The Work of Therapy: Purpose of the Therapist Space

I am a doer by nature; I take action. When life sends its challenges, I may wallow a bit but then I make a plan and “get to the work of therapy.” Coming to therapy, there’s an expectation that we will create together and things will change for the better. That is why I feel the meeting space is vital to setting the tone for productive work. In art therapy, making art is a sense of action. Through the act of creation, negative energy and swirling inner thoughts are held on the paper, looking right back at you. With lines and color, images beg a conversation and want to be understood. What we create can direct the trajectory of EMDR therapy. Therefore, it’s important that your therapy work happens not only with a trained art therapist, but also within a safe and private space.

Doing the deep work of trauma recovery requires a place that helps you feel safe, comfortable and at ease. With intention, my art studio is located within an inclusive community space focused on connection and reconnection to community and nature. Flooded with natural light and plant views, you can sit on a comfy sofa or oversized chair. Likewise, we can chat at a task table where we make images and creations to help you create your calm, find clarity and seek change. Our focus is on having meaningful conversations from this neutral place filled with calm landscape pictures, air purifying plants, and art supplies surrounded by a cozy rug, soft seating and natural light.

What’s around us matters. We are all influenced by our surroundings from the vantage of sight, smell, touch and sound. My intention is to model a safe place that I hope you will incorporate in your own unique way back at home and even at the workplace. The space of therapy can help you become embodied, that is, gaining a somatic-based reconnection to you, where your nervous system is calmed by restoration and recovery. From a restful mind, you can reclaim that true you—that has been masked by the past. Therapy from this shared space can help you gain insights so you can live your best life. Since discovery is the process of life, you can dip back into your well, splashing cold water on the eyes, to clearly see and be refreshed by the renewing of your mind. Intention and space are essential and deeply support the foundation of your therapy experience.

Is this space speaking to you now? Ready to start therapy and be guided with EMDR and art therapy to heal your past? Feel free to reach out for a free consult.

You can also learn more about the work I do on the Meet Andrea page.

Looking forward to sharing the space with you,

Andrea Sutrick, ATR-BC, LMHC