Expressive Arts Therapists in Melrose Park, PA

Do you feel alone in the world, like there is no one who understands? Do you wish you could find a clear path, but wonder what that would look like, or how to find it? I will work closely with you, helping you navigate the storms of life that can make one's path more challenging. I can help you reconnect to your inner guidance, so you can place your feet more solidly on the ground. I believe we all have the ability to tap into our own inner wisdom. If you feel your voice or intuitive knowing has been silenced, I will work with you to find it again. If you are searching for your calling, I will help you listen.

Therapy is a partnership of trust; a safe place to give voice, transform experience and practice new ways of being. What is dark and daunting to do alone becomes possible with guidance and presence. Positive self-care and higher self-trust are key to feeling calmer and energized to make decisions and act in alignment with our authentic self. I support clients to gain insight into self-defeating thoughts and patterns, and learn new tools to cope with hardship with renewed confidence and balance. Clients with intense feelings, burnout and a harsh inner critic learn to relate to themselves and others with more compassion and ease.

As your therapist, I hold with deep respect and appreciation the unique role I play in your life. I know it takes a great deal of courage to start therapy and how necessary it is to find the right fit. My aim is to create a welcoming environment where you feel safe, trusting and open to be yourself. My approach is warm, attentive, caring and nonjudgmental. I am licensed in PA and TN, however only offer in-person options for PA residents and telehealth only for TN residents.

Hi! My name is Shira Collings (she/they). I am a feminist, neurodiversity affirming, LGBTQ+ affirming, fat affirming, and disability justice aligned therapist. I am passionate about supporting people in living a life that is aligned with their true values, and healing from both external and internalized oppression that may be impacting their well-being. I strive to create a space in which clients can express their full, authentic selves and share their stories without shame or judgment.

As a dedicated counselor, I envision my ideal clients as individuals who are not merely in search of healing but also aspire to personal growth. These could be individuals or families, particularly those of color, who have weathered various forms of trauma or injustices. The issues they grapple with might span a spectrum from anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem to the aftermath of enduring abuse or addiction. These individuals seek a sanctuary, a place where they can freely express their emotions, analyze their experiences, and most importantly, lay the groundwork for a journey towards holistic healing.

Becoming a parent and/or experiencing traumatic loss are some of the most complex life events one can have. This change can evoke unexpected conflicting emotions, fears and uncertainty, a new identity, and relational stress. My focus is to therapeutically support mothers during pregnancy, postpartum, and reproductive health experiences including infertility/treatments, birth trauma, miscarriages, and loss. My clinical approach is grounded in combining trauma-informed evidence-based practices, the expressive arts, and knowledge of perinatal mental health to individualize patient care during this delicate time.

I am a licensed professional counselor with 20+ years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults in individual and group settings. My specialties include trauma issues, PTSD, anxiety, grief and loss. Trauma is not specific to violence but results from experiences such as death of family members/friends, chronic and acute illness, animal attacks, natural disasters, dealing with suicide, separation from parents, divorce, domestic violence and war. I work with active duty military, veterans and first responders and their families, engaging EMDR, Accelerated resolution therapy (ART) and Brain Spotting.

I believe that one of the most important aspects of therapy is the relationship between client and therapist. I prioritize co-creating a space that is warm, non-judgmental, built on trust, and rooted in mutual respect. I approach therapy from a psychodynamic perspective, and I'm interested in how our past experiences continue to shape the present. Using this approach in concert with mindfulness, IFS, CBT, and expressive arts, I work to support you in sitting with and working through difficult emotions.

Each of us has the capacity to flourish into our true potential. I work with children, adolescents, and adults to uncover their wholeness and belonging, which may be clouded by challenging behaviors or feelings such as shame, guilt, anger, anxiety, grief, or hopelessness. I specialize in working with people of all ages who are struggling with anxiety, depression, complex PTSD, attachment and relationship issues, sexuality and gender expression, creativity and self-esteem.

