What Is Art Therapy

Watercolor painting of two abstract human figures standing facing each other, with colorful figures and leaves surrounding them and a yellow flower between their heads.

Art therapy is an expressive and embodied non-conventional therapy that uses creativity and active art-making to support emotional, mental, and overall wellbeing for individuals, families, and groups. In art therapy, expression can take many forms: drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, movement, dance, mindfulness, creative writing, acting, music, vocal exploration, imaginative play, and so much more. It is a therapy form that celebrates arts of all kinds.

No art skill required

Art Therapy is not art class. You do not need to be “good at art” to begin. The creative process is not about performance, but a way for you to dive deeper within yourself. In this space, you are invited to become the artist of your own story.

Art-making is optional and collaborative

Some sessions may involve art-making, while others may look more like talk therapy. We will decide together what feels supportive each time we meet. The sessions will always be catered towards your needs.

Words are not always enough

Because our emotions and memories are not stored only in words, art-making can help us access deeper layers of experience through image, sensation, color, movement, and symbol. Art can open a pathway to deeper parts of ourselves that words alone may not be able to reach.

I see art-making in therapy as a beautiful process of meaning-making, a way to build resilience through adversities and to nourish the soul. It can foster autonomy, hope, emotional regulation, and a sense of freedom. The body and soul are deeply connected. They move together, breathe together, remember together, and heal together. When we follow intuition and allow color, sound, image, movement, and metaphor to lead us, the heart begins to soften and awaken. We can feel connected again, with ourselves and with the world around us. 

✨ Art Therapy Workshop Highlights ✨

Colorful handmade felt dolls with elaborate designs and vibrant colors in the background, promoting a doll-making workshop.

Dollmaking Workshop: Spirit in All Things

April 11th and 18th, 2026

A woman displaying colorful handmade dolls and crafts outside a storefront with a blackboard sign advertising a doll-making workshop on April 11 and 18, with detailed brick building and blue sky in the background.
A person wearing a white fluffy sweater holds a bouquet of fabric and artificial flowers, including sunflowers and autumnal leaves, in front of a blue velvet couch decorated with colorful pillows and a semi-circular wall hanging.

Magical Creatures

March 5, 2026

co-facilitated with art therapist Avni Rajpal

A promotional poster for a craft event called 'Magical Creatures' features handmade creature figurines, a kitten, and event details including date, time, location in Queens, and registration instructions.
Decorative arrangement featuring two iridescent butterfly ornaments, a gold glittery star-shaped object, colorful beads, faux pearls, pink ribbon roses, and lace fabric, all set against a black background.
A colorful sculpture of a pig with various metallic and plastic elements, including wires, beads, and discs, attached to its body, standing on a purple and green base.

Movement Workshop

February 25, 2026

This 1.5h Therapeutic Movement workshop focuses on providing a supportive and inclusive space for people to come together during this cold winter - to warm up, and to build connection through guided mindful movement. The sequences are designed to help explore a healing dialogue between participant’s own body and spirit, as well as engage in a non-verbal conversation with those around them. The guided workshop introduces embodied practices such as meditation, energy flow, gestural expression, improvisation, and breathwork.

A group of people participating in an outdoor movement workshop in a park, with some standing and raising their arms while others are sitting or kneeling on a blanket, surrounded by greenery and pink flowers.
Group of seven women participating in a stretching or yoga session in a room with bookshelves and a colorful painting on the wall.
A group of women and a girl in a workshop or classroom setting with shelves of papers, arts, and crafts supplies. One woman is demonstrating a pose or dance move as others watch.
A group of women and one young man are standing in a circle, holding hands, in a store or office with shelves stocked with office supplies and art materials.
Group of six women engaging in playful activity or game in a bookstore or library, with shelves of books, art supplies, and a whiteboard visible in the background.
Colorful poster advertising an art and dance therapy experience on Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 1 to 4 PM at Prospect Park Nellie's Lawn, featuring artwork of a rainbow, stars, a dove, and an abstract colorful design.

Art and Dance Therapy Experience

May 31, 2025

co-facilitated with art therapist Monica Hofstadter

A workshop that integrates art therapy with dance and nature. It combines art making and dance into a socially connective and introspective practice. The experience includes both individual art making and collective movement expressions. The setting is at Prospect Park, allowing participants to engage with the natural world as a surface and as a soundtrack.

