Create & Cope • Kelsey Dugan, MPS, ATR BC, LCAT

03/18/2022

Creative Psychological Health Services now offers Art Therapy services! 🎨🎨🎨

CPHS is a private mental health practice located in Catonsville, Maryland, specializing in both play and expressive therapies for children, adolescents, adults, and families. At CPHS, we're committed to providing high quality therapy services - if you are interested in receiving or learning more about art therapy services, contact us to discuss availability and scheduling.

Check out our Art Therapy page to learn more!

https://creativepsychological.com/services/art-therapy

Creative Psychological Health Services is a private mental health practice located in Catonsville, Maryland, specializing in both play and expressive therapies for children, adolescents, adults, and families. It was founded in 2018 by Dr. Rachel Altvater (Psy.D., RPT-S), a licensed psychologist in M...

03/09/2022

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ EDUCATION IS YOUTH & TEEN SU***DE PREVENTION 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Families with 2 moms, 2 dads, 2 parents, q***r siblings, trans siblings, q***r children, & trans children exist in the state of Florida & everywhere else in the world. This Don’t Say Gay bill does absolutely nothing but instill shame & put children at risk of abuse, bullying, isolation, self-harm, su***de, and more.

•••We’ve seen it•••

We’ve seen children take their own lives across the globe. We’ve seen it in our hometowns. I’ve personally seen it at work on a daily basis. I’m appalled by this very much so series of calculated attacks against q***r & trans people occurring across the US & you should be too.

***rkids

www.theTrevorproject.org

The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. Text, chat, or call anytime to reach a trained counselor. Free and confidential.

02/21/2022

I'm excited to start my new position at Creative Psychological Health Services as a Practicum Site Supervisor for Notre Dame of Maryland University's Graduate Art Therapy Program this Fall! Feeling both eager and extremely grateful to be able to take this next step in my professional development & share my clinical knowledge working with children, teens, & families with graduate interns stepping into this amazing field! 🎨🧑🏻‍🎓🎉

06/24/2021

06/11/2021

New website coming soon! 👽🎨

06/11/2021

I'm excited to share that I've been hired as the Community Outreach Professional Arts Instructor for the City of Portland's Parks & Recreation Department!

Come see me at my pop-up Art Pods at one of the many Portland parks this Summer!

06/08/2021

•••NEXT WEEK•••

I’ll be posting a tutorial for one of my favorite self-soothing strategies that helps me stay grounded when the ground feels shakey! Come check it out next week 🤍

Disclaimer • Social media is not a replacement for therapy but until therapy’s more accessible for our at-risk communities, I’mma keep posting my little art therapy videos 🤠 if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis please contact your local counties crisis line.

06/04/2021

Happy Pride Month Everyone!
Friendly reminder • Don't assume your kids are straight ;)

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQ3RJbXld1HxhmHq2GGSyuHRnpV_cnPXqyT6-QeXCAQNaAWizSOG0dfLegOYRJRMZ_JNFtuYRkb3SZ9/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.g2f29dc99332df449_0

Resources Su***de Prevention Coming Out Handbook Crisis Chat Self-Care Tips from Q***r Healers Youth and Schools Resources Activism Bullying Crisis Text Crisis Phone

05/26/2021

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤍

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/06/14/how-straight-parents-can-raise-kids-be-allies-during-pride-month-beyond/

Although I write and speak regularly about parenting, sexuality and equality — and try year-round to teach my kids about inclusivity — hearing another parent describe Pride Month as “huge” for their family made me consider what more I could do.

05/22/2021

BOSSES!

Let’s talk about the need for living wages, anti-oppressive hiring practices, benefits, PTO, & manageable workloads in this country first but •••sips my tea•••

Now offering Wellness Workshops for local businesses in the Portland area! Show your employees you care • Stop preaching about self-care and start taking active steps to create a space that’s supportive of everyone’s mental health! I’ve been doing In-Services at my own agencies for the last few years & they’ve been successes! Use the contact page on my website to schedule a consultation today

04/27/2021

Parents!

