Art Therapy in Evanston, IL

I am immediately open for new clients, both long and short-term, and have Tuesday-Saturday availability. I believe that therapy is a journey in which the client and therapist are both guide and companion, with the client choosing their path and the therapist providing support and knowledge to better achieve the clients’ goals and needs. My ideal client is open to new experiences and different perspectives. I want us to work together to build a personalized narrative and care plan, through experimentation and a collaborative approach. I also love and offer short-term and long-term ADHD skills coaching.

Tough starts, early trauma, and missing pieces in our life story can affect how we feel about ourselves, connect to others, and manage day to day. As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, I have 25 years of experience working with children, youth and families in the context of child welfare. I am trained in adoption-competent mental health and have extensive experience working with individuals with developmental trauma, including those impacted by foster care. Looking at challenges through this lens can shed new light on what is happening and what is needed to move forward with less struggle and greater connection.

Adults going through a transition (such as a job loss, divorce, are receiving mental health treatment, retiring, or dealing w/ an artist block) and seeking some sort of change. They can utilize this art process to discover or gain insights on this life change. We also serve children, teens, and families with process-based art programs. We provide professional development for LCPCs/LPC/LCSW and CPDUs for Illinois Educators. We partner with schools with a social-emotional learning art curriculum and partner with many community agencies to provide their clients with art workshops.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the effects of trauma, by challenging circumstances, or just feeling stuck in life? Do you have a hard time expressing or describing your feeling in words?  My therapy is rooted in care and trust. With compassion, understanding and guidance, I assist my clients to increase their self-esteem, confidence, and self-awareness and reconnect with their own inner strength to overcome the hardships in their lives. With my background as a clinical trauma specialist, an expressive artist and a Japanese immigrant, I am uniquely positioned to help guide you towards a more positive and empowered life journey.

Sometimes people aren't sure what to work on in therapy. That's okay! We will work collaboratively to identify core concerns, and decide together how to address them. Some issues I've helped people work through include depression, grief, pregnancy loss, life transitions, creative blocks, self-esteem, disempowerment, and spiritual alienation. My approach is insight oriented and psychodynamic, and while I am an art therapist, my work is not always art-based. However, as an artist, I've found that my understanding of the creative process illuminates many life situations that benefit from creative problem-solving.

As a Latinx woman, I appreciate the complexities of identity and intersectionality. I am committed to my clients, with attention to advocacy and an anti-racist lens, and I am an active ally in helping clients navigate the reality of oppressive systems that impact mental health. I am trained and experienced in working with people from diverse backgrounds and am skilled at providing therapy for all clients. Other specialty areas are working with postpartum, perinatal parents, trauma, LGBTQ+, young adults, and people in life transitions.

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try..." If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, or having difficulties in your interpersonal relationships I offer more than 30 years of clinical experience and a creative therapeutic approach. My goal is to treat each individual based on the whole person, rather than simply a diagnosis or label. I employ a holistic and less threatening approach to working through challenges. You will have the opportunity to focus on areas of strength to foster growth, gain personal empowerment, and create life shifts.

Are you tired of feeling anxious and depressed? Do you have intrusive and/or brooding thoughts that may be connected to an old memory or issue that is hard to quiet? Are you tired of feeling miserable and would like to learn tangible and useful techniques that will help take the edge and, in some instances, eliminate these thoughts and feelings? If you are ready to make that change, are open minded to learning non-traditional therapeutic methods, then please reach out to me and we’ll get started! As of now, I am taking new clients with convenient Saturday and Sunday hours. I am providing teletherapy / Skype services.

