Question 1

Do I need to be artistic to benefit from expressive arts therapy?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. Expressive Arts Therapy isn't about making beautiful art or having artistic talent. It's simply another way of exploring experiences that can be difficult to put into words — sometimes that might look like drawing, writing, collage, movement, storytelling, or simply imagining an image or metaphor together. Everything is offered as an invitation, never an expectation.

Question 2

What if I don't know where to begin?

Accepted Answer

You don't have to. Many people come to therapy knowing only that something isn't working anymore, or that they're carrying something they can't quite name. Our first conversations are simply about getting to know one another and understanding what brings you here.

Question 3

Will you tell me what to do?

Accepted Answer

Rather than giving advice, therapy is a collaborative process — asking questions, offering reflections, and sometimes gently challenging patterns that may no longer be serving you, so the choices you make feel aligned with your own values.

Question 4

Can therapy fix me?

Accepted Answer

Therapy isn't about fixing people, because people aren't fundamentally broken. Most of us have developed remarkable ways of adapting to life's challenges. Therapy is an opportunity to understand those patterns with compassion and discover new ways of relating to yourself and the world.

Question 5

How long will therapy take?

Accepted Answer

There isn't one answer that fits everyone. Some people come for support through a particular life transition; others choose longer-term therapy as part of an ongoing commitment to personal growth. Progress is regularly checked in on together to make sure therapy continues to meet your needs.

Question 6

What happens in the first session?

Accepted Answer

The first session is an opportunity to begin building a relationship — talking about what brings you to therapy, what's happening in your life right now, and what you're hoping for. There's no pressure to tell your entire story in one meeting.

Question 7

Do you work with dreams?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if dreams are meaningful to you. Dreams are approached as one of many ways our inner lives communicate with us, explored with curiosity rather than a fixed interpretive system. Dreamwork is always optional and guided by your interest.

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Suffering + Self-Compassion

Libra Kaplan | Creative Psychotherapy

In-person in Oakland and virtual throughout California