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OUR THERAPISTS

Keren Arroyo-Mora, MA, LCAT-P, ATR

keren@artrelief.info

 

Art Therapy Supervisor 

 

Registered Art Therapist

MA, Mental Health Counselor

Fluent in Spanish

I hold a master's degree in Art Therapy and Creative Development, as well as a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and Art Education.    

I work as a therapist and strive to create a calm and energetic environment for my clients, often utilizing humor to encourage reflection without judgment. I specialize in combining art therapy techniques with a strength-based approach to help clients build their resilience. My approach is person-centered, meaning that we will work together to develop new coping skills and increase self-awareness so that the client can live a fulfilling life based on their values.
Over the course of my 12 years as a teacher and two years as an Art Therapist in training, I have gained experience working with primary children (ages 2-18), adults, and families. I have specifically worked with those who have experienced violence or domestic violence, providing individual and family therapy. I also have experience working with adults who are going through mid-crisis situations and addiction. My philosophy is that "the client is the expert of their narrative, and I'm here to support and provide you with psycho-education," informed by my background in teaching and person-centered approach. I am a strong believer in the healing power of art and the benefits of therapy in a person's life. I invite clients to sit with me and work together to find solutions that fit their unique situation. 

I have a masters degree in Marriage & Family Therapy, and a bachelor's degree in Psychology. I enjoy using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques (CBT) as well as narrative therapy techniques to help clients reach goals. I focus on strengths-based and person-centered approaches to work to empower and engage my clients. I have experience working with primarily children and families.

I also have a background in Theater, creating props, creative dance and art as both a performer/artist and instructor. I spent many summers working as a counselor at a theater summer camp and acted as a teaching assistant in my creative dance classes in college. Art, theater and dance have been the tools I used to connect with the world my whole life. I use the arts as tools to help foster connection, self esteem and self expression with clients. I have also worked in a hospital setting, providing art materials to patients as well as helping them create art.

I am a Board Certified Music Therapist. I received a masters degree in mental health counseling with a specialization in music therapy, as well as a bachelors degree in music technology with a focus in vocal performance. While voice is my primary instrument, I also have experience with guitar, piano, xylophone, world drums, and digital audio software such as Protools, Logic, and Soundtrap. In addition to music, I also have a passion for visual art, knitting, crocheting, dancing, coloring, paper crafts, and more. I have worked with clients of varying ages and diagnoses, in both outpatient and more intensive, in-home settings. I work from a holistic, person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed lens to meet clients where they are at and provide a supportive space on their healing journey. From a young age, I have learned to utilize music to navigate life’s various challenges, hardships, and trauma and would be honored to pass this knowledge on to my clients. Music provides an excellent space to express emotions from a safe distance, provide expression for emotions you may not have words for, and help create new ways to cope with the stress of life. “When words fail, music speaks.” - Hans Christian Andersen.

Ivory Rose Blanchette, MA, MFT
ivory@artrelief.info

artLAB Program Coordinator
MA, Marriage and Family Therapist

 

Edward Freeman, LMHC-RDT
edward@artrelief.info

Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Registered Drama Therapist

As far back as I can remember, I have been a theatre person. Born and raised in North Carolina, I grew up surrounded by the rich Southern tradition of storytelling and shaped by the quirky and hardy world of the theatre. It was a wonderful way to grow up.
As an actor, I have worked in more than 150 theatre productions.

I trained rigorously and acted in New York then trained other actors for several years in New York and back home in Raleigh. When I decided to become a therapist, I knew I wanted the exchange between a client and me to be like acting; I wanted to create a therapeutic experience that opened people to worlds of possibilities and freedom. Some of the things I love the most about being a therapist are engaging with people’s entire physical and vocal presences when we’re in an active space together, animating our imaginations to allow us to live playfully, and delighting in the moments of transcendence when we’re able to grasp universality. The world of the theatre helps us tell our stories and allows us to attune, envision, and experiment with ways of fulfilling our next chapters, ways that perhaps we might not have thought of alone.
Currently, I am a registered drama therapist and serve on the education committee of the North American Drama Therapy Association. The research I conduct in the field is historiography that attempts to understand perspectives of the past and considers how they have evolved into current mindsets while clarifying modern misconceptions of history. I am well-trained in various acting and physical theatre techniques as well as the Alexander Technique and Fitzmaurice Voicework®. I’m also certified in Toxic Stress Reduction & Compassion Care and am an endorsed practitioner of Rainbowdance®, an early-childhood music and movement intervention created by Dicki Macy of the Boston Children’s Foundation.

