Creating art has been a true love of mine since childhood. Even at a young age, making art felt deeply therapeutic. My journey into the world of support and development began at 14, when I first heard the words “art therapy.” I didn’t fully understand it then, but I knew, “ It was me!” Around that time I started working with individuals with disabilities through a small program; I later became its lead and continued in that role for several years. That early spark grew into a lifelong commitment to the intersection of education, art, and healing.
I hold an Associate’s degree in Art, a Bachelor’s in Exceptional Education, and a Master’s in Art Therapy, which allows me to bridge clinical understanding with creative expression. I bring over 15 years of classroom experience across all grade levels, subjects, and abilities, and I’ve also provided many years of in-home services. My work is guided by the belief that art can be a powerful pathway to well-being, growth, healing, and connection for people of all ages and abilities.
I developed a program called “Discover Me Journey” that explores emotions individually and deeply. We move beyond the primary eight—joy/sadness, anger/fear, trust/disgust, and surprise/anticipation—to examine a fuller spectrum and nuance of emotional experience. “Discover Me Journey” works wonderfully with children or anyone who wishes to develop their self-awareness, introspection, and self-expression. It supports people who want deeper emotional insight which also leads to better understanding of behavioral choices.
A Global Perspective on Healing As a Nationally Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist, my practice has been shaped by international clinical experience. During my Master’s residency in Australia, I worked alongside Margaret Muir a psychologist, psychotherapist and art therapist. I learned the program she developed, GATE-ways to recovery —a pioneering initiative specializing in dementia care. Together we continued GATE-ways research and I piloted the first men’s program. While in Australia, I also facilitated community outreach for the Newcastle Art Gallery, and I lead an art therapy component for The Samaritans outreach program assisting male teen Sudanese refugees. My path then led to Singapore, where I served as an Art Therapy Liaison at LaSalle College of the Arts as they launched the first Southeast Asian Art Therapy program and practiced at Raffles Hospital, receiving clinical referrals for diverse psychological needs. I had the opportunity to assist an Australian art therapy colleague with training local counselors in Soweto, South Africa to help support their community.
Today, I bring this global expertise to my private home studio on Lookout Mountain. My approach is person-centered and moves beyond the 'product' of art, focusing entirely on the 'process' of the individual.
In our sessions, we use art-making to give tangible identity to complex emotions. By externalizing these feelings, we can examine the multitude of layers surfacing at any given time. This visual 'map' allows us to identify core truths and make goal-oriented, positive decisions for the future. Whether working with a student navigating a life transition, a couple seeking connection, or a senior preserving their legacy of memory, my goal is to provide a sanctuary where the person is the masterpiece.
