Mia de Bethune, ATR-BC, LCAT is a licensed creative arts therapist who is registered with the American Art Therapy Association and certified by the American Art Therapy Credentials Board. She received her masters degree in art therapy from NYU and has experience in many settings with varied populations including psychiatric hospitals, schools, and museums. Her specialty has been working in a trauma based model of therapy with children and adolescents who are in residential treatment or foster care.
Ms. de Bethune has lead numerous art therapy groups; from open studio to specific focus groups such as social skills, loss and bereavement, and trauma. Expressive arts groups she has lead include collage, painting, pastel drawing and puppetry. She will work with you to design the mode of treatment that works best for you. This could be individual or group sessions or perhaps expressive art workshops which enhance the creative potential of all age groups in a non-competitive environment.
Whether you are an artist experiencing a creative block or a young child with school phobia, art therapy can enable the release of hidden feelings through non-verbal expression. Often our most difficult feelings are too hard to express with words. Through art making feelings can be seen visually and felt tangibly through the creation of art work. Once revealed in this way emotional problems which were previously unspoken may be discussed and worked through.
You do not need to be artistically gifted to engage in art therapy. A non-judgmental, accepting approach allows you to explore in what ways you are naturally creative and helps you to grow into a better understanding of yourself and your world.