We have the capacity to express ourselves beyond just talking about our experiences and feelings. It is in our innate nature to access other ways of processing that utilizes art as a language. Cambridge Dictionary defines "art"- a noun synonymous with expression, as: "the making of objects, images, music, etc. that are beautiful or that express feelings". Still Emerging Expressive Arts Therapy offers an unconventional approach to therapeutic work, utilizing various forms of expression, including: visual art, movement, writing and sound. No skill is necessary, just a deep longing and desire to express yourself free of judgment.

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~Anais Nin. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor providing an empowerment and strength-based approach to support individuals in personal growth and change. I am a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor specializing in play therapy with children, family therapy, creative counseling for adolescents, and trauma-informed treatment. I utilize an integrative, mindful approach to address the whole individual and promote healing and wellness.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing individual and family therapy services. I am LGBTQ-affirming and specialize in working with teens, young adults, and families around depression, suicidality, gender and sexuality, neurodiversity, and trauma. Therapy can be a vulnerable and formative process, and it is important to find a therapist that feels like a good fit for you! I practice from a relational, social-justice-oriented, trauma-informed, systemic lens. I believe that change comes from authentic connection between a client and a therapist, involvement of a supportive network, and a mutual collaboration around treatment.

The decision to seek therapy is unique and personal to each one of us. Whether you're seeking help for a specific life event or looking to understand ongoing struggles, I'm here to offer a supportive and a judgment-free space for you to show up, just as you are, as you begin your process of personal healing and growth. I work with clients with a wide array of issues including depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, and those struggling with substance abuse. We will work together to understand how personal experiences have shaped your present-day reality, including beliefs about yourself and how you engage in the world.

Is this you? Your wonderful qualities of being sensitive and deep can also lead to having poor boundaries and getting depleted. You long to trust yourself and your decisions. You struggle to use your voice effectively in relationships and to feel seen, heard, and met. You’re not living as creatively or as soul aligned as you want to; You know there's something more for you but you're not sure how to get there. You want healing that goes beyond just getting out of pain, and instead creates deep transformation for you, your community, and the world. Nature, music, movement, and art are healing, energizing, and inspiring for you.

You’re caught in a cycle of 'shoulds': I should be happy. I should be grateful. I should be stronger. I should get over it. You worry that you’re a hopeless cause. Maybe you’re on the verge of giving up: Am I destined to live this way forever? Is healing even possible? Living with disordered eating, trauma, addiction, and loss is painful. Diet culture and body hate gaslight us into believing that we are not worthy. As a result, we shut ourselves off from relationships and experiences. We seek ways to numb the pain. In the end, we wind up denying ourselves the pleasure of living fully.

Now offering virtual and in person therapy. As one of a handful of psychologists worldwide with a doctorate in Somatic (body-oriented) Psychology, I am able to work with the cognitive, emotional, somatic, spiritual, and energetic aspects of a person. I am an ideal therapist for people that have tried traditional therapy and feel that "something was missing".

I welcome someone who is ready to make life changes and would like assistance to take them from where they are to where they want to be. A willingness to work with a supportive, experienced (since 1979) social worker/therapist who uses dynamic and interactive approaches, knowing that I am the guide, and you are the one who knows yourself best and that healing comes from within. Relationship, self esteem, body image, career goals, family challenge, sexuality, spirituality, illness, loss, addiction, depression or anxiety related issues. I offered my first TEDx talk called Overcoming the Taboo of Touch, about platonic touch by consent.

If you are experiencing increased stress, anxiety, depression, or mood changes please contact me. I am an EMDRIA certified EMDR therapist and have extensive experience with eating disorders and body image issues. I am interested in helping the whole person, paying attention to the intersection of spiritual, physical, and emotional health-to encourage overall well-being. I believe that the counseling relationship is critical to the healing process, so I strive to create a warm, genuine, understanding, and safe environment, while using evidence-based treatments.

Feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Having someone to talk to in a safe and confidential environment may help. I am a Licensed Psychologist with over 15 years of behavioral health experience. I work from a holistic approach that integrates various aspects of healing. I believe that therapy is a collaborative process between the therapist and client, in an effort to achieve optimal wellness and sustainable growth.