Expressive Arts Therapists in 22193
Dawn Gallagher
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC, CCTP
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Woodbridge, VA 22193
CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. Dawn is a Licensed Professional Counselor & Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with over 30 years of helping experience. Dawn is a compassionate, caring, & empathic therapist with extensive experience working within inpatient & outpatient mental health settings. She utilizes an integrative & strength-based approach to therapy, incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, & Solution-Focused Therapy. Dawn specializes in many areas including, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, PTSD, women’s issues, & stage of life concerns.
CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS. Dawn is a Licensed Professional Counselor & Certified Clinical Trauma Professional with over 30 years of helping experience. Dawn is a compassionate, caring, & empathic therapist with extensive experience working within inpatient & outpatient mental health settings. She utilizes an integrative & strength-based approach to therapy, incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, & Solution-Focused Therapy. Dawn specializes in many areas including, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, PTSD, women’s issues, & stage of life concerns.
While we possess many innate tools to cope effectively with adversity, there are many factors that can serve as barriers to achieving and maintaining a healthy balance in life. Whether these barriers relate to internal processes or external circumstances, I believe that it is often beneficial for us to practice vocalizing our experience to others. Doing so can serve as a protective factor, helping us to cope more effectively with any radical internal monologues that may pop up from time to time.
While we possess many innate tools to cope effectively with adversity, there are many factors that can serve as barriers to achieving and maintaining a healthy balance in life. Whether these barriers relate to internal processes or external circumstances, I believe that it is often beneficial for us to practice vocalizing our experience to others. Doing so can serve as a protective factor, helping us to cope more effectively with any radical internal monologues that may pop up from time to time.
Jasmine Nejat
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC
Verified Verified
Prince William, VA 22193 (Online Only)
Not accepting new clients
I use clinical approaches and mind-body coping strategies such as mindfulness, guided imagery, and breath work techniques to put tools on your tool belt to cope. In addition to being a licensed professional counselor (LPC) I am also a registered yoga and meditation teacher. My goal is to bridge the gap between mind, body, and spirit, and help make it safe to come home to yourself, to your body, and to your life. I'm not steering the course of our work; you are, and I will be there as a guide. I am grateful for each story I have been able to be apart of and am grateful for the chance to be a part of yours.
I use clinical approaches and mind-body coping strategies such as mindfulness, guided imagery, and breath work techniques to put tools on your tool belt to cope. In addition to being a licensed professional counselor (LPC) I am also a registered yoga and meditation teacher. My goal is to bridge the gap between mind, body, and spirit, and help make it safe to come home to yourself, to your body, and to your life. I'm not steering the course of our work; you are, and I will be there as a guide. I am grateful for each story I have been able to be apart of and am grateful for the chance to be a part of yours.
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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.