Hey! I’m Dana.
Children & Adolescents
Acute and/or Chronic Medical Conditions (specialization in pediatrics)
Self Awareness (Childhood & Parenthood)
Professional Philosophy
The creative process holds the ability to provide a connection with one’s environment, a moment in time, others, and ourselves. Through the use of art and psychotherapy the journey of creative self-discovery can help us to go beyond words. This allows us to explore emotions and experiences, gain insight, work through challenges, and feel empowered. Combining both a humanistic and client-centered approach we can build a safe space that emphasizes a capacity for self-actualization and growth. Building upon the collaborative therapeutic relationship we will adopt skills to express, cope, and promote self-awareness.
“I found that I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.”
– Georgia O’Keefe
Personal Background
When pursuing a career choice in college, I stumbled upon an art therapy program and thought “Did I just find a career that combines my passion for psychology, art, and helping people?” As a young adult who lived in the art studio and experienced the healing properties that art and therapy holds; I knew this was my path. Growing up my parents understood early on the importance of therapy and how it can help individuals on many levels. Therefore, I was exposed to a variety of therapeutic settings starting at an early age, all while creating art for fun. I hold first-hand accounts of ways this has helped me develop into the adult I am today.
With over ten years of experience, I have had the opportunity to work in various settings and with many populations; ranging from kids to adults, including medical trauma, grief, addiction, behavioral health, and more. I have been able to witness and learn the true meaning of resiliency. Every individual has the ability for change and deserves happiness. It takes courage and strength to reach out for help. As a client and now practitioner, it is my mission to make sure that each individual I work with feels safe and accepted from the very first introduction. As a therapist, it is my privilege to be a part of someone’s healing process while being witness to change and internal growth.
AREAS OF FOCUS
All of us here at START address the mental health areas of stress, trauma, and anxiety in our practice. We apply these three topics to unique, specific challenges that our clients are going through. I also offer specialized areas in the following areas:
Children and Adolescents
Children engaged in art therapy directives may feel as if they are playing and having fun rather than “in therapy” and having to talk with someone they do not know. This can help foster a safe space for expression and aid in framing the therapeutic relationship. Children often have a lot to say but may find it difficult to articulate their emotions and/or find their voice. Empowering children through creative modalities and providing support in a non-threatening way can often lead to great insight, change and self-awareness.
Acute and/or Chronic Medical Conditions
Any type of medical condition or illness is a life changing event that impacts not just the individual, but the entire family unit. Loss is also a significant component; as loss comes in many forms. It can be loss of a loved one, loss of an ability, loss of autonomy, loss and/or disruption of routine or daily living activities, etc. Art therapy can help by processing feelings, managing stress, working through medical trauma, and providing support through these difficult life changes. Working alongside hospital staff in both psychiatric and medical settings, inpatient, and outpatient, I have witnessed first-hand how navigating these, often sudden changes, can impact one’s life. Art therapy can foster a sense of community in a space that may feel isolating and can help ease the healing process and adjust to change with creative coping skills.
Adults-Anxiety, Adjusting to change, Family Dynamics, Hardships/Loss, Stress
Often, adulthood can feel more like were taking care of everyone else, rather than ourselves. We find ourselves juggling multiple tasks, schedules, hobbies, etc. Most times our lives can start to feel like they are on auto-pilot and we can easily loose track of ourselves, the aspects of our lives that maintain our happiness, wellbeing, goals, and overall self-care. It becomes easy for us to feel overwhelmed, overworked or on edge at times. Psychotherapy can help to put our lives into perspective and give us the tools to manage stress, anxiety, hardships, and communication. Creative outlets and coping techniques can help to shed light on our stressors while helping us to manage them appropriately.