online Throughout Oregon
Art therapy
Specialized Expressive/Creative art therapy for Adults
When Words Can’t Capture What You’re Carrying
Some experiences are too complex, too intense, or too layered to be expressed in words. The gut-punch grief of losing someone, the complicated feelings around relationships, the heavy weight of life changes that nobody else understands… these live in a place beyond language.
Art therapy works with the part of you that thinks in images, symbols, and feelings.
Through art mediums like painting, drawing, and working with clay, you can express what has no words and discover meanings you didn’t know were there.
You might relate if...
You have so much inside but can’t find the right words to express it
Your experiences seem too messy or complicated for regular talk therapy (or they are just hard to explain!)
You’ve always been drawn to creating (sketching, drawing, building, etc.), even if you don’t consider yourself “artistic”
There are layers to your grief or trauma that you haven't been able to access
You're tired of analyzing everything and want to explore a different way of processing
Creative & Expressive Art Therapy
When Words Aren’t enough
Talk therapy asks you to put experiences into language. It relies on your ability to describe what happened and how you feel about it. But some experiences simply can’t be put into sentences.
Maybe your grief isn't just “sadness,” it’s a heavy, black weight in your chest that has no name. Your anxiety might feel less like worried thoughts and more like sharp, jagged energy that bounces around inside you. The way you connect in relationships could show up as patterns you draw over and over: circles that don't close, lines that never meet, shapes that repeat without you understanding why.
Art therapy works with the part of your mind that thinks in images, sensations, and symbols. When words feel inadequate or your experiences feel too layered to explain, creating can express what language can’t.
You don’t need any artistic training. This isn’t about making something beautiful or meaningful to anyone else. Art therapy is about letting your inner experience take form outside of you, where you can see it, work with it, and understand it.
What Art therapy Sessions with me Are like
We start each session by checking in briefly, then move into creating. I might suggest working with a particular material or invite you to choose what calls to you that day. Sometimes we work in response to a feeling or memory, or something we talked about in a previous session. Sometimes we just let whatever wants to emerge come through.
As you create, I pay attention to your process: how you decide to create, what materials you’re drawn to, where you get confused or excited. We will talk about what’s happening as you work, but the conversation flows around the creating, rather than replacing it.
After you’re done, we look at what you made together. Not to analyze or interpret, but to be curious about what appeared. You might notice patterns, colors, or symbols that surprise you. Sometimes the meaning is immediate. Sometimes it becomes clear over time.
Working virtually with art materials
Virtual art therapy works beautifully because you're creating in your own space with your own materials. Before our first session, I'll send you a simple materials list—basic art supplies you can gather from a craft store or online. Nothing expensive or specialized.
You'll have your materials ready and your workspace set up. I'll guide you through the process, and we'll work together even though we're in different locations. Many clients find this even more comfortable than being in an office.
The difference art therapy makes…
Art therapy helps you access parts of your experience that have been locked away or feel too intense to face directly.
Through creating, you can safely explore your grief, trauma, or life changes without being flooded by them.
Clients often say things like, “I didn't know I felt that way until I painted it!” or, “Seeing it outside of myself made it feel more manageable.”
The act of creating becomes a way to metabolize experiences that have been buried or frozen.
You’re not trying to make something beautiful. You’re using the creative process to access feelings and insights that are hard to put into words.
ART THERAPY
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the unconscious, the symbolic, and the creative must not be suppressed, but invited, witnessed, and made meaningful.
Margaret Naumburg, developer of Art Therapy
who it’s for
Art Therapy is for you if You…
Are drawn to creative expression but are struggling to verbalize complex feelings
Have experiences that seem too layered or complicated to explain easily in words
Are willing to work slowly and let things emerge naturally
Comfortable getting a little messy or working with art materials
Are open to exploring symbolism and meaning in what you create
Have private space for virtual sessions with art supplies
who it’s not for
Art Therapy is not for you if you…
Are currently in active crisis and you need immediate intervention
Have a lot of anxiety around mess/contamination that would prevent material use
Expect quick fixes or dramatic breakthroughs
Primarily want to analyze and intellectualize (though we can do that in talk therapy)
Want me to interpret everything rather than making your own meaning (I will help you with this part!)
