Frequently asked Questions

I'm based in Los Angeles, California. I offer online therapy sessions to clients throughout California. As a Board Certified Art Therapist, I can also provide art therapy services nationwide, though clients outside California should note that these sessions are private pay only and cannot be submitted to insurance via superbills. Currently, I'm not offering in-person sessions, focusing instead on providing effective online art therapy experiences.

I use a HIPAA-compliant Zoom platform for secure online sessions. You don't need a Zoom account—just a device with adequate internet connection and camera. For art-making portions, I'll provide a supply list of simple materials to have on hand. Many clients enjoy the comfort of creating in their own space, and we'll work together to ensure the online environment supports your therapeutic process. I've found that meaningful art therapy is just as effective online as in person.

Currently, I'm focusing exclusively on online therapy sessions. While based in Los Angeles, I provide virtual services to clients throughout California through HIPAA-compliant platforms. As a Board Certified Art Therapist, I also offer art therapy services nationwide on a private-pay basis (not eligible for insurance reimbursement). I've found that online art therapy can be just as effective and meaningful as in-person work, with the added benefit of accessing therapy from your personal space.

My standard rate is $250 for a 50-minute session. I believe therapy should be accessible, so I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots based on financial need.

For those with insurance, I currently accept Aetna and Carelon Behavioral Health. For other insurance plans, I can provide superbills that you may submit for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

Investing in therapy is a commitment to your well-being and mental health. Private pay options often allow for more personalized care and therapeutic approaches that insurance limitations might restrict.

Yes, I currently accept Aetna, Kaiser NorCal, and Carelon Behavioral Health plans.

For clients with other insurance providers, I offer superbills that you can submit for potential out-of-network reimbursement. I recommend contacting your insurance company beforehand to verify your out-of-network benefits, deductible, and reimbursement rates for therapy services with an LMFT (CPT code 90837).

If you're not using insurance, my private pay rate is $250 per 50-minute session, with limited sliding scale spots available based on financial need and availability.

Your first session is about creating connection and understanding your needs. I'll invite you to share more deeply about what brings you to therapy and what you hope to gain from our work together.

During this initial session, I'll ask questions about your history, current challenges, and strengths. While we may not engage in deep art-making in our first meeting, I might introduce a simple creative exercise to give you a taste of the art therapy process.

By the end of our first session, we'll discuss a potential path forward and begin to shape goals for our work together. My aim is for you to leave feeling heard, understood, and with a clearer sense of how art therapy might support your unique journey.

Remember that finding the right therapist is important. Our first session is also an opportunity for you to decide if my approach feels like a good fit for your needs.

The length of therapy depends on your individual needs and goals. Some clients find that a few months of focused work creates meaningful change, while others benefit from longer-term support as they navigate complex issues like identity integration or adoption-related trauma. We'll regularly check in about your progress and can adjust our work together based on your evolving needs.

Yes, online art therapy has proven to be highly effective. I use secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms that allow us to work together visually and creatively despite physical distance. Many clients find that creating art in their personal space actually enhances their comfort and emotional expression. I provide guidance on simple materials to have on hand, and we adapt techniques to work effectively in a virtual environment. Research supports that the therapeutic relationship and creative process remain powerful healing tools whether online or in-person.

Art therapy can be particularly beneficial if you find it difficult to put certain experiences into words, feel stuck in patterns that talk therapy hasn't resolved, or are navigating experiences of in-betweenness that exist beyond language. The creative process offers alternative pathways to understanding yourself, your experiences, and your struggles. You simply need an openness to exploring through creative expression––it’s not about artistic ability. During our free consultation, we can discuss how art therapy might specifically address your unique needs.

Art therapy integrates creative expression with therapeutic support, offering additional pathways to healing beyond verbal communication alone. While traditional talk therapy relies primarily on verbal exploration, art therapy engages both verbal and nonverbal processing. This can be particularly valuable for accessing emotions, memories, and experiences that are difficult to articulate or exist before language development. The creative process can bypass intellectual defenses, reveal patterns not easily recognized through talking, and provide tangible metaphors that make abstract feelings more concrete. Many clients find that combining creative expression with thoughtful discussion creates deeper, more integrated healing.

Absolutely not! Art therapy is not about artistic skill or creating "perfect" artwork. It is about the process of self-expression and self-discovery. Prior art experience is optional, as the focus is on the therapeutic benefits of engaging in the creative process rather than the end result.

I hear this so often from prospective clients before starting art therapy. The focus in art therapy is never on creating "good" art or demonstrating creativity as it's conventionally understood. My approach is client-centered, responding to what emerges in our sessions rather than imposing structured directives. I might suggest exploring certain themes or materials based on what you're experiencing in the moment, but the process remains flexible and responsive to your needs. Sometimes art-making serves as a way to process emotions, while other times it helps with regulation and grounding. What matters is your willingness to engage with the process and explore what emerges, not your artistic ability or experience.

I treat artwork created in therapy with the same strict confidentiality as all other aspects of our work together. Digital images of artwork are stored securely in your confidential client file. For online sessions, I ask you to take a photo of your artwork and send it to me in order for me to see the artwork more clearly than on the screen. These images are maintained within secure, HIPAA-compliant systems. You always retain ownership and possession of your artwork, and and I encourage my clients to find a secure spot to store their work. We can discuss preferences for how to handle, store, or dispose of artwork as part of our therapeutic process.

Art therapy offers a powerful means of self-expression and exploration for individuals affected by adoption. Through art-making and guided discussions, we can address the unique experience of existing between worlds that many adoptees face. Creative expression helps process pre-verbal memories and feelings that may exist beyond language—particularly important for early separation experiences. Art therapy provides a safe and supportive space to explore identity integration, navigate cultural displacement, address adoption-related trauma, and transform feelings of fragmentation into a more cohesive sense of self. This process facilitates healing, fosters self-awareness, and promotes personal growth and empowerment.

The best way to learn about the next group or workshop series is by subscribing to my adoptee mailing list. Other ways are to follow me on social media: @arttherapywithnicole.