Nope, there is no skill, experience or talent required! Regardless of your experience with art materials Art Therapy, Creative Coaching and any of the workshops, lounge experiences or retreats we offer can be a great option for you.  We focus on the mindful use of materials, being present and using color, marks and words to express feelings.

If you are one of the many who consider themselves “not good at art”   this perception can change and should not deter you from trying therapeutic art exercises. Lots of clients come to ArtStar with no experience, or comfort level with art, and are relieved to find it is not intimidating or skill based.

What we do at ArtStar is not about becoming good at art. However skill and confidence are often a by-product of participating in therapeutic art. In fact if you stopped making art at any age (because you decided /or were told you were “not good at art”) exploring yourself through therapeutic art could be a wonderful way to recover parts of yourself that have been sequestered or have not been able to be fully expressed. 

The great thing about therapeutic art is it provides another avenue for self-expression and serves as a catalyst for self-discovery, increased feelings of self-worth and provides a way to communicate complex thoughts and emotions without words. This  process can be very healing.

Another little know fact is that creating art in itself relieves stress. A 2016 study by Girija Kaimal showed 75% of participants' cortisol levels were reduced after just 45 minutes of art making. And these participants did not have any experience with art making !

Art making, and creative experiences in general, are positive activities everyone can benefit from. 

However therapeutic art exercises and Art Therapy can differ quite a lot from the experiences you may have had in school or a craft project. Unlike art education, where the focus is on learning skill and the quality of the finished product, art experiences at ArtStar are about the process---what the person learns about herself while creating the artwork. This process and the product are an external expression of an internal experience unique to you and are valuable tools for building insight about yourself.

The focus at ArtStar will be to  increase your level of creative expression and often a byproduct of trying new things and learning to quiet your inner critic is that you get more comfortable and your art skills naturally improve. 

The materials you start with in  Art Therapy or Coaching sessions may vary depending on what appeals to you and also what seems most beneficial to you. That being said materials used in sessions, and in other groups at ArtStar, may change as you begin to experience more ease in expression through art and the use of other creative arts methods. 

So the difference between art making alone and in services at ArtStar really is that we focus on expression with materials as a means to gain insight into specific emotions, thoughts etc. 

 It is important to note that while coaching does involve identifying patterns and issues that may be connected to the past, coaching is very different from therapy in that it’s main focus is on your future and how the present (you and your situation) may require adjustments (your behavior or beliefs) to effect change. Although coaching cannot be a substitute for therapy it can be a great addition to seeing a therapist. 
Please schedule a free consultation so we can determine the right fit for you.  

Art Therapy is a psycho therapeutic modality and combines talking (and not talking) with the creative process. This allows for exploration of self on multiple levels. 

In making a visual and symbolic expression of what is experienced internally art therapy engages the mind, body, and spirit in ways that are distinct from verbal articulation alone. 
In fact it can help us bypass the internal censors that activate when we use language. Often clients find art therapy can provide a means of release for pent up feelings such as anger and anxiety and this release makes room for new healing and growth.  

The creator's explanations in discussing what the art piece represents is also a key component of the art therapy. In many ways the art speaks from the subconscious and it is often in reviewing the piece, and what came up during and after, that insights are made. 

Most clients find that having a visual representation of feelings, thoughts and issues to reflect on in discussion helps them to understand their emotions in new ways, find more clarity and connects them to their own innate wisdom.

Art Therapy can be used as a stand alone treatment or can be added as a secondary/complementary form of therapy.  

I do not accept health insurance for my services and only offer Art Therapy through private payment.

In order to be more accessible to people who want to work with me I have set my rates lower, in comparison to the market rates charged by some therapists who are on insurance panels. I offer a sliding scale/scholarship for some spots in my Women's Support Groups and for Lounge Memberships. I reserve these spots for BIPOC women and women who are under financial duress. 

Starting with a consultation call allows us to determine if we are the right fit. Requesting a consultation call is easy, just click on the Schedule a Consultation button or schedule one through the Contact Page.

Rates: 

Art Therapy Packages*:
When you pre-pay for 12 sessions at once you also get a free Lounge Membership during the timeframe of these sessions, value of $37 per month)
 12 sessions (60 min each) $1200
12 sessions (75 min each) $1500
12 sessions (90 min each) $1800
* packages are non-refundable but unused sessions may be gifted to another person or to my scholarship fund for low income women and BIPOC women. 

Sliding Scale Rates: Currently I offer a sliding scale only for 60 minute sessions of Art Therapy. I offer a select number of scholarship spots for Support Groups and Art Lounge Memberships. These spots are reserved for women who are under financial duress and for women who are BIPOC. 

