Creative Therapy Umbrella

In this episode, Melissa talks about her vast experiences working with many clients during her art therapy career. She discusses current groups that she works with focusing on burnout and mindfulness. Melissa shares the story of her own community arts initiative called Open House BK and the balancing act of being a visiting instructor and clinician. Take a listen and enjoy! Melissa is an artist and a licensed, registered, board-certified art therapist. She holds a Masters in Art Therapy & Creativity Development from Pratt Institute, certification in Integrated Mental Health/Addiction Treatment, and a BFA in Painting from The University of Central Florida. Melissa has ten years of experience as a Creative Arts Therapist, working as a primary therapist, group therapist, and program assistant director. Melissa uses art therapy interventions to support individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, mental illness, developmental disorders, addiction, familial issues, life transitions, and stigmatization. Melissa's clients can expect an eclectic approach to using art in therapy that includes tools and theory from humanistic, attachment, and behavioral practice approaches, interwoven with mindfulness and self-compassion.  She meets her clients where they are right now and uses creativity and art to help them get to where they want to be.  In addition to her work as a therapist, Melissa founded Open House BK (est. 2010), a community arts initiative that provides affordable pop-up events, emerging artist exhibitions, and therapeutic workshops. Open House BK strives to shed light on the arts and community as integral for social justice, personal healing, and progress. Currently, Melissa is a Visiting Instructor for Pratt Institute’s Art Therapy Department and Chapter Delegate to the New York Art Therapy Association. Melissa is also a practicing studio artist, exhibiting in galleries, universities, and alternative spaces. In her artwork, she creates interactive installation art as a source of viewer engagement. Melissa believes creativity exists within everyone, serving as a gateway to heal, transform, and explore the impact of one’s internal and external experiences. Check out Melissa on Instagram and see her studio website! New York Creative Arts Therapists Open House BK New York Art Therapy Association Lisa Dion's Book "Aggression in Play Therapy" The book mentioned about Bob Ross, Happy Clouds, Happy Trees Motivational Interviewing  Follow us on Instagram! Looking for more creative content? Sign up for our newsletter and get a free creativity guide! Join the Creative Therapy Umbrella Hub Facebook group to further discuss, collaborate, and create with your fellow creative arts therapy community! Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice!

In this episode, we chat with Lisa who is a licensed social worker and an author. She has created a vast library of resources for therapists, especially around the use of journaling as an adjunct for a variety of therapeutic modalities. Lisa's books are a wonderful addition to any therapist's library for personal or professional use. Lisa M. Schab, LCSW is a psychotherapist with a private counseling practice in the greater Chicago, IL area.  She is the author of 18 self-help books for children, teens,  and adults, including the international best-sellers, The Anxiety Workbook for Teens and The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens, as well as the new series of creative guided journals which include Put Your Worries Here (for managing anxiety) and Put Your Feelings Here (for managing intense emotions.) Connect with Lisa at her website or check out more of her books!! Put Your Worries Here: An Anxiety Workbook for Teens Put Your Feelings Here: A Creative DBT Journal for Teens with Intense Emotions (The Instant Help Guided Journal for Teens Series) Continuing Education Course- Writing It Out: Journaling as an Adjunct to Therapy Continuing Education Course- Journaling II: Directed Exercises for Journaling Follow Creative Therapy Umbrella on Instagram! Looking for more creative content? Sign up for our newsletter and get a free creativity guide! Join the Creative Therapy Umbrella Hub Facebook group to further discuss, collaborate, and create with your fellow creative arts therapy community! Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice!

In this episode, Emily shares her history as a school counselor and her exciting new journey to becoming a drama therapist. Emily tells a beautiful experience about the power of psychodrama and embodiment during her graduate courses. Improvisation is an incredible tool that Emily describes, she takes us through the joy of "yes and", and so lovingly shares her experience with finding her weirdos.  Enjoy this episode! Emily Kreiger, M.Ed. is a School Counselor, Improv Comedian, and Drama Therapy Alternative track student. She is a creative who wants to bring mental health support in new and innovative ways. Her self-care includes dog walking and pizza Fridays. She would like to remind you to find your passion and make that your life. Find Emily on Instagram and her soon website! Follow Creative Therapy Umbrella on Instagram! Looking for more creative content? Sign up for our newsletter and get a free creativity guide! Join the Creative Therapy Umbrella Hub Facebook group to further discuss, collaborate, and create with your fellow creative arts therapy community! Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice!

This episode is the first-ever release with more than one guest, and it was a blast! Katie, Haley, and Candace joined in from different time zones to tell us about their awesome business called Music Therapy Made Simple. Whether you are a music therapist or another creative arts therapist looking for support, these guys have it all! Take a listen and don't forget to check out their website that is FULL of goodies! Music Therapy Made Simple was created out of an eagerness to support and connect with music therapy professionals, students, and other service providers. We believe that all helping professionals deserve to feel supported, connected, and valued. Our team has been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by fantastic mentors and friends along our music therapy journey and we are motivated to help other professionals and students feel that way too. Our mission is to support music therapy professionals and students by...  Creating innovative solutions Providing tools for success Cultivating confidence How do we do that? Music Therapy Made Simple... Provides online music therapy materials and resources (session plans, visuals, songwriting tools, etc.) Offers 1:1 supervision and consultations through email, phone, and video platforms to meet your unique client and personal needs Check out Music Therapy Made Simple on Facebook and follow them on Instagram! Plans and Documentation Consultation Find out more about Katie, Haley, and Candace here! Follow Creative Therapy Umbrella on Instagram! Looking for more creative content? Sign up for our newsletter and get a free creativity guide! Join the Creative Therapy Umbrella Hub Facebook group to further discuss, collaborate, and create with your fellow creative arts therapy community! Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice!

"Begin Anywhere." Along with this amazing quote, Julia Grace is moving mountains with her work in elder care, dance/movement therapy, and intergenerational supports. She talks about her training as an expressive arts therapist, her love of movement, and the creation of ALMA, as well as the accidental development of The Wave Silent Disco. Don't miss out on this beautiful episode discussion care for all ages and the importance of belonging at every stage of life. Julia Grace is an advocate for using the arts in healthcare. As a licensed psychotherapist specializing in expressive arts and dance/movement therapy, she is devoted to music, movement, and creativity in helping human beings thrive. Julia Grace has a natural way of connecting with the elderly. She grew up very close to her grandparents, and with the loss of her father in her early 20s,  the bond between them grew even stronger. Being a healthcare proxy for both grandparents in their end of life, Julia was exposed to the elder longterm care system.  ALMA is her response, established for systemic and societal change in the way the elders are cared for as well as to spread awareness about the positive impact of the arts and intergenerational connection in elder care. Julia Grace holds a Masters in Clinical Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy is a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist, and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, with her private practice in Los Angeles, CA. Check out Julia, Alma, and Wave Silent Disco on Instagram! ALMA main website Alive Inside Lesley University Follow Creative Therapy Umbrella on Instagram! Looking for more creative content? Sign up for our newsletter and get a free creativity guide! Join the Creative Therapy Umbrella Hub Facebook group to further discuss, collaborate, and create with your fellow creative arts therapy community! Have feedback? Fill out our anonymous survey to let us know your thoughts, concerns, questions, suggestions, and feedback. For us to serve you better, we need to hear YOUR voice!