Abbie is an art therapist and counselor in the process of obtaining her Associate Professional Counselor Licensure (LAPC) and Art Therapy Registration (ATR). She received her Bachelor of Arts degree(s) in Psychology and Studio Arts from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and her Master of Arts degree in Art Therapy & Counseling from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Abbie has clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults in various settings, including therapeutic day school, college counseling, and wilderness therapy.  

 

She has worked with a wide variety of presenting mental health concerns, including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, relational issues, self-esteem, trauma,  grief, and more.

Abbie defines her art therapy practice as an integrative mental health approach that highlights the potential for art and creativity to be utilized as tools for therapeutic communication and expression. She believes that the inclusion of art within the therapeutic process can facilitate growth, change, and insight through the act of art-making itself and overall creative thinking. Abbie’s therapeutic practice is rooted in meeting her clients where they are. She primarily utilizes a person-centered approach, prioritizing the subjective needs of the client at hand. That being said, she may integrate a variety of theoretical frameworks into her work, including Strengths-Based interventions, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Systems Theory, and more.

Abbie’s primary goal is to promote positive change and growth within each and every client. To do so, this may include increasing one’s ability to identify, communicate, process, regulate, and cope with a variety of emotions, both positive and negative. By developing a comprehensive treatment plan with every client, Abbie strives to promote all-around wellness through achieving client-driven goals, working closely with family systems, and promoting feelings of success in all areas of a client’s life.