Libby Ellison, Expressive Arts Coach

My Story

Art has always been one of the ways I make sense of the world.

Long before I thought about becoming a therapist, I was drawn to creativity as a way of expressing things that can be difficult to explain directly. Sometimes an image, a color, a movement, or something you create can communicate an experience more honestly than words can. That belief eventually became an important part of how I understand expressive arts therapy.

My work has brought together two things I care deeply about: creativity and relationships. In addition to my work as an expressive arts coach, I’ve spent years teaching art to children with special needs. That experience has continually reminded me that there is no single “right” way to communicate, learn, connect, or grow. People experience the world differently, and good therapy has to make room for that.

Expressive arts allows me to approach my work with clients with that same flexibility. Sometimes our work may involve traditional conversation. Other times, we may use drawing, painting, imagery, movement, music, storytelling, or other creative forms to explore what is happening beneath the surface.

You do not need to consider yourself artistic to benefit from this kind of work. The goal is not to create something beautiful or impressive. The goal is to create another way of understanding yourself.

My hope is to offer a space where you don’t have to perform, have the right words, or already know exactly what you feel. We can slow things down, become curious about what is happening inside, and discover ways of expressing experiences that may have been difficult to put into language.

My Commitments to You

I’ll meet you with warmth, patience, and genuine curiosity about who you are.

I believe therapy works best when it is collaborative. I won’t assume that I know what an experience means simply because I am the therapist. We’ll explore it together, and I’ll help you find ways of working that feel natural and meaningful to you.

I’m also committed to making therapy a place where creativity feels freeing rather than intimidating. There is no artistic standard to meet here. A stick figure can sometimes tell us more than a beautifully finished painting. What matters is what the process helps you notice, feel, and understand.

Most importantly, I’ll approach you as a whole person. Your struggles are only one part of your story. I want to understand your relationships, strengths, imagination, humor, values, and the parts of you that may have been overlooked or difficult to express.

And when things feel stuck, I’ll continue to hold hope that new ways of relating to yourself and your life are possible.

My Life Outside Work

Creativity is a big part of my life outside the therapy room as well. I love making art, experimenting with different materials, and finding new ways to create simply for the sake of creating.

I’m also deeply connected to my family and love spending time with the people closest to me. I tend to appreciate the small, ordinary parts of life..the kind of moments that are easy to overlook but often end up meaning the most.

I’m naturally drawn to humor, playfulness, and imagination, and those qualities tend to show up in both my personal life and my work. I believe healing can be serious without always feeling heavy, and that creativity can sometimes open doors that talking alone cannot.

If you’re interested in a more creative and flexible approach to therapy, I’d be happy to offer you a free consultation. We can talk about what brings you in, what you’re hoping for, and whether expressive arts therapy feels like a good fit for you.