Rachael Mecholsky Pelikan - Psychotherapy & Art Therapy Services

Rachael Mecholsky Pelikan - Psychotherapy & Art Therapy Services Offering mental health counseling and art therapy services for children, adolescents, & adults.

Rachael, LAC, ATR-BC, LCADC, CCTP, is a George Washington University alum, where she received her MA in Art Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. She is currently a licensed clinician, alcohol/drug counselor, board certified art therapist, and trauma specialist. She has several years of experience working with individuals of all ages who struggle with trauma, addiction and/or co-occurring disorders, through individual, couples, and/or family counseling, in order to effectively treat the whole individual and their family unit. Rachael utilizes her numerous trainings, including, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Processing), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and 200 Hours of Power Yoga Certification, to provide clients with the most well-rounded, holistic care as possible. She specializes in utilizing expressive modalities through the use of art, sandtray, and play therapies. She supports creativity, magical thinking, and community engagement. She is passionate about inclusive communities to discuss mental health, body/food freedom, and recovery. Rachael’s goal is to provide the guidance, support, and education to those who may have not had the opportunity otherwise.

“I ate way past my fullness cues and now I’m uncomfortable.”1. Distract yourself - If there is a history of purging, def...
05/13/2025

“I ate way past my fullness cues and now I’m uncomfortable.”

1. Distract yourself - If there is a history of purging, definitely make sure to distract yourself through the digestion window. Go on a walk, call a friend, watch a TV show, start a puzzle, play with your dog.
2. Forgive yourself - No need to keep beating yourself up over something that happened and you won’t be able to take back. We all make mistakes. Just take this as a learning experience and move on. You will not “get fat” just because you overate for one meal!
3. Learn from this - Start to break down way you ate past your fullness cue. Were you super hungry and ravenous? Was it a food you normally don’t allow yourself to eat and you didn’t want it to end? Were you out to eat at a restaurant? Use these answers as information to know your habits and prepare yourself for next time.
4. Plan ahead - Based on the answers from the previous step, notice your habits and make some plans for moving forward. Do you tend to overeat when you are hangry? (That’s me). Keep a snack in your purse or car. Try not to let yourself get to the point of “starvation.” If you get really excited over a “special food” make sure to eat slowly and drink water throughout your meal. Maybe you pack up half of the food to save for later right away. There’s always way to plan if we are being conscientious about our habits and choices.

New week, new “Now What?”“I hate how my body looks in a picture someone took of me.”1. Don’t hyper fixate over the pictu...
04/29/2025

New week, new “Now What?”

“I hate how my body looks in a picture someone took of me.”

1. Don’t hyper fixate over the picture - If the picture is making you feel bad about yourself, stop looking at it. Don’t zoom in on the parts of your body that you hate in the photo. Let’s try to be kind of ourselves, okay?
2. Compare yourself to a sunset - Do you ever look at a sunset and try to capture it on your phone/camera? Does that sunset photo look the same as it does in person? 9/10 the photo doesn’t do the sunset justice. Pictures can’t always capture the whole essence of the image. YOU ARE THE SUNSET.
3. Gratitude List - Create a gratitude list of things you are grateful for about your body or things you like about yourself that have nothing to do with your physical appearance.
4. Focus on the memory - Does this photo capture and document a great memory you have with friends, family, or a time in your life you hope to cherish? Years down the line on your death bed, do you think you’ll focus on the memory or how your body looked in a picture? (only right answers here…)
5. Prepare yourself for next time - If there’s events where you know photos will be taken and you’re aware this is a trigger for you, go into that event prepared. Talk about it in a therapy session, journal the night before, and/or meditate the morning of the event.

NOW WHAT? A new series for you all where each week I take a scenario either myself, my clients, or YOU ALL have struggle...
04/22/2025

NOW WHAT?

A new series for you all where each week I take a scenario either myself, my clients, or YOU ALL have struggled with in the past. The purpose of “Now What?” is to have clear cut feedback on how to approach your next steps after struggling with a difficult scenario that pertains food and/or your body. If there are certain scenarios you want feedback on, comment below or answer the Q&A in my recent story! The more responses I receive, the more of these I’ll make :) For now, here’s the first one:

“I tried on clothes that didn’t fit in the store and now I feel uncomfortable.”

