Working with Me: Experience Well-being Through Creative Expression

When you enter into an online session with me, you step into a space where your authentic self is celebrated and your innate creativity is honored. Art therapy is not about producing a perfect piece of art—it's about the process of creation as a means to understand and know yourself. Together, we will navigate your unique challenges, whether you are dealing with trauma, grief, shame, body-image distress, chronic illness, or life transitions.

In our sessions, you will find a reassuring balance of structure and freedom. We start with a check-in to ground our work, allowing you to take a moment to notice how you are feeling, and to observe any thoughts you have been noticing recently. Then, we move into the creative process. Using a variety of art materials, you will be encouraged to let your intuition guide you. I may provide specific art therapy prompts tailored to you, or you might choose an art material or color that you are feeling drawn to and begin intuitively making marks on your paper. The art making process often reveals insights that words may not capture, providing a powerful outlet for emotions and experiences and a safe container for our emotions. It can also help the body and mind connect, allowing you to think in different ways, find clarity and promote a sense of peacefulness. I may create art alongside you, but my primary focus is on supporting you throughout your creative process. Whether you prefer to talk while making art, to make art in focused silence, or listen to music while creating, I will follow your lead.

As we approach the end of the session, you’ll have the opportunity to share your artwork and reflect on your experience. Sometimes you may have a lot to say about your art, and other times you may not, or maybe you will choose to do some reflective journaling after our session. I may offer observations or ask questions to help you explore how your creative process reflects different aspects of your life.

Each session is tailored to your individual needs.

Here’s an sample of what you might expect in a session:

1. Opening Dialogue: We begin with a conversation to connect and set intentions. This is your time to share what’s on your mind and heart.We may also start with a brief mindfulness or grounding technique.

2. Art Making: Guided by our dialogue, you will engage in the creative process. Whether through painting, drawing, collage, or another medium, you will express yourself freely. There is no right or wrong way to create—this space is for exploration and self-expression.
3. Reflection: After the art-making, we will spend time reflecting on your process and creation. What does it reveal about your inner world? How does it relate to your current challenges and experiences? This reflective dialogue helps integrate the insights gained from the creative process.
4. Closing: We conclude with grounding techniques to help you transition from the session back into your daily life, carrying with you the insights and clarity discovered through your art.

Who Can Benefit?
My practice is particularly suited for adults and adolescents, students, and artists who feel:
- Stuck in old patterns and seek to break free.
- The need to establish firm boundaries aligned with their personal truth.
- Overwhelmed by grief, loss, or life transitions and seek a safe container for these emotions.

- Living with chronic illness, and looking for evidenced based creative and holistic coping tools.
- Interested in creative tools to cope with stress, trauma, and self-imposed limitations.
- Secretly feeling empty inside despite outward success, seeking deeper fulfillment and resilience.
- Overwhelmed by the state of the world and the injustices of capitalism and colonialism, looking for ways to integrate creativity into the collective journey towards peace.

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

-Audre Lorde, A Burst of Light

Why Choose Art Therapy?
Many hesitate to try art therapy due to fears of not being "good" at art, perfectionism, or concerns about what their creations might reveal. Rest assured, no artistic skill is required. The value lies in the process, not the product. Here, you will find a supportive environment where you can safely explore your emotions and experiences without judgment.

Connect with Me
Explore how creativity can heal and transform. If you are a Washington DC resident, join me for a 1:1 online art therapy session. If you are an art therapist, student or artist, I’d love to support your creative or professional journey through supervision and mentorship. If you are looking for a creative community of like minded people who get together regularly for conversation and art making, join our weekly ArtFULL Online Community to slow down, connect, and counterbalance hustle culture- coming soon.

For more information and to book a session, contact me at bethtutt@alignedarttherapy.com

You can also call/text me at 240-242-7079, or follow me on Instagram.

I will always respect your privacy.