As Therapists Who Work With Teens, We’ve Learned a lot About Negotiating Safety As a therapist who works with teens in NYC, I see how much parenting a teen is a tough job. Part of a teen’s healthy development is rebelling and getting space from their nuclear family, which doesn’t always feel great on the receivingRead more
Trauma and Object Photography: Keeping News Reporting Human
Images of Trauma in News Media As an art therapist in NYC, I always take note of the images that are used in the mainstream media. It peaks my curiosity to reflect on what is being articulated beyond just the words in the article. In the past months, the world has watched in horror as Syrians haveRead more
Adult Coloring Books: An Intro to Art Therapy
In my NYC art therapy practice, I come across lots of adults who struggle with burn out and who would benefit from making more time for themselves in the day to day. Yet it can be hard to find something replenishing with packed schedules and limited resources. Enter adult coloring books! Coloring books are the perfectRead more
Katrina and 9/11 Memorials: The Use of Group Art Therapy for Collective Trauma
Memorials as Group Art Therapy Just blocks from my NYC art therapy office stands the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. In the 13 years it took to complete the memorial, there has been a lot of debate and criticism regarding what was planned, how long it was taking to complete, and how costly it was. One such piece ofRead more
Art as Therapy: The Shame to Pride Project
Art and art therapy Artist Stephanie Calvert is using her own art as therapy in creating work using materials from her childhood home and I find it inspiring in my work as an art therapist. The Huffington Post’s Katherine Brooks features Ms. Calvert in her piece, “One Daughter is Turning Her Hoarding Parents’ Belongings into Beautiful Art“.Read more
Time-Release Therapy
As a therapist, I often wonder how to maximize the work I do with people. Forty five minutes a week of therapy is not much. You might get the initial “hit” of enlightenment, closeness, catharsis, empowerment, and so on but in order for those 45 minutes of therapy to really work their magic, the workRead more
Outsider Art and the Challenge in Labeling
Labeling artists and concretely defining art movements has long been a challenge. Criteria often includes inspiration, influence, training, and proximity but there is plenty of room for gray area and interpretation. Priscilla Frank’s article, “What is the meaning of outsider art?”, highlights why those in the “outsider artist” category are even more challenging to designate than the typical artRead more
The Art of Therapy: An Uncertain Process
John-Morgan / Foter / CC BY Art therapy and art making: A process of discovery Early in my art therapy career, I asked a mentor how long it would take to be a “good” therapist. She laughed and rolled her eyes a little bit, as my question in itself negated what “good” therapy truly is.Read more
Is It Possible to Stop Being an Artist? An Art Therapist’s Reaction to “A Disposable Commodity, Indeed”
As an art therapist, I was deeply impacted by the N.Y. Times’ Ken Johnson’s piece, “A Disposable Commodity, Indeed” about an exhibit at MoMa PS1 ‘Bob and Roberta Smith: Art Amnesty’. The article and exhibit elicit so many questions regarding how we define who is an artist, what it means to be successful in that field, how we relateRead more
Art therapy: The Art of Impermanence
Here at Tribeca Therapy, we have thought a great deal about how our space can best reflect us and our beliefs. As our resident art therapist, I’ve taken on a role as the de facto minder of the chalkboard. We hope our space makes folks feel welcome and inspired. When you first walk into our therapyRead more