibility and consistency they need to reach their goals that otherwise would not be accessible.
When the world pivoted to telehealth during the pandemic, art therapists learned firsthand that treatment is not only possible virtually, but sometimes yields unexpected positive results by expanding the traditional frame of in-person therapy sessions.
Q: Is an art therapist qualified to be a primary therapist?
A: Art therapists hold Masters–level or higher degrees and are mental health professionals. Some states such as New Jersey (LPAT) and New York (LCAT) also require licensure to practice, and there is national credentialing for art therapists as well (ATR-BC).
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Art therapy can be used as a primary treatment modality to supplement existing approaches or as a stand-alone approach. For some, art therapy is used as their primary mode of treatment. For others, they use it as a supplement to existing therapy modality with a different mental health professional to gain an additional perspective and different coping tools.
Although in a solo practice, I support a “team” approach to treatment, so am happy to coordinate care with outside providers including medical doctors and psychiatrists as needed to ensure treatment goals are in alignment.
Q: I’m not artistic but am interested in online art therapy. Can I still participate in sessions?
A: There is no “right” way to engage in online art therapy sessions and no ideal candidate, regardless of skill level or artistic background.
For some, tele-art therapy looks like making art in real time based on a directive or in response to a current concern. Some prefer to spontaneously create something as they talk, perhaps to give their hands another focus and release some anxiety around a hard topic. Some rarely produce art but instead use the creative language of metaphor or dream work to approach concerns from another angle.
It is a process-oriented approach, not judging the aesthetics of a final product. All that is “needed” to engage effectively is a quiet and stationary space, headphones or earbuds for privacy, Internet connection, basic art materials of your choice, and an open mind toward both the creative and therapeutic process. It's in our nature to create!
Q: Who else do you work with?
A: Although I have a strong focus in maternal, parental, and reproductive wellness using creative clinical approaches, I utilize a trauma-informed approach to also support those struggling with anxiety, depression, addictive behaviors, stress management, difficulty adjusting to life stage transitions, relationship concerns, occupational burnout or “creativity blocks,” and relational concerns related to having a Highly Sensitive Personality type (or HSP.)
For teletherapy to be most effective, I prefer to work with individuals ages 8+. In addition, I enjoy providing clinical supervision to fellow creative arts therapists in training and providing psychoeducation to allied professionals about perinatal mental health.
I am an LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC ally and continue to educate myself on best practices to support underserved communities.
Q: How much is an individual session and do you take insurance?
A: Therapy sessions run for the typical "therapeutic hour" of 50 minutes and are $175 charged via IvyPay, a secure and simple digital payment platform.
Select sliding scale slots are available upon request and financial need. Alternatively, while you are still responsible for paying your full fee at time of service, I can provide a receipt or “superbill” to submit to your insurance provider for possible reimbursement, since I am considered an out of network provider. Please make sure to check with your insurance provider first for details regarding your coverage.
