Active art-making in therapy acts as a potent, evidence-based intervention for reducing stress and anxiety, depression, increased cognitive functions, chronic stress while boosting self-efficacy and an enhanced emotional resilience. My research will examine the therapeutic relationship, the creative process, and the artwork itself as key drivers of change. I will be conducting my research throughout North Carolina Juvenile Detention Centers, a system of secure, state-managed and county-operated juvenile detention centers for youths aged 10-18, primarily serving as temporary housing for those awaiting court hearings. I will highlight that the therapeutic value lies in the active, non-verbal process of creation rather than the final product.
I became interested in the arts while participating in the Upward Bound Program offered to high school students through Winston-Salem State University. While attending Forsyth Technical Community College, I worked as a Teacher Assistant at Bolton Elementary through work study where I used art as an emotional development tool. As a Court Appointed Guardian Ad Litem, using the arts to connect with children who have been abused and or neglected has influenced my current journey to become a therapist specializing in holistic and psychotherapies. I am also certified in Mental Health First Aid, Peer Education, and Hubspot Social Media Marketing.