Looking for ideas to entertain your kids on rainy days like today? Tired of fighting with them over virtual learning? Feeling like you want to pull your hair out & throw in the towel after the year you’ve had?

Not only can art therapy & family therapy help with all of these (& stay tuned for some parenting support groups this fall!) but creative workshops like these pressed flower coasters at Assembly PDX are your answer!

Both virtual & in-person workshops are available at their storefront in SE Portland. I’ve done 3 so far ••• including wood-burned cutting boards & cross-stitch embroidery ••• & have no intention of stopping any time soon 🎨😍 they also sell DIY kits online! link below 🔥🔥🔥



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04/24/2021

For Clinicians!

FREE CEU-Podcast that could not be more important right now. Clearly Clinical is a great resource for anyone in the helping professions - Providing Inclusive, Respectful Care to Your Gender Questioning, Transgender, & Nonbinary Clients (Ep. 108)

Link Below!

https://courses.clearlyclinical.com/certificates/rsui0wbx2z

Clearly Clinical's CE Approvals Check My State's Requirements Frequently Asked Questions Interested in Doing a Podcast? Sponsor an Episode Grievances and Accommodations © Copyright Clearly Clinical 2021

04/22/2021

Let’s talk about tantrums! How fun 🙃 •(applicable with children, teens, & adults 😉)•

Tips I tell my caregivers:

1. • STOP before responding to a meltdown

2. • Take a minute to collect yourself - take a deep breath and

3. • talk to your child in a calm and empathic tone.

4. • Make it feel less scary! Help them identify the feeling they’re experiencing, name it, validate it, and

5. • show them you’re able to hold those big feelings for them without becoming upset too (& if you feel like you can’t try and fake it til you make it & then check in with one of your support systems after the crisis is averted)

6. • Hold clear boundaries /expectations while still demonstrating compassion & understanding.

7. • Ask them if they’d like some space and show them space is healthy to ask for i.e. how it’s different from “time out”

8. • Suggest spending some quality time together like watching their favorite movie later on that day if/when you can.

••• Emotions are tough. Kids don’t know how to handle them any better than we do. You’re not a bad parent and your child doesn’t hate you or not respect you. The research is very clear - it shows us that punishment doesn’t work but empathy does. •••

Credit to for my adaptation of their helpful graphic

04/16/2021

Quick lil introductory photo dump for y’all ✨ Get a vibe for the kind of therapist I am/strive to be thru this post 🎨 Thanks for liking this page y’all! Check back in for some Schitt’s Creek-inspired memes & shade-throwing ☕️

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Hey Hi & Welcome!

I’m a licensed art therapist working in Portland, OR. I’ve been in the field for about 7 years now & I specialize in areas like attachment trauma, depression & suicidality, anxiety, childhood trauma, ADHD & behavioral difficulties, connection-seeking behaviors, & interpersonal/family relationships with children, teens, & caregivers. My approach incorporates a variety of methods for creative expression, mindfulness & DBT skills, humor, and to top it off sprinkle in a lil existentialism as a treat. Life doesn’t always look or feel pretty so our art doesn’t have to either. My favorite interventions are book altering, black out poetry, collaborative journaling, collage, mask making & sharing Spotify playlists🎵 (also low key helps me stay young & hip with the teens and gives me rad new music but shhh)

I’m a published author and you can read my research on shoe alteration techniques with domestic violence survivors in a crisis shelter setting by following the link on my website! I offer virtual supervision for art therapists working towards licensure &/or clinicians in the field as well. This page is not meant to replace therapy and I am not able to provide therapeutic recommendations via DM. If you’re interested in working with me please contact me via HIPAA-compliant email as seen in my bio. If you’re in crisis please contact your local county crisis line or national call or text lines depending on your location.

Past/current/potential clients ••• following this page may result in losing your right to confidentiality. I do not interact with clients via social media platforms & even though I probably (definitely) think you’re amazing your rights are important to me.

✨• no client artwork is included in this post •✨

x
Kelsey

04/16/2021