Art Therapy for Adults
Expert Art Therapy Throughout Pennsylvania via telehealth. In person availabiltiy in Bryn Mawr, PA (20 Minutes from Philadelphia)
Looking for an Art Therapist Near Philadelphia?
You’ve come to the right place!
Art therapy is a powerful tool for healing.
It may be difficult to express yourself with just words alone. Art therapy includes talking to your therapist but it is so much more than that. You are given the opportunity to express yourself in a modality that is most comfortable for you. By creating and processing your art with your art therapist, you can gain insight, build self-esteem, self awareness, and make positive change in your life.
Words do not always come easily, especially when talking about painful feelings and difficult experiences or challenges. Art can provide a means of accessing and processing these experiences in a new and different way. Many clients find it less frightening or intimidating to express their emotions through creative arts.
The artwork also provides a visual reference as you progress through the therapeutic process.
The Benefits of Art Therapy with Licensed Clinician
Working with an art therapist who is also a licensed psychotherapist opens up an entirely different avenue for learning, growing, and transforming.
Here are some of the challenges your art therapist can help you with:
- Depression and distressed mood
- Stress management
- Anxiety
- Agitation
- Trauma recovery and PTSD symptoms
- Memory loss
How to Find an Art Therapist in or near Philadelphia, PA
It is almost impossible to find art therapy in the Philadelphia area during this mental health crisis, so availability is limited.
We are delighted to have board-certified, registered art therapist, Teresa Thompson on our team. She is a highly credentialed clinician who loves working with adults who want to tap into their creativity.
She is currently available to work with adults in person and via telehealth. Click HERE to schedule a free consultation with Ms. Thompson to discuss your specific challenges and questions to see if you’re a good fit.
What To Expect When You Meet with Your Art Therapist
Here’s a sneak peek of what to expect when you meet with your art therapist
1. Start with a phone call
Art Therapist, Teresa Thompson, LPC, ATR-BC
Schedule a call with our intake coordinator, Jessica Kryzer. She will take your contact info, answer your preliminary questions, and then schedule a free 15-minute consultation with Art Therapist Teresa Thompson, LPC to talk to decide if her approach and style are a good fit for you.
2. What to expect in your first session of art therapy
Your first session will likely resemble what you would expect when meeting with a traditional “talk therapist,” but you’ll get to express yourself differently.
Teresa will learn more about your experiences, concerns, interests, and strengths and begin to work with you to identify specific therapy goals and changes you want to see as a result of your therapy process.
3. How will the art therapy progress?
Your art therapist will work collaboratively with you to work towards your goals in any number of ways. Some sessions you might be sharing relevant background, others you might create art together with your therapist by painting, drawing or sculptiong, and still others you might share a piece of art work that resonates with you when you can’t find the right words.
There is no wrong way to express yourself. Your art therapist is there as a guide to support you in learning together what will help you heal and grow.
Ready to get started? Call 610-642-3359 (Serving Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
You Might Even Have Fun While You Heal
Many people picture tears and distress behind a therapist’s office doors. Sometimes this happens, but not always. There can also be laughter and pleasure along the way.
Healing can happen without even talking about your pain out loud because the human brain is extraordinary. Therapy is a process of opening up different neuropathways and experiencing different emotions. This can happen without you even noticing, while you are simply choosing the colors for your art piece.
Art Therapy FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
No.
Though commonly associated with children’s therapy, the truth is that art therapy helps people of all ages. Main Line Counseling Partners offers art therapy for adults 18 and over.
This has nothing to do with “being good at art.”
You need not be an “artist” to benefit from expressing yourself. Your artwork will not be judged. Often, the process is just as important, if not more important, than the finished product.
Yes, of course!
Traditional “talk therapy” goes hand in hand with art therapy as determined by what you are looking for of the day of your appointment. There may be sessions when you do not make art, and there may be sessions when there is hardly any talking. It is up to you and your art therapist.
Yes!
You’ll use supplies in your own home, and your therapist can give you suggestions of new tools to try.
Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that first developed mid-20th century and has been growing and evolving ever since.
It is a widely researched approach to therapy that has been shown to be effective with ages across the lifespan and a wide array of therapeutic needs, from combat vets with PTSD to traumatic brain injury survivors, older adults with memory loss, to individuals with depression and anxiety.
That’s okay, it’s not for everyone. We recommend that you start with someone who specializes in both traditional talk therapy and has advanced training in art therapy. This way you can try a session or two, or use a combination of both.
You can schedule a discovery call with Teresa Thompson to see if she’s a good fit.
Some mistakenly believe that art therapists don’t have advanced training, but they actually have more training, not less, than traditional counselors.
Art therapists are master’s level or Ph.D. clinicians who are first trained in traditional psychology and psychotherapy (psychological theory, human development, approaches, diagnoses, cultural competence, research, etc.) and then go on to receive a specialization in art therapy.
The American Art Therapy Association must accredit master’s programs for a clinician to practice art therapy and use the designation “art therapist.” In addition to the option to pursue state licensure upon graduation as a counselor, art therapists can pursue credentialing as a board-certified registered art therapist (ATR-BC) through AATA, which requires 1,500 hours of supervised clinical practice with an art therapist and passing a comprehensive national exam on the theory and practice of art therapy.
Suppose you are seeing an art therapist in Pennsylvania with the LPC and ATR-BC. In that case, they have achieved the highest level of credentialing as both a professional counselor and art therapist. Teresa Thompson, LPC, ATR-BC meets this criteria and she has availability for new clients.
Research shows that many people start to feel better as soon as they make an appointment with a new therapist.
Several months from now, you may feel a little more relaxed and confident about your situation. Everyone’s results are different, but many people feel comforted by having a counselor by their side to help them approach their challenges with a fresh new approach.
Teresa Thompson is licensed to practice anywhere in Pennsylvania, so telehealth might be an option for you. You can bring your own supplies to your session and work in tandem. You can also search this directory to find an art therapist near you.