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School-Based Creative Arts Therapy
& Wellness Services
At START: Creative Arts Therapy Services, PLLC, we partner with schools to provide creative, trauma-informed mental health support for students, staff, and families. Our programs are led by New York State Licensed Creative Arts Therapists (LCATs) and use the healing power of art, music, movement, and drama to foster emotional growth, regulation, and connection.
We’ve worked with public, private, and charter schools across Long Island and surrounding areas, creating customized, flexible programs that reflect each school’s unique needs and culture. All services are grounded in evidence-based practices and align with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), special education goals, and trauma-informed school models.
Our services include:
Individual and group therapy sessions during the school day
Crisis response and grief support for students and staff
Creative family engagement and caregiver workshops
Staff wellness sessions and CEU-eligible professional development (stuff is blue. We don't need to include this for now - but this will be true soon - if we ever hear back from the state. I sent that application last year.)
School-wide events promoting social-emotional learning (SEL) and mental health awareness
Collaboration with IEP/504 teams and interdisciplinary support staff
Our team works closely with school leaders to ensure services are sustainable, measurable, and responsive to your community’s priorities, whether you're addressing behavioral challenges, increasing student engagement, or supporting emotional recovery and growth.
Xiomara González
“The Roosevelt UFSD is incredibly grateful for the meaningful support our elementary and middle school students received this year through START: Creative Art Therapy. The dedicated creative arts therapists provided our students with a safe, nurturing experience where they could freely explore and express their emotions through creative expression.
In a space free of judgment or criticism, students found their voices, many for the very first time. They felt heard, seen, and validated in ways that traditional conversations sometimes cannot offer. The impact was evident not only in their artwork, but in their confidence, self-awareness, and ability to connect with others. Many students even shared that they wished they could participate in art therapy every week...a true testament to the value and comfort they found in the experience.
In addition, allowing parents to experience art therapy firsthand gave them valuable insight into what their children are encountering and expressing in school. More importantly, it deepened their understanding of the powerful impact creative arts therapy can have, not just on the individual child, but on the emotional well-being of the entire family.
We thank START creative arts therapists for creating such a supportive, healing experience and for nurturing the social and emotional growth of our students and their families through the transformative power of art.”
