I thought I was done with college...
My inspiration to pursue my art and Art Therapy emerged out of grief and loss. Life experiences culminated with my own desire to heal. My empathy and compassion urges me to help others do the same. The background that guides me has been in Higher Education… with a side-hustle in Counseling Psychology… while I dabbled in the fine arts.
It all comes together here in my Collective Bass
~AEW 2022
Process of the Artist
My art making process can be free flowing or by method. I often begin the movement of the art making process with an idea, allowing my creativity to unfold organically. When I step back an observe what is beginning, I think about what “belongs” with my original flow. There are layers and reflections in my process as an expression of my thoughts and feelings. It is a product of a directive, an experience, an emotion or a memory. The media I select is an evolution of how I feel when thinking about the directive or flow. Through my process, I am open to my art moving in a different direction that what I initially anticipate and use each pivot in my expression to be presented as a smaller piece within a piece. Occasionally, a work of art is produced and remains the final piece. Often my initial pieces are the template for a fuller piece to come.
The pieces that come out…
Yet to Come…
My professional aspiration is to open a therapy farm with a focal point on Art Therapy. The theraputic experience will be supplemented by being with nature, being with animals and learning to be with self. The primary population the therapy farm is intended to serve is Disabled Veterans. Those in need outside of the Veteran population will also be welcome to heal with us. I choose this because it allows me to help others and use the pieces of myself that compose my skillset. it permits me to apply my education and life experiences in a way that is organic and creative. My hope is to provide a path of sustainable inner peace to others and provide hope. THe art therapist helps Identify the layers of trauma and the lenses through which we see them. This is key in my art therapist identity. my passion extends from working with others who are in informed by trauma and being in the practice of meeting them where they are at. The intention of my practice will be to assist others through expressive arts in an effort to be with them, walk with them and support them as they learn to stand on their own through new theraputic experiences.
Get in touch by email: inquiry@collectivebass.com
My Experience
Doctor of Philosophy Old Dominion University
Darden College of Education, Department of Counseling & Educational Leadership
Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Areas of Concentration: Higher Education, College Student Development & College Counseling
Master of Science in Counseling Shippensburg University
College of Education & Human Services, Department of Counseling, Shippensburg University
Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Areas of Concentration: Mental Health & College Student Personnel
Thesis: Student Retention: Building a Sense of Community
Bachelor of Art in English Shippensburg University
College of Arts & Sciences
Areas of Concentration: Secondary Education, Post Modern Theory, Ceramics,
Minor in Dance @ Wilson College
Teaching
Dance, Counseling & Higher Education
Counseling
First Responder for Psychotic Breaks
Community Outreach Triage
College Counseling (Group & Individual)
Drug & Alcohol Counseling
Therapeutic Support (lifespan)
