Paint the Stars Art Therapy, LLC

Dear RFK,
Have you ever met someone with an ASD diagnosis?
Have you ever attempted to see the world through their eyes?
They are smart, talented, exceptional, kind and sensitive individuals.
They are human beings who understood that you stood as a leader of this government and stated that they are in fact destroying their families. They heard you. They understood what you were trying to say. They have worked ALL OF THEIR LIVES fighting against people who say just what you said.

Have you ever actually listened to family members who perhaps talk about being tired and worn thin? I have. They aren’t seeking a “cure” as part of some sort of political scheme. They don’t want to change the child they have. They don’t say autism has destroyed their family, they say the lack in resources for their child has. The lack of help from both local and federal agencies is crippling. The inclusion classes or special needs classes that aren’t staffed properly are breaking them. The lack of funding for these classes is outrageously unfair. The tremendous lack of resources for young adults who age out of programs that they desperately need and deserve causes pain and anguish to these families.
Their children are not the source of their pain.
Your words are now the source of pain for all of these families.
Your words remind these families how small minded many folks out there can be. Your words choose to lump a large and growing number of people into a small and bullied category—-much like if I were to say anyone without a medical degree should not be US health secretary. What a thought. Is there a cure for that?
Your words are what you need to find a cure for, sir.
Sit down.
💙

“I let the art speak for me because I’m a quiet person. This is half an escape and half trying to get in.”

This senior in high school knows exactly what they need when they come into session. Angry art is real but also helps to process so much.
Senior year can be overwhelming as you process so many changes taking place. Relationships change. Goals change. How you see yourself… changes.

WORLD ART DAY!
When words fail, art speaks
When feeling lost, art navigates
When feeling alone, art listens
Today we celebrate and the importance not only of what art brings to the world but what it does for the individual.

Remember to allow yourself time to create… it’s allowing yourself time to heal.

You rang? (ChatGPT scares me. 🤣)
But yes, there must always be a cat. 🐈

Tell me you’re overwhelmed by school without telling me…
We’ve been talking to a ton of grad and undergrad students this week about how art therapy gives clients the power to express thoughts and ideas that sometimes they didn’t even realize they were thinking about. But other times clients can dive into art with a very specific idea of what they are in fact thinking about and need to express. This is what this young boy did.
He always comes to session ready to chat and vent and this week he decided to come with a drawing he created that he NEEDED to get off of his chest. He is super bright and does very well but as you can see, he finds school to be very stressful! He did an awesome job not just processing how this all makes him feel but how he can better cope with tough school days.

There is no better way to complete Creative Arts Therapies Week then by being a part of Teen Arts Fest! Each year I look forward to this event and this year was no exception.
My takeaways:
1. There are some seriously talented artists throughout Monmouth County and not just artists as teens—-ARTISTS! These kids are creating museum worthy pieces! Many pieces with deep meaning behind them.
2. Kids who attend some of the brightest schools attended the festival and please hear me out—those kids need more creative based learning. They’ve got the STEM thing down but so many of them were in awe of how 30min of uncensored art-making lifted their spirits, helped them relax, allowed them to unwind and enjoy their time. Seriously, just sprinkle it in between Bio and Calc.
3. Shout out to Asbury Park School district and their uber talented kids who are (no doubt) going to take over the graphic designing world).
4. My taste in music still kicks a$$! As many kids were pulled in by my 90s rock playlist blaring into the halls, they sang along and even complimented me on my music taste. So yeah, I’m pretty proud of that. lol.
5. Lastly, this festival is one of the coolest things I am so blessed to be a part of and if you have the opportunity to attend or sponsor you should! is doing amazing things and supporting the arts in such a great way!
#

Is it “just art?”
Does it tell a story?
Is it expressing something they couldn’t say with only words?
Do you feel something by witnessing it?

Creative Arts Therapies Week is when we try and highlight all that we do as mental health professionals but really it’s about what YOU, the client, does. It’s about you coming to session ready to express, ready to process, ready to use your creativity, ready to stay in the moment. Yes, we as therapists assist and hold space and initiate conversations when needed but YOU are the storyteller, you are the artist. YOU are how we are able to be Art Therapists. So thank you 🙏🏼

Tomorrow begins Creative Arts Therapies Week! It is a time to celebrate and understand the various creative arts therapies; how they work, who is able to offer them, who is able to benefit from them and more!

In NJ you must possess the proper license as a Creative Arts Therapist in order to practice as someone offering Art Therapy. It is difficult being an art therapist and seeing non-credentialed professionals offer “art therapy.” No Art Therapist wants to police others and ensure that what is being offered is accurate but we also have an ethical and moral responsibility to make sure our Profession is not being taken advantage of and that the general public are receiving fair and proper treatment based on what they are looking for. Art Therapists obtain their Masters degrees, pass board certification exams and licensing exams. If you have not gone through that journey then you are not an Art Therapist legally in the state of NJ and therefor you cannot offer it as one of your potential services.

