Photo of Lauryn J. Hunter, Marriage & Family Therapist in 90403, CA
Lauryn J. Hunter
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT, ATR
Verified Verified
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Our goal at Hunter Therapy Family Counseling is to create a safe and playful environment where your child can discuss and process stressful situations. We offer a wide range of activities, including art therapy, painting, sand tray, athletic psychology, jewelry, and gardening, designed to help your child develop coping mechanisms and build a strong emotional foundation. Looking for a creative and fun way for your child to talk about their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings? Hunter Therapy Family Counseling uses different expressive techniques to help your child learn healthy ways of coping with stress.
Our goal at Hunter Therapy Family Counseling is to create a safe and playful environment where your child can discuss and process stressful situations. We offer a wide range of activities, including art therapy, painting, sand tray, athletic psychology, jewelry, and gardening, designed to help your child develop coping mechanisms and build a strong emotional foundation. Looking for a creative and fun way for your child to talk about their thoughts, behaviors, and feelings? Hunter Therapy Family Counseling uses different expressive techniques to help your child learn healthy ways of coping with stress.
(424) 588-6922 View (424) 588-6922
Photo of Sheherezad Shashaani, Marriage & Family Therapist in 90403, CA
Sheherezad Shashaani
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Santa Monica, CA 90403  (Online Only)
Is life too stressful for you? Is your relationship suffering? Do you feel depressed, anxious, or angry due to individual, relationship, family or career issues? Are you concerned about achieving your goals, and wonder about meaning of your life? Has this affected your self esteem and hope for resolving your issues? If so, you will find me compassionate, understanding, comfortable and safe in helping you connect to the strength within you. Together we will work to bring about healing and improve the quality of your life. I am a Jungian oriented psychotherapist specializing in working with individuals, couples, and children.
Is life too stressful for you? Is your relationship suffering? Do you feel depressed, anxious, or angry due to individual, relationship, family or career issues? Are you concerned about achieving your goals, and wonder about meaning of your life? Has this affected your self esteem and hope for resolving your issues? If so, you will find me compassionate, understanding, comfortable and safe in helping you connect to the strength within you. Together we will work to bring about healing and improve the quality of your life. I am a Jungian oriented psychotherapist specializing in working with individuals, couples, and children.
(424) 329-6941 View (424) 329-6941
Photo of Marion Anderson, Psychologist in 90403, CA
Marion Anderson
Psychologist, PhD
Verified Verified
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Are you looking for help to change a situation in your life that has become intolerable? I help people to find a different understanding and new perspectives to approach old problems. Examining symbols in dreams, fantasies and creative productions as well as Sandplay are powerful ways to express feelings that have no words yet. Representing these unnamed feelings in a playful, creative way can help to reach a deeper understanding of yourself and your current difficulties in life. Finding your own inner resources and discover unknown potentials from within provides a new, unique direction that ultimately may transform your life.
Are you looking for help to change a situation in your life that has become intolerable? I help people to find a different understanding and new perspectives to approach old problems. Examining symbols in dreams, fantasies and creative productions as well as Sandplay are powerful ways to express feelings that have no words yet. Representing these unnamed feelings in a playful, creative way can help to reach a deeper understanding of yourself and your current difficulties in life. Finding your own inner resources and discover unknown potentials from within provides a new, unique direction that ultimately may transform your life.
(424) 289-6336 View (424) 289-6336
Photo of Andrea Milwidsky, Marriage & Family Therapist in 90403, CA
Andrea Milwidsky
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA LMFT
Verified Verified
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Through establishing a genuine therapeutic connection in a compassionate environment we can collaboratively unpack difficulties and challenges you may be experiencing and look at possibilities towards overcoming these towards living a more manageable and satisfying life. I utilize various methods and approaches towards this end and work with a diverse population of children, adolescents, teenagers, adults, elders, couples, families and groups. I treat a wide variety of issues with ease in a present and nonjudgmental manner.
Through establishing a genuine therapeutic connection in a compassionate environment we can collaboratively unpack difficulties and challenges you may be experiencing and look at possibilities towards overcoming these towards living a more manageable and satisfying life. I utilize various methods and approaches towards this end and work with a diverse population of children, adolescents, teenagers, adults, elders, couples, families and groups. I treat a wide variety of issues with ease in a present and nonjudgmental manner.
(424) 232-0579 View (424) 232-0579
Photo of Amanda Baker-Vande Brake, Marriage & Family Therapist in 90403, CA
Amanda Baker-Vande Brake
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, PhDc, LMFT
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Santa Monica, CA 90403  (Online Only)
Working from an integrative depth psychological perspective, Amanda helps couples and individual adults deepen and navigate their everyday lives in a conscious relationship with their inner selves and their inner callings. Her patients often begin therapy with issues related to depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and unintentionally making choices that keep them stuck. They desire more clarity about the cause of their persistent mental, physical and emotional symptoms in order to experience more freedom in their daily lives. Ultimately, her patients seek more meaning in their lives and are willing to take steps toward it.
Working from an integrative depth psychological perspective, Amanda helps couples and individual adults deepen and navigate their everyday lives in a conscious relationship with their inner selves and their inner callings. Her patients often begin therapy with issues related to depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties and unintentionally making choices that keep them stuck. They desire more clarity about the cause of their persistent mental, physical and emotional symptoms in order to experience more freedom in their daily lives. Ultimately, her patients seek more meaning in their lives and are willing to take steps toward it.
(712) 248-4924 View (712) 248-4924
Expressive Arts Therapists

What happens in expressive arts therapy?

In an expressive arts therapy session, the therapist will provide the space and materials necessary to encourage the client to express themselves creatively. These can include art supplies, musical instruments, a journal, a camera, and more. The therapist offers careful guidance throughout the creative process, often noticing and talking about psychological issues as they arise. Many clients also benefit from the mind-body connection—the physical act of making art can help them feel more grounded and present.

How long does expressive arts therapy take?

An expressive arts therapy session will typically last between 50 minutes and an hour. Group sessions may run longer. Sometimes, a client might only need one or two sessions of expressive arts therapy in conjunction with talk therapy to resolve a psychological issue. Others might find a fixed number of sessions over the course of either weeks or months to be beneficial. The duration depends on the client and their individual needs and goals for therapy.

How does expressive arts therapy help children?

Creativity is an important part of normal child development. Expressive arts therapy proves a safe outlet for child clients to learn to identify their emotions and express them in healthy ways. In expressive arts therapy, children can build their self-esteem, discover more about their personality and strengths, and feel a sense of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic world. This therapeutic approach can be particularly helpful for children with developmental disabilities, autism, ADHD, speech impairments, and other conditions.

What are the limitations of expressive arts therapy?

Sometimes individuals have physical limitations that can affect their ability to express themselves artistically in certain mediums. For example, someone with hearing problems might find it difficult to make music. Sickness and mobility issues can make some types of art physically inaccessible (e.g., sculpting, dancing, etc.). Sometimes, clients are overly skeptical and have trouble letting go and engaging with the creative process. Individuals who require a higher level of care may be better served with other types of therapy.