Diana Lezama, MA, MHC-AT

diana@artrelief.info

​

MA, Mental Health Counselor

Art Therapist

I am an Art Therapist.

Aishwarya Shridhar, M.S.
aishwarya@artrelief.info

M.S., Mental Health Counselor 
M.A., Social Work: Community
Organization & Development Practice

Fluent in Hindi and Tamil (Spoken Fluently)

Amanda Bysheim, MA, MHC, MT-BC
amanda@artrelief.info

MA, Mental Health Counselor
Board Certified Music Therapist

 

After several years of experience working with understanding the needs of diverse populations as a researcher, I got my degree in Mental Health Counseling with the goal of improving the mental health of members of our community while maintaining their individuality and self-expression. The use of expressive arts in therapeutic ways has always been of interest to me, and my own experiences as a dancer have me believe in the transformative power of art. I aim to integrate the use of various forms of counseling approaches such as CBT, Narrative therapy, and Motivational Interviewing along with creative tools. I like to be flexible in my use of approaches, trying to find what works best in the moment for my clients and their needs. I also believe in the importance of cultural diversity as a crucial aspect of any approach and the therapeutic value it can offer. My main goal is to come to a deep understanding of the client and their world and help them use the tools and strengths they possess within themselves to overcome challenges.

Robert Stull, MA, MHC
robert@artrelief.info

MA, Mental Health Counselor
 

I am a clinical mental health counselor. I have a number of years working with youth and adults in a variety of different settings such as a residential, an addiction treatment program, and nursing homes. Within these settings I worked with diverse populations which was highly informative for my commitment to social justice and inclusivity. My passions include some of the many different forms of art in which I have practiced such as writing, music, and circus arts. I have witnessed the transformative experience of art and strive to bring that into people’s lives. I believe the ability to express oneself in a healthy way is one of the most powerful tools to increase functioning and decrease symptoms. I want to help people make meaning out of their experiences and feel it is a privilege to be a part of a healing process where that takes place.

I have received a Ph.D. in Expressive Arts Therapy, am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Register Therapist of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Therapy, and Parent and Child Interaction Therapy. 
My fascination for how our imagination and creativity can affect our minds, facilitate change and growth, started when I was a college student. I have worked at hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics, and Employment Assistant Programs in Japan and the United States for almost 20 years. For the last seven years, I have focused on trauma treatments using expressive arts therapy with family, children, and youth. Expressive arts therapy can be a helpful recovery tool for people who have experienced traumatic events. I want to support them in developping themselves and helping them engage on their life journey. 

I joined the ARTrelief team as a therapist and Clinical Supervisor for therapists and Student Interns.

Mika Watabiki Jones, Ph.D., LMHC
mika@artrelief.info

Clinical Supervisor
LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Ph.D. of Expressive Arts Therapy

Fluent in Japanese

As an art therapist at Art Relief, I hold a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy. My undergraduate background in Sculpture has provided me with a strong foundation in the visual arts, which I now utilize in my practice. During my time in college, I discovered a profound passion for puppetry, an art form that I have since incorporated into my work as an art therapist.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is the opportunity to combine my two greatest passions: art and mental health. I firmly believe in the transformative power of art and its ability to promote healing and self-expression. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a career that allows me to make a positive impact on the lives of others while pursuing my own artistic and professional goals.

Melissa Walsh, MA, MHC-ATR
missy@artrelief.info

MA, Mental Health Counselor
Art Therapist

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