The Art Therapy Studio is pleased to serve adults, teens, pre-teens and their families
in the Ithaca, NY area.
in the Ithaca, NY area.
Right in the Heart of Downtown Ithaca
103 West Seneca Street. "The Clinton House," on the corner of Seneca and Cayuga.
Emily Millen, Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT)
I earned my Master’s Degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology and Art Therapy from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado. (Naropa is a well-respected Buddhist-inspired university which focuses on contemplative education.) I am a registered and board certified Art Therapist, and have my license (LCAT) to practice in New York.
I have worked in a variety of settings, including community youth centers, residential treatment centers and a community mental health clinic. I also previously ran the art therapy group at The Nutrition Center, which is The Upstate New York Eating Disorder Service's Ithaca-based outpatient program.
In therapy sessions, I actively use a range of techniques such as expressive arts, mindfulness practices and in the moment body wisdom. I love working with a wide variety of people and presenting issues including life transitions, self-growth, anxiety, depression and trauma. I LOVE working with teens and their parents and find that art therapy is an excellent fit for teen's developmental tasks and need for self exploration and expression.
I have worked in a variety of settings, including community youth centers, residential treatment centers and a community mental health clinic. I also previously ran the art therapy group at The Nutrition Center, which is The Upstate New York Eating Disorder Service's Ithaca-based outpatient program.
In therapy sessions, I actively use a range of techniques such as expressive arts, mindfulness practices and in the moment body wisdom. I love working with a wide variety of people and presenting issues including life transitions, self-growth, anxiety, depression and trauma. I LOVE working with teens and their parents and find that art therapy is an excellent fit for teen's developmental tasks and need for self exploration and expression.
To find out if art therapy may be a better fit for you
than talk therapy, click here :
than talk therapy, click here :
Use art and creativity to unlock your inner wisdom, guide and problem-solver.
Services
Adults
I offer private psychotherapy using talk and/or art therapy to adults. As a therapist, I am a skilled listener. My job is to support you in a process of uncovering issues, discovering hopes as well as exploring your way of thinking and feeling. This is done through verbal as well as non-verbal means. Once you understand the patterns and beliefs that have shaped your life, you are in a better position to resolve problems and make healthy changes.
Pre-teens, teens and their families
Young people often find it difficult to express themselves in a clinical setting. Expressing themselves through art can feel less threatening and more natural. The Art Therapy Studio is a colorful, welcoming space that is set up to make expression enticing. This means that they are met where they feel comfortable and competent; which translates to a bright willingness to engage and a sense of enthusiasm for the task. I work closely with parents using creative interventions and respect for family culture. I watch for the family's strengths and skills to build on, working together to communicate more clearly and find solutions to problems.
Adolescents
Adolescents face a unique set of needs based on the major physical and psychological tasks that take place at this age of growth. Developmentally appropriate self-expression is encouraged to help them understand and explore their behavioral issues and emerging identities through the art making process. Aligning strongly with both you as a parent and your teen, I work as a bridge between the concerns and values you convey and a teen's strong need for expression of independence and self.
Groups- Contract work
An Art Therapy group or Art for Wellness group can add needed dimension and diversity to your agencies offerings. I offer free consultation so that we can discuss your needs, you can get a sense of how an art therapy group would fit into your setting and we can mutually explore if we are
a good fit. I can also provide an initial group Art Therapy or Art for Wellness session at no cost.
a good fit. I can also provide an initial group Art Therapy or Art for Wellness session at no cost.