Payments : All fees are private pay via credit card, cash, or HSA card. When you complete the intake paperwork in my HIPPA compliant client portal, your card of choice will be stored. Your card will be automatically charged following your session. 

   
Please Note: sessions are available in-person as well as virtually through a confidential Telehealth Platform.

Scheduling:
During our initial consultation we can discuss what weekly day and time will work best for meeting and we will schedule to begin after you have completed the intake paperwork.

Time in Session:
We will meet for 60, 75 or 90 minute sessions. (75+ minutes is ideal*).

Why not just the standard 55 minute therapy session?
Most people find that even an hour long session can feel tight. A longer session* times allow for me to provide a higher quality service as we have ample time for talking, art making, review and wrapping up the session.

Frequency: I recommend weekly sessions because I know this is the frequency and consistency needed for clients to experience lasting change and break patterns/beliefs that have been present since childhood. Bi-weekly and monthly sessions may be your preference and I will try to accommodate this if we decide to work together.

Duration of Treatment :
The duration of therapy is tailored to each individual client (most of my clients are in therapy for at least six months). Therapy ends when you feel you've reached your goals (or when I gently nudge you that you're ready).

My business is primarily focused on serving women/girls 13 and up . I also recognize that there are people who are non-binary and may also like to use my services. I want ArtStar to be inclusive of the queer community and my community guidelines speak to this in respect for and use of personal pronouns. 

As I am a cis straight woman this is my primary lens and expertise. My professional experience does include working with the queer community but this work has not been my primary focus nor is my speciality by any means. I am available to work 1:1 with individual women and teen girls and booking a consultation call is the best way to determine if we are a good fit. If not I am also happy to refer you to someone who is. 

As ArtStar's Community is open to participants across the globe, having a community where thoughtful, nonjudgemental discourse happens is very important. 

With this goal in mind ArtStar's group and community guidelines require that each participant agree to 

My pledge: As the facilitator my goal is to ensure a respectful and comfortable experience for all who attend groups. I will do my very best to be attuned, and speak to, anything that is upsetting or strays from these guidelines. I will regularly remind members of the intention behind these expectations and address any problems that arise.

Questions/concerns/complaints: Participants can always bring concerns to my attention at:  artstarlounge@gmail.com

Consultation Call (20 min):  Free

Coaching Packages (75 min): 

(After scheduling, a link for the session will be sent to you, we will meet via Zoom).

If we agree we are a good fit for working together, I will have you complete some preliminary questionnaires we will begin with a 90 min Introductory Coaching Session. After this session will meet for a minimum of 3 sessions. (If that's all it takes that's fantastic), but this is usually not the case. The reason I start with a minimum of 3 sessions is that( in most cases) this time is required to assess your needs and determine first steps in helping you meet your goals. Ideally, for a strong foundation, these 3 sessions will occur within the first 6 weeks following our introductory session. Once we have defined goals and tasks most clients find meeting monthly works well, however this can vary by person and situation. You  can continue with coaching at your own pace, until you have reached your goal or for as long as you have goals you want to work on. 

Coaching hones in on what may not be working well in your life and the beliefs you have, about yourself or others, that may be holding you back. Seeing results from coaching can take a few sessions, several months of regular coaching sessions or even require on-going sessions over a longer period. The number of sessions you need will depend on you and your situation and this can only be determined once we start our work together.

 What is the timeframe for using coaching packages, and what if I don't use them all?

You can use your sessions over any timeframe you desire. Sessions do not expire, however they are not refundable.

If you choose not to use all your sessions you may gift them to someone else or to my scholarship program for BIPOC women or women who are under financial duress. 

“Art therapists are master-level clinicians who work with people of all ages across a broad spectrum of practice. Trained as integrative mental health and human services professionals Art therapists enrich the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within the psycho therapeutic relationship.

Honoring individuals’ values and beliefs, art therapists work with people who are challenged with medical and mental health problems, as well as individuals seeking emotional, creative, and spiritual growth.Art therapists work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in diverse settings.”*
*(Taken from the American Art Therapy Association)

For further information about the field of Art Therapy see:
www.arttherapy.org
www.ieata.org

There are many counselors and psychotherapists who have dual degrees (ie. offer both counseling and art therapy) and can bill insurance for these services. 

How do I find an Art Therapist where I live?
You can search Art Therapists listed by state here:
https://arttherapy.org/art-therapist-locator/

If you would like to find a Talk Therapist/Counselor who also offers Art Therapy you can search providers by their specific skills on Psychology Today here : https://www.psychologytoday.com