Hey there!
I’m Katie L.
Child and Adolescents
Emotion Regulation
Anxiety & Depression
Professional Philosophy
I believe that art has the power to heal, transform, and give voice to emotions that words cannot fully express. My approach to art therapy is rooted in creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings through creative expression, without feeling any pressures of needing to be “good at art.”
I view the therapeutic process as a collaborative journey, where the art serves as both a mirror and a bridge to deeper self-awareness, resilience, and growth. By honoring each individual’s unique creative process, I strive to empower them with the tools to navigate life’s challenges and discover their own inner strengths.
It can be a challenge for children and adolescents to identify and process more than the sort-of “standard set of emotions.” My goal is to help my clients, along with their families, work through difficult emotions, develop insight, and navigate through life transitions (the normal ups and downs as well as the unexpected or the extremes). I encourage my clients to use the process of creating to be their voice when words may not fully express the current conflict they may be facing. Life is a journey, and my mission is to help guide my clients through their experience and provide them with skills that they can use to transition through the phases of life, beyond childhood and adolescence, in a safe and trusting space.
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
― Pablo Picasso
Personal Background
Often before we can write or speak, we can pick up a crayon or a marker and put it to paper and create something that’s expressive. From a young age, I loved making art and exploring the creative drive that would come over me when I was looking for a way to escape any challenges or conflict. As a child, I had struggled with an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach, not knowing what it was. I had to navigate and identify this feeling while find coping mechanisms that would help me get through it - little did I know at the time, I was dealing with anxiety. I soon realized, one thing that always helped me overcome my own anxious feelings, was the process of making art. As I learned to do this for myself, which took a great deal of self-awareness and reflection, I wanted to help others discover the power of art making. When I began to question my own ‘purpose’ in life (which we all do at some point) and started to think about a long term career, I knew that I wanted share this experience of immersion in creativity. Henceforth, I began the journey into art therapy - a modality that allows one to use line, shape, texture and color to define the complexities of life.
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 treatment in the following area:
Child and Adolescents
Children and adolescents can often be overlooked or misunderstood. They are still learning so much about how they fit into their external world and they are also at a stage of doing a lot of introspection. They are learning to navigate peer relationships and develop more sophisticated communication skills. Using art as a tool for expression can open up the lines of communication with fewer barriers.
Emotion Regulation
Emotions are a natural part of life, but learning how to manage them effectively can be challenging—especially for children and teens. Emotion regulation is the ability to understand, express, and cope with feelings in a healthy way. It’s not about suppressing emotions but rather developing skills to navigate them with confidence. Through creative expression and therapeutic techniques, we can explore emotions safely, build resilience, and cultivate self-awareness. By strengthening these skills, we empower ourselves to handle life's ups and downs with greater ease and balance.
Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety can feel like an overwhelming wave—tightening the chest, filling the mind with worries, and making even small tasks seem daunting. For children and teens, these feelings can be especially confusing and difficult to express. But anxiety doesn’t have to be a roadblock; it can be a signal that something needs attention. Through creative expression and therapeutic support, we can explore the roots of anxiety, develop coping strategies, and transform fear into confidence. With the right tools, anxiety becomes not just manageable, but an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.