Michelle Waters (She/her)

I believe that everyone can benefit from tapping into their creativity to address inner struggles. That’s why I often will utilize art therapy in sessions, while traditional talk therapy is always an option (in person or via telehealth). Expression through art can be a helpful way to get out of our heads and express our inner selves. Therapy can be really challenging for someone who can’t quite put into words what is going on. Children and adolescents in particular don’t always have the skills yet to tell you how they’re feeling and what they need. Art therapy can be a way to express issues in a safe and healing way. I also utilize mindfulness techniques and developmentally appropriate strategies with my clients to help mitigate symptoms around depression and anxiety. With adults, I use art therapy to help heal the inner child, giving a space to play and creatively problem solve together to address some of life's tough questions.

I believe that everyone deserves access to quality mental health care and that it is a basic human right. In the therapy room, we consider all factors that contributed to needing care. I take an intersectional approach, analyzing with my client the different parts of their identity and how they intersect with one another in regard to systems of oppression and discrimination. I am passionate about celebrating neurodiversity and am myself neurodiverse. In the therapy room, we dismantle societal beliefs about 'high vs. low functioning' and explore what makes neurodiverse people strong and unique. I believe the reason for so much anxiety and depression in neurodiverse populations is indicative of how society has place expectations (spoken and unspoken) on appearing 'normal' rather than celebrating our differences.