Art Therapy in Reisterstown, MD

We all face various challenges in life. If your child is struggling in any way, it is natural to sometimes feel discouraged or overwhelmed. Perhaps you’ve noticed behavioral changes, or maybe they seem anxious, depressed, or angry. Whatever your concerns may be, I assure you that it is not too late! I am dedicated to helping you and your child or adolescent overcome their challenges and thrive. The therapy I offer will help them explore thoughts and emotions, work through any difficult experiences, and discover their inner strengths.

I provide individual and group mental health therapy for issues including complex trauma, anxiety and depression, emotional regulation, navigating relationships, body image, perinatal transitions, and adjusting to chronic illness. I specialize in working with gender and racial minorities, who have been routinely overlooked and underserved but still have the desire to show up for themselves- individuals who want to move in a positive direction with their mental health but may not know exactly how or what that looks like.

Do you think you may have ADHD or Autism? Have you struggled to assert boundaries at work, with family, & partners? Have you felt curious about exploring different pronouns and gender identity? Do you feel bad that you have a disability and don't know how to tell your friends that you can't do certain activities? You may have goals to tell your friends your preferred pronouns. Goals to get a diagnosis for your disability & curious about medication, goals to reevaluate your relationship with cannabis/alcohol. You may feel shame & anger about your childhood & the way your parents handled your behavior.

Do you or your child feel anxious, stressed or overwhelmed? Or have days where you feel sad, depressed or isolated from the world? Do you struggle with friendships or relationships in your life where you feel unheard or misunderstood? Navigating through an ever changing world that's filled with constant stressors can be very difficult for most. It helps to have a safe space where you can process your feelings and emotions openly with no judgement. I pride myself in being a safe person for children, teens and adults to speak freely about their fears, challenges and worries. Support and guidance are my goals for our work together.

Have you been trying to resolve personal issues, in relationships, with change, sadness, fear, anger, anxiety, can't cope? I may be able to help. I have been an art psychotherapist for over 30 years. I've had experiences with patients in psychiatric hospitals and 12 years with active duty & veteran men and women. I work with adults individually and in groups focused on improving emotional expression, mood regulation, somatic awareness, creativity, coping and social skills in an open studio setting. Art has been known to enhance talk therapy. No art experience is necessary to obtain the benefits of art psychotherapy.

Imagine your mental health as a garden—what would it currently look like? Are there overgrown weeds taking up too much space, symbolizing past traumas or emotional blocks that stifle your growth? Perhaps delicate seeds, representing unexplored aspects of your inner world, are struggling to break through the surface. Just as a gardener carefully tends to their plants, nurturing your inner child is essential for fostering a vibrant and balanced inner landscape. I am an art therapist, artist, and outdoor walk-and-talk therapy enthusiast, specializing in providing clients with care through creative expression, nature, and movement!

Art therapy is not just about being able to express yourself but also being able to process and explore what is made. My role as an art therapist is to help with the processing and exploration through meeting you where you are, actively listening to what you bring into the space, and providing you with the art materials and directives that best suit your needs and where you are at. As an art therapist, it is important for me to provide a safe space, active listening, empathy, cultural humility, and open-mindedness to clients, as well as being trauma-informed.

“In every adult there lurks a child— an eternal child, something that is always becoming, is never completed, and calls for unceasing care, attention, and education. That is the part of the personality which wants to develop and become whole.“ -Carl Jung.

I believe in the power of self-awareness. Understanding oneself, why we are the way we are, and having empathy and acceptance for that person is incredibly empowering. Do you still have questions you are hoping to find answers for? Now that you are becoming more curious, are you noticing things in yourself and your relationships that may have gone unnoticed before? Now that you've begun this journey, you're ready for some support in taking these next steps.. I am here to help.

I provide a safe place for you to discuss your issues. I work with clients on life transitions, relationship issues, anger management, grief and loss, parenting, and childhood trauma. My treatment approach is a combination of cognitive-behavior, solution-focused, and family systems. My goal is to bring hope to your situation and help you construct positive changes in your life's journey.

I am an art therapist who integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Positive Psychology in my work to treat Anxiety and ADHD in teens and adults. Although this is my specialization, I also have experience working with clients struggling with identity, depression, bipolar disorder, and relationship struggles. I provide individual and group services to her clients, in addition to family and parent coaching.

Sharon Strouse is a board-certified, licensed clinical professional art therapist and Associate Director: Portland Institute for Loss and Transition. Her art therapy private practice, national presentations, trainings, practitioner supervision and mentoring focus on traumatic loss, parents who have lost a child, suicide bereavement, and military family loss. The theoretical foundations of her group and individual art therapy/ psychotherapy work are grounded in meaning reconstruction, attachment informed grief therapy, continuing bonds with the deceased and restorative retelling. She is author of Artful Grief: A Diary of Healing.

Children, adolescents and young adults today face challenging issues such as anxiety; depression; grief/loss; self-esteem/body image issues; adjustment disorders; school related issues; learning disorders; ADHD; family and/or relationship challenges; LGBTQ and gender identity issues;  stress management; and social skills challenges. Fueled by her work experience in both educational and mental health settings, she is passionate in ensuring that children, adolescents, and young adults get the help they need.