Mairéad Wegenaar

 MA, LCAT #002494

Mindfulness

Anxiety & Emotional Regulation

College Students & Life Transitions

Client Focus: Young Adults, College Students, Adults, Individuals in Life Transitions

Specialties: College students and life transitions, anxiety and emotional regulation, mindfulness, relationship issues, stress, anger, bipolar disorder, substance use disorders, psychosis, trauma, ADHD, physical disabilities

Treatment Methods: Art Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Trauma-Informed Treatment, Mindfulness

Mairéad Wegenaar is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist who specializes in supporting young adults and adults as they navigate life transitions, manage stress, and build healthier ways of coping. She especially enjoys helping clients explore their emotions, strengthen relationships, and develop confidence in themselves. With experience across inpatient hospitals, outpatient programs, and college settings, Mairéad has supported people through everything from crisis to long-term growth, allowing her to meet clients where they are, whether they're just starting to explore therapy or navigating big life transitions.

Her therapeutic approach integrates art therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-informed treatment, and mindfulness practices. Mairéad believes that every person holds the potential for growth, healing, and change when given the right tools and support. She uses art as a therapeutic tool to assist clients in exploring their emotions, fostering deeper self-understanding, and building meaningful insight. Through encouragement, positive reframing, and creative expression, she helps clients recognize and access the strengths they already carry within themselves. Her approach is grounded, flexible, and focused on helping each person build tools that will work for them.

With a Master's in Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University, Mairéad is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist in New York State. Her diverse clinical background has equipped her with the ability to support people through many different challenges and life stages. She believes the creative process can be a powerful tool for growth, and her hope is that clients leave their work together with greater insight, a stronger sense of their resilience, and feeling more grounded in their daily lives.

Outside the therapy room, Mairéad loves doing anything creative by experimenting with new art materials and exploring new creative outlets. She also enjoys reading on her Kindle, going for walks, spending time outside, listening to podcasts, and practicing mindfulness.

  • College Students & Life Transitions Specialist
    College is a period of major life transition, self-exploration, and growth. With its many unique challenges, students can often feel overwhelmed and dysregulated. Mairéad focuses on supporting college students and anyone currently in a life transition, through the challenges of identity, independence, and emotional growth during this pivotal time by utilizing creativity and a strengths-based approach.

  • Emotional Regulation Tools
    Many adults experience emotional ups and downs that can feel overwhelming or hard to manage. Mairéad helps clients build the tools for managing their emotions, understanding triggers, and feeling more in control during life's stressful and challenging moments. Her approach combines creative expression with evidence-based techniques to develop practical skills for emotional regulation.

  • Mindfulness Integration
    Mairéad incorporates mindfulness into her work to help clients become more present, grounded, and aware of their thoughts and emotions without judgment. Whether through breathwork, creative practices, or grounding techniques, she supports clients in building a stronger connection to themselves and their inner calm, making mindfulness accessible and practical for daily life.

"I do this work because I believe the creative process can be a powerful tool for growth. My hope is that clients leave our work together with greater insight, a stronger sense of their resilience, and feeling more grounded in their daily lives. It's really special to be alongside someone as they discover more about themselves and what helps them feel stronger."

- Mairéad Wegenaar, MA, LCAT