Art Therapy in Santa Cruz, CA

Embarking on the journey of psychotherapy is a courageous and empowering act. My intention is to assist you in recognizing, respecting, and building on your strengths, and improving your capacity for self regulation. Through this partnership, I will assist you in bringing unconscious faulty core beliefs to the light of mindful awareness, engaging your wisdom and compassion. I will work with you collaboratively to address and navigate through your pain, your perceived limitations and stuck places, which are your growing edges. This demanding and enlivening work can improve your quality of life, and expand your capacity for joy and happiness.

I believe therapy is the development of a safe and trusting relationship between the facilitator and the participant. Therapy can be hard work and getting started can be scary, however making art , using play or being in nature can ease this process. As your therapist I will encourage you to use your creative imagination as a vehicle to understanding your inner turmoil, psychic pain or stagnancy. Along the way we will be implementing these effective tools in cultivating a more fulfilling life experience.

Sometimes in an effort to manage painful experiences in life, we end up getting stuck in roles and patterns that do not serve us. Sometimes we don't know where to start, but we know we want something else. I will listen with curiosity and compassion and offer support in your journey to understand what serves you now. I can help with anxiety, depression, history of abuse, lack of motivation and self-destructive habits among other issues. I have a strong interest in healing the effects of trauma so clients can increase their sense of empowerment in the world.

I work with adults and children providing psychotherapy to folks who are curious about the growth potential within this realm of treatment. If you are interested in exploring the curative elements of this work, I hope to generate positive change and wellness with you. I have a master's in psychology from CIIS in San Francisco, CA, and am a Fellowship Year Graduate from the Palo Alto Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy Training Program. I am now in their Two-Year certificate Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program at Stanford University.

At Yes To Therapy, we provide therapeutic services to a wide variety of ages, genders, cultures, and populations. We pride ourselves on creating a warm, welcoming environment for each and every client who walks through our doors. We have therapists that reflect an array of different genders, ethnic backgrounds, and specialties, as we aim to meet the needs of our clients and match each person with a therapist that truly feels like the right fit.

I am a holistic psychotherapist and will work to help you integrate mind, body and spirit. I believe we all have the propensity for health and wellness. Together we can work with your acute crisis or your desire to explore a deeper connection to self. Helping individuals (children, teens, adults), couples and families throughout the Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay area....I look forward to meeting you, working with you and assisting you in achieving better mental health.

Warm Greetings. I'm here to support you in Living Your Best Life. Let's work together to get you there. I can help you navigate challenges & discover your path forward. I believe we all know how to heal ourselves. My role is to guide you in this process. My experience: 16 yrs. working with clients of all ages. Focus: Anxiety, depression, self-esteem, parenting, troubled teens, self-harm, divorce, substance abuse, Survivors of childhood sexual abuse & breast cancer. I also offer parents guidance navigating Special Education Systems in schools & colleges, assuring students receive needed accommodations & services.

My approach to counseling integrates evidence-based treatments (EMDR, DBT), mindfulness-awareness skills (MBCT, ACT) and person-centered counseling with art therapy theories and practices. In our sessions, I will work with you to increase wellness, improve your sense of self-compassion, build on your creativity and identify personal strengths. I will work with you to achieve the changes you seek in your unique journey of healing, growth, balance and sustained mental health in life.

Hello and bienvenidos. I have over 11 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. My approach to practice is tailored to the individual needs and style of each client. I enjoy working with people of all ages and backgrounds. My style is authentic, attentive, warm, yet playful and humorous. I strive to provide a safe and non-judgmental atmosphere where you can feel heard and understood. I enjoy working from an integrated approach that is person-centered, mindfulness-based, and rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

I am currently offering in-person and online individual and group sessions using expressive arts, mindfulness, biofeedback and neurofeedback techniques to decrease isolation and increase creative expression. Artistic expression may be done through an online collage program or with any materials you would like to use. This may include drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, music, movement, writing, photography, role play or any combination of these. The focus is on the creative process as a tool for transformation and manifestation, rather than on the quality of the product.

I like to work with people of all ages. Often with adults I am interested in getting beyond everyday conversation into deeper layers of self, incorporating an inward focus of the body, mind and spirit. I am eclectic and offer a strength-based approach to help with depression, anxiety, transitions, relationship challenges, overall stuckness and other challenges. My approach is humanistic and compassionate, providing the support needed to get through hardships into a more empowered, creative and celebratory self.

Congratulations for taking a step towards creating change. Finding a therapist can be challenging and it is important to find one who is right for you. I offer a free introductory session which we use to get to know each other. Clients often come into my office feeling hopeless or nervous, but usually leave feeling more hopeful and relaxed. I love to see people grow and thrive with the support of therapy. My style is warm, empathic, and collaborative. In our work together we draw on your strengths and wisdom and my goal is to empower you to create a more joyful and fulfilling life.

We are a non-profit counseling agency with locations in Santa Cruz, Watsonville, & Monterey. We provide high quality, affordable psychotherapy and counseling services to individuals, couples, families, and groups. Our fees are set on a sliding scale, based upon your income. Our services are provided by Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists and Master's level Interns and Trainees who are under the supervision of a licensed therapist. We would love to answer any questions you may have, or schedule an appointment to meet with you. Simply call or send us an email today!