Expressive Arts Therapists in Oakmont, PA

Recovering from an eating disorder and/or severe trauma can frequently be difficult. My broad training and extensive experience enables me to work with patients in a variety of ways including traditional therapeutic approaches, the incorporation of art therapy as a component of treatment, and the use of EMDR. I work with each individual patient to determine the type of approach that best matches her personality and therapeutic needs. I have been one of the first psychotherapists to make use of expressive arts and EMDR in the treatment of eating disorders.

In the words of Mr. Rogers, “Play is really the work of childhood." I see kids who have prenatal, preverbal, or early childhood trauma; attachment and behavioral issues; or struggle with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and anger. I will work with you to create a flexible treatment plan tailored to your child's individual needs, using techniques like prescriptive play therapy, filial therapy, expressive arts, sandtray, geek therapy, and attachment-based activities to directly address and heal the impact of stress on the body and brain. I help identify the reasons for children’s behavior and healthier ways to meet those needs.

I believe in using a holistic, strength based approach that builds on your current assets to help you achieve your goals. I work collaboratively with you to focus on individual whole health, which includes identifying your aspirations and emphasizing empowerment and self care. I have experience creating a safe and warm environment in which to incorporate evidenced based interventions and coping strategies to help improve focus and manage anxiety, grief, and depression. I also utilize expressive arts to help identify unique, creative approaches to help you improve the quality of your life.

Due to my own lived experiences, I strive to create an affirming space for those who are fat, queer, polyamorous/non-monogamous, in/visibly disabled, gender-expansive, and/or expectant parents. Together, we will 1) gain a deeper understanding of your relationships to Self and others, 2) deconstruct systems & expand your knowledge of your own privileged & marginalized positions, and 3) learn about your attachment style & family systems position. Additionally, creatives who wish to expand our process beyond discussion and into music, poetry, and other expressive arts will find that those mediums can be interwoven into our work.

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.

Are you a young adult dealing primarily with anxiety and life transition issues? This could be a recent college graduate starting their first big job, a major transition. I like walking beside them through these transitions and being an additional support. I also like helping people learn breathing techniques to manage anxiety and learn about polyvagal theory and a bottom-up approach. I enjoy working with clients who can articulate their goals, such as managing anxiety better and working on anxiety in different settings.

Choosing to start therapy takes courage. It's not easy to look within one's self and challenge yourself to change. In our work together, I will support you in your journey towards personal growth, discovery and change. As an Art Therapist, I believe that engaging in the art process has a powerful way of touching the deepest aspects of one's soul. Through creative approaches in therapy, you can connect authentically with yourself and thrive. Regardless of what brings you to therapy, I can help each person use the process to grow.

Being an adult is hard, especially for women. Having to make difficult decisions about your career, relationships, future, process things about your past, or set boundaries with those around you -- can feel seemingly impossible. Balancing a career, household, and/or a relationship can be taxing, anxiety provoking, draining, and leave you feeling completely depleted. But these aren't impossible things to tackle, and there is hope for a better, more peaceful, balanced you. You are only one step away from beginning a journey to better take care of yourself. And it starts here.

Art Therapy is for everyone! I work with individuals from diverse cultures and existences; feeling that being accepting, respectful, and genuine are characteristics essential in a therapist. I also offer spiritual, logistical, emotional, and mental support to those dealing with loss, adversity, resilience, attachment, relationships, gender, identity, ADHD, anxiety, depression. I work with those in early adulthood, adults, and later life adults. LGBTQIA, as well as kinky folks find a place of acceptance in my office. People who require direct communication are well-served by my direct, person-centered, Humanistic approach.

My goal is to help you get un-stuck. I work with people in their 20s-40s dealing with things like anxiety, trauma, chronic illness, life transitions, and grief. The stress response helps keep us alive, but when we get stuck there we start to feel disconnected from ourselves and the world around us. Not only do I want to help you explore thoughts, gain insight, and empower you to feel confident in your decisions, I want to help your body finally feel safe and grounded. I want to help you find the coping skills to get out of a state of hyperarousal and back into a place of safety and connection.

Sometimes you feel like something is off, but you're unsure what it is. Your head is clouded with too many thoughts or information to make clear decisions about your career, relationships, or health. You ask for advice from others, but their insight doesn't help. You research different ideas, but the internet is saturated. You feel stuck, unsure, or overwhelmed. You hope and pray that the answers will just come to you. And the truth is, when we become so self-aware that we wholeheartedly trust our intuition, those answers CAN come to you instantly, with no doubt, no fear, and no guilt. You just need a mirror to reflect your power!

Pamela Gibson is a Board-Certified Licensed Behavior Specialist through the Board of Medicine and a Women Life Coach. Her behavioral health and social service journey began over 14 years ago providing therapeutic support to preschoolers, teens, adults, marriages, and seniors up to 90 years of age.

Everyone experiences life in their own way and therefore our thoughts, feelings and perceptions are unique to each individual. Although words are our primary method of communication, words sometimes cannot fully express our emotions and experiences. As a Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC), as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), I use art making and creativity specified to meet your individual needs to help guide you and your family towards healing and wellness.

My mission is to join with others in pursuit of healing, empowerment, & liberation. Those who work with me are often exploring issues of gender, sexuality, disability, racial identity, complex trauma, and relationships. We often focus on alleviating the anxiety, depression, and disconnection from self & others that can result from our lived experiences. Together, we work towards building self-understanding so you can make decisions about your life & relationships with awareness and intention.

Therapists at Alliance Therapy Center have immediate openings for clients, now including children ages 3 and up! Click our website link to request an appointment. We look forward to working with you!

We provide counseling services to individuals, couples and families through Western Pennsylvania. Whether you are seeking treatment as an individual adult, a child, or teen, our multi-specialty approach will support your goals of resolving emotional, psychological, and relationship issues. For couples and families, our mental health specialists are experts in supporting your relationship as you gain greater friendship, intimacy, and communication barriers.

Saving Sanity, LLC is a private practice of Professional Counselors with a vision of inspiring individuals to achieve their greatest human potential. We have a mission to empower individuals by creating a supportive space in which personal growth and healing can occur. Please visit savingsanity.org to view our available therapists.

You wake up exhausted, dreading the day ahead before you’ve even opened your eyes. You can’t tell if you’re hungry or sad or anxious or mad–maybe you’re all of those at once. You hide your truest self in exchange for acceptance and love. You struggle to say “no,” even when you know you need to, because the cost of disappointing others is greater than the cost of disappointing yourself. The world feels overwhelming–too fast, too bright, too unpredictable. Your brain tells you that if only you were stronger, tried harder, were less sensitive–the list goes on and on. If only–then maybe, if you were different, life would be easier.