Therapeutic Art vs Art Therapy

​When I tell people I am a Therapeutic Arts Practitioner most immediately think I am an Art Therapist and while both roles have similarities, they are not the same.  I loosely compare the difference to Nurse Practitioners vs Family Doctors.  A nurse practitioner is trained to observe what is happening in the moment, advocate for patients, and provide wound care. A family doctor works with the patient on treatment plans and can perform medical procedures. 
As a therapeutic arts practitioner I work with individuals by exploring what is happening for them in the moment with the goal of gaining clarity and feeling nurtured by the end of each session.  If an individual is in crisis, navigating trauma, or needs to dig deeper into past events in order to move forward then Art Therapy or other services would be a better fit. 
Here are a few examples of experiences that could benefit from therapeutic art - lack of motivation, stress or anxiety, grief & loss, lack of confidence, burn out, or general feelings of being overwhelmed.  When an individual’s needs move outside my scope of practice, I work with them to find services that are a better fit for their needs. 
Reach out if you have any questions or check out my website to learn more.