Sometimes it can be hard to talk about our hopes, dreams, concerns and issues. We need a safe space to slowly open up and feel seen. Through the use of expressive arts therapy, we can work together until we feel comfortable expressing things verbally, or not. Through my experiences as a therapist, I have learned other ways of expressing our grief and trauma without having to talk about it. Maybe you have only been in talk therapy before and can't imagine another way of doing things. But there are other options

Whether you are seeking therapeutic support to find new perspectives on old issues or have been confronted with a new crisis, finding the right therapist can seem daunting. Regardless of your presenting problem, you will be welcomed into a safe, nonjudgmental environment. We will work thru the dilemma and come to a resolution that enables you to feel better. I began my career specializing in children and adolescents in the school setting and subsequently have expanded to young adults, adults, couples, and families. A particular focus and thread throughout my career has been the ongoing support and advocacy of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Do you ever think to yourself, 'Why does everything feel so difficult'? Work, school, and daily chores feel overwhelming while you watch others seemingly breeze through life. No amount of shame, guilt, or willpower will change you. You are not lazy or careless, you are tired and burnt out. You are existing in a world that hasn't been accommodating to you. By working to accept this and dismantle what you think is 'normal' you can unburden yourself and increase your energy and capacity for joy.

I offer individual and family sessions for concerns such as trauma, depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, ADHD, Autism, family and relationship conflict, and grief/loss.

Danielle is here to empower families and adults who are experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma reactions, ADHD, behavioral issues, and many other struggles. Danielle supports individuals with whom need support surrounding gender and sexual orientation (LGBTQ+ community). She also has experience working with individuals whom are in foster care or have been adopted.

Val has woven traditional talk therapy and creative techniques to provide a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space for individuals, youth and families to work through difficult life experiences. They have extensive experience working with youth and families managing the challenges associated with emotional and behavioral problems, domestic violence, sexual assault, mental health concerns, and various traumatic life events. She believes in an empowerment and strength-based approach while fostering an environment that encourages self-acceptance, self-awareness and growth.

When I begin to work with a new client, my goal is to understand each client and see his or her strengths, abilities, and positive qualities. Very often new clients, especially children or teens, are so used to thinking or hearing about their problems that they themselves seem to forget their own positive traits and attributes. I really enjoy helping foster resiliency among my clients, helping them recognize their capacities to cope, heal, and move beyond feeling stuck or powerless. My approach is very effective with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, low self esteem, and feeling overwhelmed in life.

Life is filled with sorrow and joy, frustration and wonder, stagnation and growth, obstacles and openings. At times, our skill set and resources are not optimal for helping us adapt to the shifts and movement in our lives. I believe that art therapy and counseling can support understanding of our skills and resources that better equip us to adapt to life's changes. Art therapy allows opportunities to imagine the best, healthiest version of ourselves and permit clarifying moments where we perceive possibility and potential. My goal is to support clients in becoming active agents in developing positive, purposeful ideas towards wellness and good health.

I collaborate with participants to plan creative solutions and positive coping behaviors in order to address a wide variety of experiences, including: anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationships, self-esteem and self-worth, stress, symptoms related to post-traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, being in relationship with a trauma survivor, substance use/ abuse, self-care, and addressing negative coping behaviors. I have worked extensively with survivors of sexual violence, people who have experienced domestic violence, combat Veterans, and other survivors of complex trauma.

During my 20 years of servicing children and families, I have supported clients who were experiencing trauma related to grief and loss, sexual assault, first generation related responsibilities, low self-esteem, cultural expectations, dating violence, gun violence and major life transitions. Often, their goals were to manage their circumstances or become empowered to lift themselves out of their uncomfortable experience they were encountering. Their desire was to find tangible ways to not only cope with their stress, but to resolve the impact it had on their wellbeing and mental health.

I have been working with children and families for over 25 years in various capacities including as a Psychotherapist, Early Childhood Special Ed Teacher, Early Childhood Music Teacher, Professional Children’s Entertainer, and Pediatric Medical Clown. I have dedicated my practice to supporting children and families impacted by conflict, developmental, neurological, behavioral and relational issues. I am passionate about and have unique gifts in working with young children ages 2—7. Throughout therapy, I provide a safe, compassionate, non-judgmental space where clients can explore issues, challenging situations, and relationships.