Mindfulness Based, Trauma Informed Expressive Art Therapist and Mental Health Integrative Medicine Practitioner-Licensed Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
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I specialize in assisting individuals who struggle with trauma recovery, substance abuse recovery, anxiety and depression, grief and chronic pain issues, self regulation issues and offer behavior consultations with parents and teachers through a mindfulness based, trauma informed, expressive and therapeutic arts experience.
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For the past 20 years I have taught social emotional learning and mindfulness in both the regular classroom, special education classroom and fine arts classroom incorporating them in a positive behavior, relationship based intervention and behavior management system. Since 2003 I have taught art to children and adults through the use of expressive arts education. Therapeutic and Expressive Arts Therapy and Facilitation is a "no art experience required" process of exploring creativity, and yourself, in a nonjudgemental way combining different forms of creating in one session, activity or lesson. For instance you might start a session with grounding, breathwork and a short moving meditation, then move to an art based creation process (painting, collage, photography), then in summary, create a poem or find quotes that say something personal and meaningful about your process of creation or piece of work.
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Mindfulness helps us dive deep and find sanctuary in our process of creating. I've been a practitioner of Transcendental Meditation for over 20 years, studied Pranayama, Tantric and Primordial Breathwork and Meditation at the Chopra Center and am trained in Isha Kriya, iRest, Taoist meditation, Metta and moving meditations along with continuing education certificates from the University of New Mexico in meditation. I am trained in John Kabat Zinn’s Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and am a certified mindfulness practitioner, a master mindfulness and meditation teacher, a Therapeutic Art and Mindfulness and Meditation Life Coach, expressive arts therapist and meditative artist. I have been a student of Bhakti yoga for nearly 2 decades, while embracing and calling on the power of universal energy from the Christ Consciousness, Christian Mystics, Taoism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Sufism and Indigenous and earth based traditions. I come from a New Thought (Earnest Holmes and Charles Fillmore), Universalist perspective respecting all paths of spirituality.
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I added Mental Health Integrated Medicine in 2018, focusing on nutrition and lifestyle changes to my practice as a method to enhance mood, control anxiety and improve general health specifically for pain management, trauma, grief and addictions recovery. I believe in a holistic strengths based, wellness approach focusing on creating positive wellness and coping strategies for healing and life's journey in 1:1 coaching, counseling and therapy. I see mental health challenges not as mental illness, but as an opportunity to develop strategies and skills for mental wellness.
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I am a Registered Psychotherapist in Colorado, Licensed Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist (Adult, Child Adolescent, Family and addictions based) with additional training from Dr. Bruce Perry, Dr. Janina Fischer, Dr. Robert Rhoton and Dr. Eric Gentry , Dr, Dan Siegel and Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk, and numerous trauma centered organizations. In my expressive arts therapy work I've been trained by Dr. Nancy Rowe, Dr. Jill Mellick , Shelly Krammer and Dr. Cathy Malchiodi to name a few. I provide workshops throughout the Midwest on social emotional learning in the arts, teacher self care, trauma basics, stress management, trauma informed classrooms to school, non profits and church congregations building resilience. I facilitate alternative addictions recovery and grief groups that includes secular philosophy, Buddhist based 12 step programs, faith based and strength based counseling and mindfulness practices.
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The purpose of my custom designed programs for individuals and support groups are to help you stabilize, restore, and optimize your physical, mental and emotional health. Therapeutic and Expressive Arts, wellness counseling, lifestyle coaching, psycho education and the development of coping strategies are offered as we work together to create a path through life for you that is meaningful and healthy.
You are not a one size fits all being.
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​Sliding scale and payment plans available. Not covered by insurance.
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The Institute offers online and live workshops and courses in: mindfulness and meditation, trauma informed classroom, trauma sensitive practices, therapeutic and expressive arts and spiritual/sacred art.
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​Workshops Currently Offered (Custom Workshops Available)
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Mental wellness through mindfulness and self care with trauma informed resiliency building for teachers, classrooms, organizations, individuals and families with expressive arts therapy, behavior coaching, expressive therapeutic arts and social emotional learning utilizing the arts is what I specialize in.
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Workshops Currently Offered Live. Online versions are being created as well as the Mindfulness Based, Trauma Informed, Therapeutic Art Practitioner and Facilitator program.
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Trauma Informed Classroom
Trauma Informed Organization
Building Resiliency Through Mindfulness
ADHD Interventions
Dealing with Explosive Students
Self Care Essentials
Self Care Assessment and Planning
Neurobiology of Trauma
Grief and Loss in the Classroom
Gratitude Building
Developing Self Compassion
SEL in the Elementary Art Room
Stress Release Through Art Making
Intuitive-Meditative Art Making
Trauma Informed Mindfulness
Mindfulness Practices
(Breathwork, Meditation Styles, EFT, Mindfulness Recovery/Relapse Prevention, Mindfulness in Grief, Mindful Arts)
Trauma Informed Resilient Congregations
Universal Lectio Divina Therapeutic Art Practices
Universal Lectio Divina for Kids
Intuitive Meditation Art Making
Healing Through Art for Palliative Care and End of Life Cycles
(Participant and Train the Trainer)
Healing With the Arts
(Participant and Train the Trainer)
Therapeutic Art Practices
Shamanic Art Therapy and Facilitation
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If you are a teacher who has experienced trauma in the classroom or school or would like to learn more about trauma and resiliency practices in the classroom, please join us in or online support group on Facebook. We will provide positive support to each other, learn coping skills, mindfulness strategies and stress management techniques. It is not a site to go to get professional help or diagnosis. It is a positive, strengths based support group.
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For my complete education and credentials list please see the About Jessica page.