1. Take off the item of clothing - No need to continue to criticize yourself by looking in the mirror and pointing out all the things you don’t like. Let’s try to be kind to ourselves. What would you say to a friend who doesn’t like how they look in an outfit?
2. Find other sizes or options - Try to see if there are other sizes of that article of clothing that fit you better (or scratch that item all together).
3. Reassure yourself - Clothes are meant to fit your body, not the other way around. IT’S OKAY if something doesn’t fit you exactly to your liking. That doesn’t mean you’re broken, damaged, or need to change anything about yourself.
4. DO NOT SPIRAL - Don’t overcompensate by skipping meals, signing up for a new diet, or overlooking any of your hard work/progress.
5. Get out of your head - Focus on breath work or meditation, contact positive supports, journal, write down this experience to discuss during your next therapy session.

Added some new (along with the classics) resources I provide to my clients! Which one are you the most interested in?? ...
03/10/2025

Added some new (along with the classics) resources I provide to my clients! Which one are you the most interested in??

Happy December 1st! Episode 12, Mindful Eating & Movement During the Holidays, now available to listen or watch on Spoti...
12/01/2024

Happy December 1st! Episode 12, Mindful Eating & Movement During the Holidays, now available to listen or watch on Spotify and YouTube!

As I reflect on this past year, I am beyond grateful for the support this platform has provided and the kind words people have said in response to the podcast.

With that being said, after long consideration I have decided to take a step back from the podcast, putting a Season 2 on hold indefinitely. I am the type of person, like many of you, who push themselves too much, resulting in burnout.

As work becomes busier and I’m becoming more involved with community programs and partnerships, I’ve decided to focus my energy on those aspects in the 2025 year.

I started this podcast for people like me, who could have utilized this resource when they were struggling. It’s what I’ve chosen to focus on clinical practice on, but I also understand that not everyone has the privilege or access to treatment.

Thank you to every single guest who took the time to come on and share their story. Thank you to every person who reached out, who listened, who offered kind words.

Plan to see short clips on my socials that address similar topics to the podcast!

-Rachael

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6lvXksE1rJPCYhQ50EDjfs?si=R1Pc9KTcSZyWUoBHyUqm4A

Happy December 1st! ❄️ Episode 12, Mindful Eating & Movement During the Holidays, now available to listen or watch on Sp...
12/01/2024

Happy December 1st! ❄️ Episode 12, Mindful Eating & Movement During the Holidays, now available to listen or watch on Spotify and YouTube!

As I reflect on this past year, I am beyond grateful for the support this platform has provided and the kind words people have said in response to the podcast.

With that being said, after long consideration I have decided to take a step back from the podcast, putting a Season 2 on hold indefinitely. I am the type of person, like many of you, who push themselves too much, resulting in burnout.

As work becomes busier and I’m becoming more involved with community programs and partnerships, I’ve decided to focus my energy on those aspects in the 2025 year.

I started this podcast for people like me, who could have utilized this resource when they were struggling. It’s what I’ve chosen to focus on clinical practice on, but I also understand that not everyone has the privilege or access to treatment.

Thank you to every single guest who took the time to come on and share their story. Thank you to every person who reached out, who listened, who offered kind words.

But you haven’t completely gotten rid of me…plan to see short clips on my socials that address similar topics to the podcast!

-Rachael

Why share this? You truly never know what someone is going through based on their superficial presence. This is an examp...
10/09/2024

Why share this? You truly never know what someone is going through based on their superficial presence. This is an example of just a handful of cases I have worked with over the years. Here’s your reminder to be kind, patient, and caring to others, even just for today.

10/01/2024

Barks on the Boards.....🙀🎃👻🐾🦅🏈

Dog Day and Howl-O-Ween Parade
The fourth annual Dog Day on Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27 will invite dogs and their owners to enjoy a weekend of fun on the Boardwalk. Leashed dogs will be permitted on the boardwalk on October 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on October 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

On Saturday, Oct. 26 activities will include dog-specific vendors along the Boardwalk, photo-op stations and the Humane Society’s announcement of Ocean City’s “Pet of the Year.” The event will allow owners to shop for dog treats, dog collars, shoot photos with Santa and more. People are encouraged to dress themselves and their dogs in Halloween costumes for the Howl-O-Ween Parade on Oct. 26. Registration for the Howl-O-Ween Parade is now open and all proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of Ocean City.