Group of people practicing yoga outdoors on a grassy field with trees in the background, some standing and stretching with arms raised, others kneeling or sitting on mats.
A group of young women doing yoga outdoors in a park surrounded by green trees and grass, with some buildings visible in the background.
Group of people sitting on a blanket outdoors, engaged in creative activities like drawing and painting, with art supplies spread around on a grassy area.
People creating colorful artwork and paintings on large sheets of paper using paint, markers, and brushes at a table outdoors.
People participating in an outdoor yoga or dance class in a park, with some in poses and others sitting or standing, surrounded by trees and greenery.
Poster advertising an art therapy event for dancers on Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 2 to 5 PM, facilitated by Simeng Wang at Sunnyside, Queens. The poster features colorful, abstract artwork with a sun, hearts, clouds, and a rainbow pathway.

Art Therapy for Dancers

March 23, 2025

Noticing the need for dancers to have a space for healing and building therapeutic connections, I designed this art therapy workshop for dancers. A dancer is defined broadly here, anyone who feels connected to movement can be a dancer. The workshop included two parts: first is group energy sharing and connection through dance, and then individual art making.

Group of seven women and one man posing together indoors, with a white wall decorated with photos in the background. Four women are sitting on the floor, and three women and one man are standing behind them. They are smiling and dressed casually.
Collection of colorful children's drawings of planets, moons, and celestial scenes arranged in a circle on a wooden floor.

Dance and Wellbeing

three workshops in 2023

Dancing freely has brought me much joy and healing, and I offered these workshops to share this practice with others. Guiding prompts are provided throughout the whole hour and participants are encouraged to explore their bodies and build dance language in their own pace. It is a safe space for everyone, regardless of dance level, to explore their creative expression, release, and have fun.

A poster advertising a dance and wellbeing class for beginners, scheduled on Tuesdays in December and at the Abrons Arts Center, featuring information about class times, registration, and the Instagram handle of the instructor.
People in a dance studio with purple lighting, some are stretching or warming up on the floor. Shadows of their movements are cast on the wall.
Two people are dancing or practicing in a dimly lit room with purple and blue lighting, while three other people observe in the background.

Group Art Making Experience

September 22, 2023

An art-as-therapy experience that focused on the healing nature of art-making and community building.

People sitting and lying on the wooden floor, creating artwork with watercolors, markers, and paper, in a room with white walls.
Colorful board game or puzzle with drawings and markings on a wooden table, surrounded by art supplies and people engaging with it.
Several people sitting on a wooden floor, surrounded by colored drawings on paper, crayons, and cups, engaged in an art activity.

Tucking in Nature

multiple workshops in 2023

Participants are instructed to adopt a small natural object from the selection, and to create a comforting bed for it, tucking it in using wool and wool felting technique. The workshops are designed to facilitate warm, soft, and caring feelings. Animal wool fibers and small natural objects are chosen to help the participants to tap into the nurturing side and connect with nature and spirituality.

Arrangement of various objects on a wooden floor, including plastic bags filled with an assortment of colorful items, a white rectangular container with plants and small objects, a gray stone, a black box, and a small dark object.
Person kneeling on a wooden floor, engaging with colorful fiber art pieces that resemble abstract flowers and organic shapes, possibly in a crafting or art activity.
Close-up of soft, colorful felted wool balls in various sizes and colors, resting on white fluffy wool.
Close-up image of a reddish-brown apple with a star-shaped stem at the center, surrounded by a fuzzy pink and purple surface, set against a soft, light-colored background.
Close-up of colorful wool fibers and tufts on a wooden surface.
Close-up of multicolored wool fibers in shades of blue, white, pink, brown, yellow, and green with a soft and fluffy texture.
Multiple hands working on felting a white and blue wool project on a wooden surface.
Multiple hands surrounding and touching a colorful felted artwork on a wooden surface.
A handmade felted art piece resembling a woman with a bouquet of flowers in her hair, composed of colorful wool fibers and fabric arranged to depict hair, face, neck, and dress.
A hand with colorful felted wool finger covers and paper leaves on the fingers, against a white background.
A hand holding a colorful felted wool ring with various colors and textures.
Colorful felted wool art pieces resembling small creatures with yarn and beads detail, displayed on a wooden surface.
Colorful felted wool art pieces resembling various abstract or stylized shapes, arranged on a light wooden surface.

Treasures! Beading Workshop

June 24, 2023

Beading is a mindful and meditative practice that has deep roots in many different cultures. It can help participants to connect with culture, relieve stress and anxiety, as well as boost self-esteem. It allows feelings to be manifested in a tangible and practical way.

Collection of colorful children's jewelry, including earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, arranged on a white surface.
Person sitting on the floor arranging colorful alphabet beads, with multiple containers of beads around them.
People sitting on a wooden floor making jewelry with beads, using various containers and tools, surrounded by colorful beads, charms, and craft supplies.