Photo of Erin McNally, Licensed Professional Counselor in 15235, PA
Erin McNally
Licensed Professional Counselor, MS, LPC
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Penn Hills, PA 15235
Hello! I am happy to help guide your through the fog we call life. At some point in our lives, we need an extra hand to get through the struggles and to find our purpose again. Let me assist with this journey. During our time together, I want to help you seek your highest potential with styles of person centered approaches with a touch of Cognitive behavior therapy. These approaches will help you identify the areas that need a little boost and ways to change it. If seeking child/ treatment, I require family participation. At this time, I am seeing clients ages 5 to adults on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Hello! I am happy to help guide your through the fog we call life. At some point in our lives, we need an extra hand to get through the struggles and to find our purpose again. Let me assist with this journey. During our time together, I want to help you seek your highest potential with styles of person centered approaches with a touch of Cognitive behavior therapy. These approaches will help you identify the areas that need a little boost and ways to change it. If seeking child/ treatment, I require family participation. At this time, I am seeing clients ages 5 to adults on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
(878) 201-6597 View (878) 201-6597
Expressive Arts Therapists

What happens in expressive arts therapy?

In an expressive arts therapy session, the therapist will provide the space and materials necessary to encourage the client to express themselves creatively. These can include art supplies, musical instruments, a journal, a camera, and more. The therapist offers careful guidance throughout the creative process, often noticing and talking about psychological issues as they arise. Many clients also benefit from the mind-body connection—the physical act of making art can help them feel more grounded and present.

How long does expressive arts therapy take?

An expressive arts therapy session will typically last between 50 minutes and an hour. Group sessions may run longer. Sometimes, a client might only need one or two sessions of expressive arts therapy in conjunction with talk therapy to resolve a psychological issue. Others might find a fixed number of sessions over the course of either weeks or months to be beneficial. The duration depends on the client and their individual needs and goals for therapy.

How does expressive arts therapy help children?

Creativity is an important part of normal child development. Expressive arts therapy proves a safe outlet for child clients to learn to identify their emotions and express them in healthy ways. In expressive arts therapy, children can build their self-esteem, discover more about their personality and strengths, and feel a sense of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic world. This therapeutic approach can be particularly helpful for children with developmental disabilities, autism, ADHD, speech impairments, and other conditions.

What are the limitations of expressive arts therapy?

Sometimes individuals have physical limitations that can affect their ability to express themselves artistically in certain mediums. For example, someone with hearing problems might find it difficult to make music. Sickness and mobility issues can make some types of art physically inaccessible (e.g., sculpting, dancing, etc.). Sometimes, clients are overly skeptical and have trouble letting go and engaging with the creative process. Individuals who require a higher level of care may be better served with other types of therapy.