Vince Papale to Serve as Grand Marshal for Ocean City’s Howl-O-Ween Parade

Ocean City will welcome Vince Papale as the grand marshal of the annual Howl-O-Ween Parade on Oct. 26. Papale was a 30-year-old teacher, coach and part-time bartender in 1976 when he attended a public tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles. Not only did he make the team, but he became a fan favorite and earned the team’s “Man of the Year” honors in 1978 for his gritty play on special teams. His story is the subject of the film “Invincible.” Hosted by the Humane Society of Ocean City, the Howl-O-Ween Parade welcomes costumed pets in a procession down the Ocean City Boardwalk that starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26. The event is part of Dog Days on the Boardwalk Oct. 26 and 27, a weekend that welcomes dogs on the Boardwalk, where they are usually prohibited.

Leashed dogs will be permitted on the boardwalk 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 26, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. October 27. On Saturday, Oct. 26 activities will include dog-specific vendors along the Boardwalk, photo-op stations and the Humane Society’s announcement of Ocean City’s “Pet of the Year.” The event will allow owners to shop for dog treats, dog collars, shoot photos with Santa and more. People are encouraged to dress themselves and their dogs in Halloween costumes for the Howl-O-Ween Parade on Oct. 26.

The event is sponsored by JiLLy’s OCNJ, OCNJ Entertainment, Manco & Manco, Heritage Surf & Sport, Castaway Cove, Berger Realty, Johnson's Popcorn, Stainton's, We Make It Personal and the Ocean City Policemen’s Benevolent Association.

The timeline for the Oct 26 events includes:

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Dogs permitted on the Boardwalk
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Free photos with Santa in a lifeguard boat under the Ocean City Music Pier Loggia

12 p.m.: Pet of the Year announcement at the Ocean City Music Pier (Moorlyn Terrace and Boardwalk) PHL17's own Kelsey Fabian and Jenna Meissner will be co-hosting the crowning and announing the BIG "NEWS" of the winner!!!
1 p.m.: Day-of parade registration and pre-registration packet pickup starts at the Ocean City Sports and Civic Center (Sixth Street and Boardwalk)
3 p.m.: Boardwalk parade starts at Sixth Street and continues to 14th Street
The timeline for the Oct 27 events includes:

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Dogs permitted on the Boardwalk
Registration for the Howl-O-Ween Parade is now open by clicking .
https://ocnj.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=18526

Excited to be offering a FREE children’s art workshop while some kids are off of school. Sign up for one, two, or ALL da...
09/24/2024

Excited to be offering a FREE children’s art workshop while some kids are off of school. Sign up for one, two, or ALL dates available. Space is limited, first come first serve. Link in bio!

09/15/2024

We use EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) within our practice to help our clients hear from trauma. It is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can heal from psychological trauma just like the body recovers from physical trauma.

EMDR is an eight-phase treatment method. History taking, client preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure and reevaluation of treatment effect are the eight phases of this treatment which are briefly described.

uses this headset to engage in bilateral stimulation.

Recovery is a weird thing.You think you’ve got it all figured out, then things in your life come up that’s unexpected an...
09/10/2024

Recovery is a weird thing.

You think you’ve got it all figured out, then things in your life come up that’s unexpected and challenges those thoughts.

Like getting your wisdom teeth out and swelling up so you can’t eat anything solid…but not considering how this would trigger previous disordered thoughts.

“How many calories am I eating?”
“Am I losing weight?”
“What if I just keep this up?

Not to be discouraging, but things will constantly come up in life. That’s not the issue…the issue is if we’re prepared how we address it. Do we use the new “tools in our toolbox” or fall back into old patterns?

It is extremely important to look at the progress you’ve made; to acknowledge that you’re responding so much differently than you would have a year ago, 5 years ago, 10 years ago.

Because YOU have done the work…through therapy, self-reflection, education.

I discuss this topic of recovery in my latest podcast episode, link in my bio, if you’re interested!

Address

Somers Point, NJ

Telephone

+16095942862

Website

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