"When I look at a sunset, I don't say, 'Soften the orange a little on the right hand corner, and put a bit more purple in the cloud color.'"
Psychologist Carl Rogers was describing the way he observed the world. "I don't try to control a sunset," he continued. "I watch it with awe."
He had a similar view about people. "One of the most satisfying experiences," he said, "is just fully to appreciate an individual in the same way I appreciate a sunset."
About working with an art therapist
The creation of art has been a life giving and affirming process for most of my life, providing a medium with which to explore various emotions, hopes and dreams. I hope to impart to others what art therapy has done for me and what it offers to everyone open to trying its facets: to inspire our whole self and shoulder the conditions of compassion fatigue or burnout. which can commonly effect social activists and caregiving professionals but can effect everyone across different fields. Common issues that I counsel with people on are grief and loss, anxiety, depression, complex post-traumatic disorder and life transitions. I collaborate with my clients in every step of their healing process from the moment that we learn about your experience with mental health, to developing treatment goals together, to how to put into practice healthy steps towards the growth one hopes to attain. My person-centered approach believes that the client is the expert of their experience, while I aid as a guide on that very human journey; with the creative process offering a nurturing space to explore themes in that narrative and potential areas for transformation.
I specialize in relational cultural approaches to encourage the artistic process as a catalyst for healing and to envision positive change in our communities from the perspective of persons of color or people of the global majority. Through my experience as a crisis intervention counselor and work with refugees, I’m adept at using trauma-informed approaches to counseling and believe in wellness that addresses the whole person along with their worldview. I have over 10 years professional experience working with people of immigrant heritage, LGBTQ youth, seniors afflicted by Alzheimer’s, families in transition, terminally ill patients and those challenged by long term mental illness.
Individual Counseling
45- 75 minute sessions • $90 to $150. Sliding scale available on a limited basis, see chart below.
Insurances currently accepted: United Health Care, Medicare
Qualifications include:
Registered Art Therapist who specializes in using mindfulness techniques including guided visualizations and social dreaming. With trauma informed and Relational-Cultural approaches to wellness to focus on youth empowerment, LGBTQGNC issues, mental health awareness and group therapy including families and couples. Ms. Cheong is a 200 Hour foundation yoga trained instructor and Licensed Professional Counselor with experience working with people requiring trauma informed care to process grief, and other major life transitions, as well as those who seek better understanding of themselves and to grow their strengths.
Couples counseling available upon special request. $110 to $175 per session
Please go to Contact Us to schedule an appointment.
Group and Staff Development Sessions
An art therapy program to provide burnout relief among professionals in social activism and caregiving fields.
This is offered thru 3 hour to 3 day workshops in art therapies that promote self-care and prevent compassion fatigue, which commonly effects social activists and caregiving professionals from grassroots groups to non-profit organizations and large companies.
Using three main modalities including art therapy, visual arts to assess and process challenges; mindfulness or meditation to hold these challenges at a healthy distance in order to develop sustainable solutions; and yoga + qi gong to promote body-mind awareness that will foster a safe space and caring attitude between team members.
Mind the GAPS
I will use a model I call GAPS:
G ~ what are the Gaping holes in your team? (current issues)
A ~ how do we collaboratively Assess these gaps? (step back and look at the problems)
P ~ let’s patiently provide feedback on potential solutions (be open to Possibilities- what is your
capacity or capabilities at this point?)
S ~ Safely administer a plan to help your team meet their goals in healthy positive ways for a
Sustainable future
Benefits of Integrated Healing Arts
Define team goals
Restore creative work culture
Refine healthy communication skills
Identify simple self-care activities
Increase team productivity
Set up a Consult
To see if your organization would be a good fit for my program please contact:
