All The Art! And a lil' Bit of Mental Health!

Craft stores are my jam! It’s NOT a problem!

Craft stores are my jam! It’s NOT a problem!

If you’re anything like me, craft stores are the equivalent of a hardware store for some of my other friends. I would say Amen. But I do know a lot of women who just simply can’t help themselves when it comes to stopping at a hardware store. But for me it’s a craft store. Anytime I’m in another city my radar goes off and I instantly can spot the craft stores, whether they be large national chains or small mom-and-pop stores. I do like to visit those “mom and pop shops” when I’m in other cities just because it’s fun and I fully support small businesses!

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So what is a child psychologist?

So what is a child psychologist?

Being a psychologist has many facets and there are so many varieties of them. While researching this blog I found out some very cool things about this field. But let’s start with the basics…

Clinical psychology is concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders. While some professionals in this field often work in medical settings, clinical psychologists are not medical doctors and do not prescribe medications in most states. Just an FYI. When you are looking for something specific it is important to be clear with your needs and make sure you are going to the right person the first time. With all the current waiting lists and delays in receiving services the last thing you want to do is wait for months and only then find out that you cannot get your mental health needs met like you thought you could.

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Creative hobbies save us! Here’s why and how!

Creative hobbies save us! Here’s why and how!

I teach an executive functioning class to incoming sixth graders at my private school. One of the things we focus on is study skills; being organized and learning how to study are extremely important. I asked all the teachers in my middle school, some parents and some students what they felt we needed to teach them when they entered into sixth grade and how to actually study and organize themselves was top of the list!

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End of Summer Tie Dye Love

End of Summer Tie Dye Love

What do Wicked on Broadway, hot subways and Time Square have to do with tie dye? For me, they all scream summer! Here’s why . . . I just had an amazing weekend in NYC, as I cling nostalgically to the memories of such a great trip. Holding strong to the experiences I had in the theater district, WICKED was amazing as always.

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Let’s talk study skills. You only think you have them!

Let’s talk study skills. You only think you have them!

I teach an executive functioning class to incoming sixth graders at my private school. One of the things we focus on is study skills; being organized and learning how to study are extremely important. I asked all the teachers in my middle school, some parents and some students what they felt we needed to teach them when they entered into sixth grade and how to actually study and organize themselves was top of the list!

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Types of Therapy Good For Our Teens

Types of Therapy Good For Our Teens

The significant mental health crisis the world is experiencing is at RED level status, so understanding the types of therapy available to you and your family in the moment of crisis is extremely important, and I know not everyone is a therapist, like me. I am hopeful my knowledge and experience will help you or someone you love should a mental health crisis happen.

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creative ideas for projects; face paint edition!

creative ideas for projects; face paint edition!

Getting creative with your kids at home and even your teens can be as close as your bathroom drawer. Painting our faces for fun, with creativity or to practice your “look” can all be great places to find connecting and creativity. Let’s talk about creative ideas for projects “the face painting edition”.

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Counselors; To Keep or Not to Keep, That is the Question!

Counselors; To Keep or Not to Keep, That is the Question!

Part of finding the right fit among the numerous licensed counselors out there is once you get started you develop a good working relationship with the person you’ve chosen. That does not mean that you turn into best friends who text each other and spend time hanging out outside of the office.

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I’m a licensed counselor: here’s how I knew it was for me.

I’m a licensed counselor: here’s how I knew it was for me.

Why did I know I wanted to become a licensed counselor? I don’t have an exact day or time but I can definitely tell you that it was somewhere in middle school. For sure there was a GIANT blinking red light over my head by the time I was in high school. I was ALWAYS the one that my friends came to for advice. I was the “momma” to all my friends.

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My Top 10+ Creative Ideas for Projects

My Top 10+ Creative Ideas for Projects

I wanted to share my top 10 blogs for fun creative ideas for projects for kids, preteens and in-between but because I’m always a bit “extra”, it ended up being my top 11! If you are one of my dedicated blog fans then you know I LOVE crafting and I LOVE sharing my favorites with you. I’ve got some many creative ideas for projects I am about to BURST! So I made a list of my favorites! Here are my top ten creative projects!(plus one more cuz I love you!)

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Creative Drawing Ideas for Beginners

Creative Drawing Ideas for Beginners

How does one find creative drawing ideas for beginners? We tend to have all the supplies around the house or readily available but we struggle to start. Starting with something easy and nonthreatening is the way to go! Easy drawing ideas are the way to get started!