Hi, I’m Jen
I work with people who know there is more to their Experience than they can put into words.
Whether you’re carrying grief that sits heavy in your chest, anxiety that shows up as restless energy, or relationship patterns that feel stuck on repeat, I help you access healing through your body and your creative process. You don’t need to be artistic; you just need to be willing to explore whatever wants to emerge.
Credentials & fine print…
MA Marylhurt University 2008
Oregon Licensed Professional Counselor
Oregon Licensed Art Therapist
Start your healing journey today.
Creative & Expressive art therapy Sessions are $200 and conducted virtually throughout Oregon
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Art therapy is for people who feel like their experiences are bigger than words can capture. Maybe you’ve tried regular therapy but you know you could go deeper, or you have complex feelings around loss, relationships, or major life changes that aren’t easy to explain.
You might be drawn to art therapy if you naturally doodle when you’re thinking, have always liked creating things (even if you don't call yourself artistic), or believe there are layers to your experiences that you haven’t been able to access through talking alone.
This approach works well for people dealing with grief that doesn’t follow a timeline, anxiety that lives in your body, relationship patterns that keep repeating themselves, or big life changes or losses that others think you should be “over” by now.
You don’t need any art experience or talent. You just need to be willing to explore what comes out when you create, be patient with gradual change, and be curious about what your hands might express that your mind hasn’t figured out yet.
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Yes, I am currently accepting new clients. I generally work Monday through Wednesday. I have limited afternoon availability, so please contact me to inquire about hours.
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No, I only see clients online.
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My fee is $250 for 55-minutes. If you prefer to work more intensively, I offer 90-minute sessions for $375. If you’d like to schedule a half-day or a multi-day therapy intensive, please see my rates page for more information about package options.
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No, I am not in-network with any insurance company. I would be happy to provide a Superbill (an itemized receipt) for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.
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I primarily use art therapy (also called expressive art therapy, or creative art therapy) and somatic therapy.
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Yes, but only when it will be helpful and effective for you. If you’ve already had a lot of talk therapy, it’s likely time to try a more body-based approach. like somatic experiencing.
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I offer complimentary 30-minute consultations to prospective clients so that you and I can get a feel for what it will be like to work together. However, if that doesn’t work for you, I’d be happy to schedule your intake appointment.
Please scroll down to my contact form, or send me a message on my contact page and I will respond within 48 business hours with my availability.
frequently asked questions About working with me
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Absolutely not. Art therapy is about process, not product. Many of my most powerful sessions happen with people who say “I can’t even draw a stick figure.” Your willingness to explore is all you need.
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I’ll send you a simple list before your first session. Basic supplies like paper, colored pencils, watercolors, and clay. Nothing expensive or hard to find. Most people spend around $50 total.
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This is completely normal. Your artwork is kept 100% private between you and me. The focus is on what the process brings up for you, not how the final piece looks.
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Sessions are $200 each. Most clients come weekly initially, then space out sessions as they develop their own creative practice.
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Art therapy engages your unconscious mind and non-verbal processing. Instead of only talking about experiences, you express them through creating. This often accesses feelings and insights that words alone can’t reach.
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There's no such thing as “meaningless” art in expressive arts therapy! Sometimes the meaning isn’t obvious right away. But believe me, sometimes the most powerful work happens when you think nothing significant occurred.
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That's valuable information too. Your reaction to what you've made is part of the therapeutic material. We explore what it means that something feels “ugly” or “wrong” or disappointing.
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Yes, everything you create is yours. Some people build collections of their therapy art, others prefer to let pieces go. We can talk about what feels right for each piece you make.