Please make sure that if you are seeking out a Creative Arts Therapist that you check their credentials and licensure before going any further. There are specialities and specialists out there for a reason. We are LPAT/LAAT. Many of us are LPC/LAC. It can be confusing to understand the many options in the psychotherapy field. (We get it)

For example, We are not Marriage and Family counselors, but do we sometimes work with families or people having issues in their marriages? Sure, there is definitely overlap. But we would never state that we are licensed or certified to do so. We would also refer out to someone else if they are looking for an LMFT. We do not advertise in things we do not specialize in. We would not offer a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy group for example because we are not credentialed to do so. When someone comes to us asking for DBT we again politely refer them elsewhere. Do we know DBT? Yes. Have we taken some classes or lectures in DBT? Yes. Are we DBT certified? NO. These differences are important and need to be understood.
Can professionals utilize art within their practice to assist in healing? OF COURSE. Should they advertise that they are offering art therapy without being an Art Therapist? Nope.

Don’t be afraid to ask professionals important questions like, “tell me about your license,” “what is your education and background in,” etc.

Art Therapists have had a long, tough road of getting licensure in various states and we are proud that NJ is now one of those states.

Stay tuned tomorrow for our project reveal!

Get out there and do it! What are you waiting for?

What you heard your child say, “today I painted…”
What we hear, “Today I created. I expressed feelings and problem solved through color and shapes. I got rid of negative emotions and thoughts. I did something that made me feel better.”
🌟Sometimes talking about it is too hard.
🌟Sometimes we just don’t have the words.
🌟Sometimes we need to let it out in different ways.
🎨 💃 🎶 🎭 🧘🏽‍♀️
We are one week away from Creative Arts Therapies Week 2025!
Why are the Creative Arts therapies celebrated?
How do we help others understand the deep and meaningful work we are doing?
Stay tuned for our group practice project this year 🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼

As busy, working, studying, mothering women—we take on a lot.
At times, the masks we are wearing become draining. Heavy. It’s a ton of upkeep to pretend you are something you are not.
Trying to keep calm, stay cool, put on a happy face but often losing focus, feeling anxious, getting frustrated…
That’s your cue.
😵‍💫
You need to prioritize yourself.
Whether you are feeling overwhelmed in your studies, at your job, as a mom or a combo of everything—we are here to help.
🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
Manalapan and Princeton have immediate openings for adults seeking to better themselves. We also have immediate openings for NY mamas virtually. We specialize in women because we ARE women! We have been students. Some of us are mothers. We all work. We know what it’s like to try and balance the chaos within our minds. Creativity is not required. Talk therapy is always an option.

Schedule a free consultation and let us help you through it.

World Teen Mental Health Day should definitely be its own week or month! We have so many incredible teens who express themselves so beautifully via creating. These teens are struggling with anxiety, depression, loss, trauma, abuse, bipolar disorder and so many other mental health issues and yet they persevere! They build their strength in each session and remove whatever negativity they can to truly shine. We salute our teens for dealing with and handling so much more than they ever thought they could.

You’ve got this…

Working through trauma is difficult. It brings up deep seated feelings that many have worked hard at pushing down so deep they pretend it’s not there. But it’s always there. Trauma is always pushing its way into the light. Trauma is always causing pain whether it’s physical or emotional. Trauma will always pop up unless you take the time to work through it.

Here a young woman faces the trauma of her father walking out when she was just two years old. She briefly allows herself to think about what that pain feels like and to create what that pain looks like. She doesn’t need to speak. She only needs to express it and process it in a way that’s comfortable for her.
Her colors are meaningful, her brushstrokes are expressive and her words are poignant.

📣 ANNOUNCEMENT 📣
We are so excited to welcome our newest team member, Samantha! Everyone say 👋🏼!

Samantha Pollio (MPS) is a licensed and board-certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC, LCAT) working towards her LAAT/LPAT with a passion for using creative expression to foster emotional growth and well-being. With over five years of experience, she has worked with children, adolescents, and adults in clinical, educational, and community-based settings, providing individualized and group art therapy interventions.

Samantha specializes in trauma-informed care, psycho-educational therapy, and expressive techniques that empower individuals to navigate challenges, build resilience, and enhance self-awareness. She has worked in various settings with diverse populations, including Monmouth Medical Center, where she facilitates art therapy groups that support emotional regulation and personal development.

Holding a Master of Professional Studies in Art Therapy and Creative Development from Pratt
Institute, Samantha is committed to making art therapy accessible and meaningful for all
individuals. With a foundation in fine arts and a deep understanding of psychology, she blends artistic techniques with therapeutic practices to create a safe and supportive environment for self-exploration and healing.
Samantha believes in the transformative power of art and strives to help her clients unlock their creative voices, develop coping skills, and build confidence.

Outside of her art therapy practice, Sam is a passionate foodie who loves to bake, cook, and explore new cuisines. She enjoys watching true crime documentaries, staying active, and going on new adventures. Most of all, she cherishes quality time with her loved ones.

We are so excited to have Samantha join us and know she will be an incredible therapist to many in need!

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Love hearing from our clients! The proof is in the pudding and we couldn’t be happier.
Encourage more creativity. Less screens. You’ll see the difference!