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The Japanese Art of Gyotaku aka Fish Printing

The Japanese Art of Gyotaku aka Fish Printing

The Japanese art of Gyotaku, or fish printing, is one of my favorite things to do with my art students. It’s so unique and fun that everyone smiles when the rubbery, bendy fish bodies come out of the box. These guys are so lifelike, with details on the fins, realistic scales as well as fine details around the eyes.

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Self Talk That Matters! What You Must Do!

Self Talk That Matters! What You Must Do!

How many times a day do you talk to yourself? How many times a day do your kids or your partner talk to themselves? How often do you notice that the talk is negative? Oftentimes when I’m working with youth and I hear them saying something derogatory towards themselves or others I find myself saying “put ups; not put-downs?”

It pains me to hear people say things like “I’m stupid” or “I suck at art”. I have a really strong belief that we should be correcting those negative things that come out of our mouths. Because as we all know self talk is important. In fact, it is actually more important than we think it is!

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Therapy: How The Media Portrays the Field

Therapy: How The Media Portrays the Field

What is therapy? If you watch any movie from the 70s, 80s or 90s therapy is typically portrayed as somebody sitting with their therapist in their office on their couch talking about their feelings, worries, past trauma and other personal issues.

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Snow Globes: How to Make Your Own in a Mason Jar!

Snow Globes: How to Make Your Own in a Mason Jar!

If you have ever traveled to another state or country there is always a snow globe in the gift shop at the airport. Headed to any tourist spots in NYC or other major cool places like NASA or fun spots and there is a snow globe on the shelves. For a brief time I had a collection of snow globes that lived on some shelves in my room growing up. They were typically from places my family or friends or myself had visited around the world.

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Let’s Talk About Painting a Wall Mural!

Let’s Talk About Painting a Wall Mural!

When I was in high school I stayed home sick one day from school. I was sick. But it wasn’t “that sick”. If you know what I mean. ;-). So about halfway through the day I got super bored and decided that I was going to paint a wall mural in my bedroom.

For whatever ridiculous reason I painted a shadowed image of the Egyptian pyramids with a bunch of shadow images of ancient Egyptians dancing around in front of the pyramid, a dangerous snake that spiraled from the bottom of the wall curling and swirling and all the way up until its head swallowed my light switch.

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Let’s Talk Dot Art! Swipe Right-Painting Not Dating!

Let’s Talk Dot Art! Swipe Right-Painting Not Dating!

Recently as I was scrolling through Pinterest I found this really cute, very quick little fun activity with dots of acrylic paint and whatever kind of paper or canvas you’d like to use and a scraping tool. It was so simple and yet so creative that I grabbed my materials and got started on this cute little project, known as Dot Art,  with my art camp students. 

I like to buy those small 2 ounce bottles of acrylic paint. I get whatever is available at the craft store or the dollar store, whatever is cheapest. It really doesn’t matter too much, especially for what we’re doing here today.  There are several brands that you can use, I don’t have a special one I prefer.

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What Is Art Therapy? And How Does It Work?

What Is Art Therapy? And How Does It Work?

What is art therapy? Art therapy is a new technique in terms of therapy styles that have been around since Freud was coming up with his odd therapeutic styles and practices.

Some of it was seriously unusual and yet, he is the Father of Modern Psychotherapy. Of course that was over 100 years ago and since then the world has come a very long way.

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Sharpie Tie Dye

Sharpie Tie Dye

Check this out! If you are not sure how to or you don’t want to deal with the mess of “tie dye” the original way, this is a great alternative to it. Sharpie Tie Dye is Tie Dye with a twist!

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counseling adolescents? outside the box is powerful!

counseling adolescents? outside the box is powerful!

Getting a teenager to do anything that wasn’t their idea is virtually impossible.

So counseling adolescents and getting them to talk about their feelings or admit that they need to talk about their feelings can feel completely impossible.

I remember being a teenager. I remember struggling so significantly that my parents did have to finally get me therapeutic help.

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Art Therapy – The Ins and Outs

Art Therapy – The Ins and Outs

What is Art therapy you ask? According to Wikepeida art therapy is, “a distinct discipline that incorporates creative methods of expression through visual art media.” Through the use of artistic methods one can treat certain psychological disorders and enhance a client’s mental health. Art therapy is a technique deep seated in the idea that creative expression can foster healing and mental well-being.

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Michelle offers in-person camps and art experiences, she also hosts live art events and can bring an art experience to your location. Her blogs give you the inside tips and fun stories of being creative every day with your kids, but also just for you!

Every Family Needs Creativity!

Let’s get creative together, relieve stress, and ignite the imagination! Enjoy creativity with your kids or on your own! In-person, online or with wine!