Kristy Leone - LCPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC
I am an art therapist and artist.
I am also an overthinker, sensitive spirit, and outdoor adventurer.
Just like you, I navigate the intricate labyrinth of my own thoughts and dreams.
In the past 10 years, my journey has woven through diverse settings and career paths internationally: non-profits, behavioral health centers, grief counseling centers, summer camps, nursing homes, inpatient hospitals, schools, and private practices.
Through this experience, I’ve had the privilege of engaging in roles such as community outreach, employee mentorship, wellness initiatives, and staff supervision.
These adventures led me to carve my own path, establishing a therapy practice that not only allows me to connect deeply with my clients, but also grants me the opportunity to feel fulfilled as an artist and adventurer of the outdoors.
From an early age, I’ve been deeply moved by the resilience and creativity of children. They possess an innate ability to express themselves and make sense of their world through art and play, often in ways that us adults find difficult to access at times. My decision to work with children stems from a profound desire to support their emotional and developmental growth during these formative years.
Specializing in inner child healing for adults is a natural extension of my work with children. Many adults carry unresolved wounds and unmet needs from their childhood that continue to influence their present-day experiences and behaviors. By focusing on inner child work, I aim to address these deep-seated issues and foster healing and growth in a supportive, empathetic environment.
As an adult, reconnecting with your inner child can be a powerful and transformative journey. It allows you to revisit and heal past wounds, cultivate self-compassion, and embrace parts of yourself that may have been suppressed or overlooked. My approach integrates art therapy and other holistic practices to facilitate this process, helping adults navigate their emotional landscape with greater clarity and resilience.
I believe that the most effective therapy happens when client and therapist work together as equal partners. I value your expertise about your own experiences and perspectives, and I’m here to offer support, guidance, and insight. Together, we’ll explore your goals, navigate challenges, and celebrate your achievements.
By fostering a collaborative relationship built on trust and mutual respect, we can co-create a therapeutic journey that is tailored to your unique needs and aspirations. Your voice is essential in shaping our work together, and I’m committed to listening attentively and honoring your autonomy every step of the way.
My favorite therapeutic approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which aligns beautifully with my belief in collaboration. ACT emphasizes embracing your thoughts and feelings without judgment, while focusing on actions that are true to your core values. This approach helps you build psychological flexibility by increasing awareness of the present moment and committing to values-driven actions.
In addition, I incorporate parts work into our sessions. Parts work involves exploring and understanding the different aspects or “parts” of yourself, such as inner child, inner critic, or different emotional states. This method fosters a collaborative relationship with yourself, allowing you to engage with these parts in a compassionate and integrative way.
Together, ACT and parts work support a dual collaboration—between you and me, and within yourself. This holistic approach encourages you to work harmoniously with your internal experiences while we partner together to navigate challenges and celebrate growth. By honoring your inner dialogues and aligning with your values, we create a therapeutic journey that is both empowering and transformative.
I am deeply dedicated to fostering inclusivity. I proudly advocate for the rights of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and trans communities. As a White, queer art therapist, I am keenly aware of the ongoing need to untangle, unlearn, and relearn. My commitment to learn, unlearn, and relearn means embarking on my own inner journey, uncovering conscious and unconscious biases, and actively participating in the transformation of systems that perpetuate oppression and White Supremacy.
This dedication isn’t just a professional ethos; it’s a personal journey that shapes every aspect of my practice and who I choose to collaborate with.
Much like navigating a hike, I approach life with a readiness to embrace the unexpected. While we may prepare for our journey, the path ahead often presents unforeseen challenges and obstacles. Yet, it is in these moments of adaptation that we discover our greatest strengths—our ability to innovate and improvise. This spirit of adventure, discovery, and problem-solving is precisely what fuels my passion for artmaking.
It’s why I provide walk and talk therapy sessions, as I believe that the natural environment can serve as a powerful backdrop for therapeutic exploration and personal growth. Walking side by side, surrounded by the beauty of nature, we can engage in meaningful conversations and delve into deep introspection, all while benefiting from the calming and rejuvenating effects of being outdoors!