Welcome!
I’m Nicole.
Child and Adolescent
Mood and Emotional Regulation
Anxiety
Professional Philosophy
Creative arts is a powerful pathway to healing, self-discovery, and emotional resilience. It is an essential language that allows individuals to express what words cannot always capture.
The creative process can help access insight, integrate experiences, and foster a sense of wholeness. It is a process-oriented approach that creates a nonthreatening and supportive environment for clients to feel safe to experiment and explore their inner world without judgment.
“Healing happens when people are allowed to express their inner worlds through art, regardless of skill or outcome.”
― Judith Rubin
Personal Background
Since I was very young, art has been my safe haven. No matter where I was or what materials I had, I was always creating—drawing, crafting, building something out of nothing. As an anxious child who often struggled to find the right words or even understand what I was feeling, art became my way of processing the world. It gave me comfort, clarity, and a sense of control when everything else felt overwhelming. Without even realizing it, I was using creativity as a form of healing.
As I grew older, life’s challenges became more complex, but art remained a quiet constant—a tool I turned to again and again. When it came time to think about college and my future, I knew I wanted a path that combined both of my passions: making art and helping others. It was my cousin who first introduced me to the field of art therapy. I remember immediately diving into research, captivated by the idea that the very thing that helped me could also support others in their healing. The more I learned about the power of creative expression in therapeutic settings, the more certain I became that this was the work I was meant to do.
Specialization Details
All of us here at START address the mental health areas of stress, trauma, and anxiety in our practice. We apply these three topics to unique, specific challenges that our clients are going through. I also offer specialized treatment in the following areas:
Child and Adolescent
Through the lens of creative arts therapy many children and adolescents benefit since finding language to express complex thoughts and emotions can feel overwhelming or out of reach. Art therapy offers a different way in—a safe, supportive space where expression doesn’t have to start with words. Children and teens can explore their inner world, process emotions, and make sense of their experiences at their own pace.
Anxiety
Anxiety can show up in so many ways—racing thoughts, avoidance, physical symptoms, and for most, it’s often hard to put into words. That’s where art therapy becomes such a powerful tool. Through creative expression, one can safely explore what anxiety feels like in their bodies and minds, without the pressure to explain it verbally. Art gives form to the things that feel invisible or overwhelming, and together we use that process to build insight, coping skills, and a greater sense of inner calm.
Mood and Emotional Regulation
Whether it's big outbursts, sudden mood shifts, or feeling overwhelmed by emotions they can't quite name. For many people, especially those still learning how to understand and manage their feelings, traditional talk therapy can feel challenging. Art can slow things down, make feelings more visible, and give you the chance to practice emotional regulation in a supportive, non-judgmental space. Together, we build tools for self-awareness, self-soothing, and emotional balance—without the pressure to have it all figured out.