Author: Rachel Degen

Written by Elizabeth Moreno, Licensed Independent Social Worker

Over the last 10 years, I have had the privilege of walking side by side with hundreds of kiddos and families as they navigate their child’s mental health. Over the years, I have learned the importance of including the family unit in helpful and healthy changes to best support the child in ways that they need. I have seen kids who never thought they would graduate high school, graduate with college degrees. I’ve sat with families that never thought they would be able to eat dinner together as a family without yelling, come together and go on week long vacations.  I’ve seen kids that couldn’t imagine what it would be like living another day, continue to live and thrive despite the challenges that they continue to face. 

Children, teens and families are so resilient. And the work that families and their children put into their health is unlike any other that I have witnessed. The first step is one of the hardest steps to overcome when targeting children’s mental health. It takes courage and trust in providers. The commitment can be large but know that the weekly appointments will turn into monthly, the constant medication changes will turn into finding the right fit for your child, and the sadness and anger that you are feeling now, is not forever, only temporary when you get the support that your child and your family needs. 

Working with kids and families is an honor that is indescribable. If you’ve been a client of mine—thank you—you have changed my life. If you’ve been a family member of mine—thank you for all the trial and error that it takes to find the right course of treatment for your child and for trusting me with the most important piece of your life. It is one of my biggest blessings to serve the children and families that trust me. 

Written by Sierra Lauber, PhD, Postdoctoral Psychologist

Art has a unique ability to reach parts of ourselves that words often cannot. Art in therapy can serve as a powerful medium for expression, exploration, and healing. For clients across the lifespan, art can facilitate a new way of seeing emotions or past experiences, and may help externalize thoughts that are difficult to express aloud. The physical act of making art turns internal experiences into something visible and tangible, allowing clients to translate feelings into form. This process then becomes something the client and therapist can explore together, helping the client build insight, make meaning, and better understand themselves in ways that may not have been possible through talking alone.

Art can help a person better understand how they view themselves in the context of the world. It often becomes a catalyst for conversation, leading to insights that may not have surfaced through talking alone. It offers a way to communicate experiences when words are unavailable or insufficient. On the surface, drawing, painting, collage, or clay work may be mistaken as mere arts and crafts. In reality, these creative processes can profoundly deepen therapeutic engagement. Clients’ artwork may capture something they want to remember, work through, release, or reclaim. The act of creating that image, and deciding what happens to it, can intensify the emotional weight and meaning of the work in ways words alone cannot.

In fact, emerging research suggests that engaging in creative processes like art-making may support the neuroplasticity, or more simply, the brain’s ability to rewire and adapt. This is especially relevant in the mental health field because emerging neuroscience suggests persons struggling with mental health conditions such as depression or PTSD experience disruptions in neuroplasticity, influencing the brains ability to recover from stress. Consequently, there is a growing body of cross disciplinary experts interested in ways creative therapeutic interventions may offer a biologically plausible path toward healing.

All of that emphasized, integrating art into therapy can offer benefits for all ages. This is especially important for adults, who often lose touch with play and creativity as responsibilities grow. Using art in therapy can safely reintroduce these elements in a way that feels accessible. It is not about being an artist; it is about engaging in a process that fosters emotional growth, reflection, and stress relief. Just as play therapy helps children process through play, creative expression can promote healing across the lifespan.

Of course, there are several ways to facilitate therapeutic growth and one of the most critical factors is client and therapist alignment throughout the process. Often times, we see this integrated as a therapy method with children because art is often readily enjoyed. However, for any adults interested but who may be hesitant, I encourage you to remember that art, and its benefits, are for everyone.

Note: Art Therapy is an evidenced-based, specialized discipline requiring specific training. I am not an Art Therapist, I am a Counseling Psychologist who uses evidence-based therapy in my practice and integrate art as a modality to facilitate and deepen the use of the evidenced based practices I am trained in. Art within therapy to support therapeutic goals, facilitate processing, and deepen the work we do together.

Written by Elizabeth Moreno, Licensed Independent Social Worker

Roses are Red,

Violets are Blue,

Show Love to Others,

And Yourself Too!

February is a time where the holiday of love is celebrated. Most of the time, it is focused on how we can love and care for others and show our gratitude to them. If you are a parent, how can you pour into yourself and your child this month?

Some ways that I encourage parents to show gratitude and love to their children is creating holiday traditions. Cookie decorating, giving the child an affirmation each day of the month, or something as simple as engaging in a game where you begin with “I love you because…” and take turns sharing things you love about one another.

One of my favorite traditions that I engage in is writing a card to those in my inner circles about reasons why I love them.

While pouring love into others is important, it is also important to pour love and healing into ourselves.

Some ways to practice self-love and gratitude this month might include:

• Searching for the sun everyday this month (there is lots of research on how good natural light is for us!)
• Writing affirmations on the mirror each morning
• Dancing to your favorite song
• Taking time to color
• Making a card to yourself about all the reasons why you love yourself (why not?!)

Try to set aside time for yourself each day this month and engage in something that makes you feel
special and loved. Pause, breathe and remind yourself of a reason that you are important, special and
loved.

The more love that you can pour into yourself, the more energy and love you can have for others!