Frequently Asked Questions
“What is art therapy?”
Well, let me start by naming what it isn’t. Art therapy is not:
An art lesson
Coloring in ‘adult coloring books’ (Although doing so may evoke a sense of calm, it fails to touch on a fundamental principle of art therapy, and frankly, isn’t what I went to school for.)
It also isn’t me, the therapist, attributing or projecting my own meaning onto your artwork as a means of psychoanalysis or ‘witchcraft’. (Although, I do find it pretty magical!) Nope. That’s slimy and gross. While there are certain symbols & imagery that carry specific meaning and cultural relevance, (the key word here being relevance) what is true for one person, or even several people, may not be true for you.
Essentially, art therapy is a lot like traditional talk therapy with the process of art-making as an added, central component. Art is used in this setting to explore abstract metaphor and complex emotion. In short, art-making facilitates introspection and conversation, making “therapy” accessible. Often, implicit, unconscious beliefs & emotions show themselves through creative expression, bringing greater insight and awareness to the forefront of our lives so that they can be adequately observed and addressed.
“I’m not creative. Is art therapy really for me?”
I personally believe that we’re all born inherently creative. If you think about it, we create a novel’s worth of thoughts every day. (See! There goes another one- out of the box.) Different people use their creativity in different ways. Essentially, creativity is really just a means of problem-solving, which we attempt and do countless times a day.
“But— I can’t draw a stick figure.”
I say, “All the better!”. Making art within this context has less to do with the product or outcome than it does the process. Such a method is meant to engage the brain’s right hemisphere, the part that governs our intuition, senses, imagery, insight, and emotions, and bypass the more critical left brain that can, at times, become hindersome, especially into adulthood.
“Do you take insurance?”
Currently, I am unable to accept insurance, meaning that all private clients are self-pay. However, I also offer free and discounted workshops online as well as in person. You can learn more by clicking here.
Keep in mind, there are a couple of considerable benefits to you as a self-pay client:
• You have more freedom to personalize and tailor your treatment to what is actually causing distress in your life currently.
• There is no psychiatric diagnosis to follow your medical record. (This eliminates the possibility of getting denied benefit coverage in the future if you switched insurance providers, as a result of ‘pre-existing conditions’.)
“Do I need to bring my own art supplies?”
Whether you decide to work with me in-person or virtually, high quality art supplies are provided. Typically, unless otherwise noted, online workshops will require that participants have a few, minimal materials of their own to work with.
(Disclaimer: Due to personal preference or limitations, if you choose to engage as an established client online via Telehealth, you will receive a complimentary art kit of supplies to get you started on your healing journey. These supplies are provided so that the client is not required to purchase their own art supplies initially. However, please note that this is a one-time offer to help prepare you for the creative arts process and Come As You Are Therapy, LLC is not required to replace used, lost, or stolen materials.)