TATN offers individual and group psychotherapy on a sliding scale basis, allowing nurturing support to be accessable to all. The art therapy nest integrates expressive therapies; movement, music and art with traditional talk therapy and meditation. It’s a space to host enriching workshops and a home base for community outreach initiatives. Art therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being. Art therapy practice requires knowledge of visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms) and the creative process, as well as of human development, psychological, and counseling theories and techniques. During individual and/or group sessions art therapists support their clients’ inherent capacity for art making to enhance their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Like more traditional talk therapy, it involves forming a professional relationship with a therapist based in non-judgment and compassion. Rather than giving you specific advice, a creative arts therapist serves as an empathic listener and observer who offer guidance in a variety of challenges including; mental illness, trauma, loss, substance abuse and eating disorders. Through the creative process and reflecting on the artwork, clients can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences while also enjoying the inherent benefits of creativity. Through both verbal and non-verbal means, Art Therapy promotes self-discovery, acting as a mirror to the body, mind and spirit, increasing insight to your inner emotions, memories and experiences. Services:
Individual Art Therapy & Psychotherapy
Sessions are typically 5o minutes in duration and offer a safe, compassionate and confidential environment to explore personal challenges, memories and feelings while revealing barriers that are interfering with your emotional and mental well being. Various non-verbal and verbal therapeutic techniques are integrated into your healing and empowering process, a process that is organic as your personal therapeutic needs are discovered. Individual therapy is beneficial for treating mental illness including anxiety, depression, substance abuse and eating disorders while also healing from trauma and loss. Individual therapeutic sessions are offered to children, adolescents and adults. In-home prenatal and postpartum therapy
Sessions are typically 5o minutes in duration and offered in-home for pregnant mothers and new mothers, we will utilize traditional talk therapy with the expressive therapies and relaxation techniques. Often motherhood can trigger intense emotions and trauma, during a time of rapid change with minimal time to express or explore these unique experiences. During sessions the therapist will create a supportive and nurturing environment for self-expression and personal discovery. Mom's will be guided in movement, art-making and meditation to promote self-care, while also exploring the challenging experiences of motherhood; exhaustion, stress, self-identity, anxiety, depression and family dynamics. Our hope is moms will feel empowered, rejuvenated and re-centered with therapeutic tools to maintain wellness at home and in life as a parent. Belly Casting
The casting process is typically 1-3 hours in duration. Together we will collaborate on the creation of a three dimensional personal keepsake to remember the essence and beauty of your pregnancy. It’s recommended to cast your belly 4-6 weeks prior to the due date. There are a variety of ways we can approach the creative process… The session can occur one-to-one (mommy and art therapist) with the final product being a simple plaster cast of your belly. If the mother prefers the experience can be part of a celebration welcoming friends, family, partners and/or doulas to the process as witnesses and helpful hands. Creating a sacred experience as you honor your growing baby and your journey to motherhood. The cast can also become more elaborate with a variety of artistic techniques such as collage and painting images and words that capture the essence of your child, along with your blessing, hopes and dreams for her/his future. If desired the art therapist can also integrate movement, mediation, guided imagery and breathing techniques to enhance self-care, while deepening your connection to your baby.
*Belly casting can be purchased as a gift for expectant mothers. Cost- All services are offered on a sliding scale basis, based upon income and household size. As an out-of-care provider services can often be reimbursed through health insurances. Groups/Workshops: Groups are typically 1-2 hours in duration. Often clients can find themselves feeling isolated with need to relate and connect with others. Groups integrate art-making, movement and relaxation techniques with talk-therapy. The group is a safe space to deepen your understanding standing of self, while also feeling the connection and support of others with similar experiences or goals. Typically groups will explore a specific challenge and usually consist of 4 - 10 adults. With compassionate guidance the therapeutic groups will encourage self-care and awareness while offering clients creative tools to transform and heal trauma, grief and/or other challenging emotions. With the creative process at the core of the experience groups may become playful and imaginative during the healing process. Groups offered but not limited to open art studio, sexual assault survivor, adult survivors of abuse, prenatal & postpartum, women’s empowerment, bereavement/loss and cancer survivors. The Art Therapy Nest is always excited for opportunities to collaborate with schools, colleges/universities, non-profit organizations, corporations, and hospitals/clinics to offer single-day workshops or on-going therapeutic groups. We are passionate about our community and the need to create a supportive and healing community. The Art Therapy Nest can utilize the benefits of art therapy with the group experience to reduce test anxiety for students, explore barriers that decrease attendance, train clinicians in integrating the creative process and create a healing and empowering outlet for survivors. Therapist:
It is my belief that the creative process combined with compassionate guidance has the ability to reflect, transform and heal matters of the body, mind and spirit. In the therapeutic space we will integrate traditional talk therapy with movement, mediation and art making. My role is to help clients to explore and express themselves authentically. Therapy is a personal journey nurtured in a non-judgmental and supportive environment. The therapeutic space offers insight to the inner world revealing emotions, memories and experiences, with this increased insight personal growth and transformation occurs, offering relief from overwhelming emotions, crisis or trauma. Our process together will be organic as we begin to explore what your personal needs and challenges are with the goal of maintaining wellness while living an empowered life. Jennifer Lepke received a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Fine arts and went on to receive her Master in Creative Art Therapy from Pratt Institute. Jennifer is fully licensed to practice art therapy and psychotherapy and is trained in the assessment, evaluation, and the therapeutic intervention and treatment of mental, emotional, developmental and behavioral disorders. Jennifer has over 12 years of clinical experience and began her work as a crisis counselor at a women’s center in 2003, she continued to develop her clinical skills while creating art-based therapeutic programs in schools and non-profit organizations while also working in psychiatric and medical settings. Her experience includes work with children adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, trauma and loss. Lepke has proven to be professional, empathic and creative. Her compassion and warmth have seen her make powerful transformative connections with her patients.” –Michael Buchert MPS, LCAT, ATR-BC, MHP
“Jennifer possesses a strong vision and purpose in life and art…her strongest character traits are superior levels of motivation, energy, and creativity as well as a selfless willingness to help others and a constant drive to discover the new.” –Craig Frederick MFA
“Jennifer has an energetic manner and a caring attitude that are conducive to a positive therapeutic environment. I believe that her experiences give her the ability to connect with people of diverse cultural backgrounds on a level that is deeper than most. Her love of the honest, unaffected and imaginative nature of expressive art that has always been at the forefront of her philosophy. ”
–Diana S. Boehnert BFA, MFA, CAGS/Expressive Art
“With Jennifer’s guidance our students (clients) were able to express their grief through art. The students loved working with her, her professionalism, patience, and compassion were evident in her interactions.” –Georgia Kourampolis, principal High School for Leadership and Community Service
