Frequently Asked Questions

Art Therapy

  • Art therapy is best experienced with the following supplies: pencil/pen, colored pencils, crayons, markers, watercolor or acrylic paint, oil pastels, a sketchbook for mixed media (this paper allows for paint and glue without bleeding through), magazines for collage, scissors, and glue.

    If we're meeting in-person at my Nolensville office, I'll provide the art materials. If we're meeting virtually, we'll talk about supplies in our consultation or first session.

    Reach out to me at kelly@understandingself.me for any further questions.

  • That’s okay! Really. Art therapy is not for artists only. As long as you can hold a pencil, you can do art therapy. My rule of thumb is that art therapy is a space for non-judgment. I understand that you come to the process with different art making experiences. The purpose of art making in this space is to facilitate self-discovery, processing, and healing. The skill or finished product aren’t the top priority.

  • Art therapy may be right for you if…

    • you’ve felt stuck in talk therapy

    • finding the words to describe your experience and emotions is hard

    • you enjoy other creative processes (cooking, gardening, music)

    • you’re curious about art making as a way to support your mental health

  • Good question! Virtual art therapy is a little different than it may be in person, but it has a lot of the same benefits!

    Logistically, you will have your own art supplies and sketchbook (I will, too). Each session will have space for art making, during which you will make art based on a prompt or theme. Certain materials may be encouraged depending on the prompt. When it’s therapeutically appropriate, I may make art simultaneously.

    Then, we’ll have time to verbally process and you can share your art (hold it up so I can see on the screen). If sharing your art brings up anxiety, you are not alone. We’ll process that together, too.

  • I'm typically meeting with clients in my Nolensville office on Mondays and Thursdays. Virtual sessions are mostly on Wednesdays. Please contact me for current availability.

  • I work as a primary therapist (meaning you don't have another mental health therapist) AND as a supplement to your existing therapy. If it makes sense to add art therapy to your current mental health plan, let's talk about it!

Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)

  • There are a few resources out there to help you explore different characteristics of the high sensitivity trait.

    Some common experiences of HSPs include: easily overwhelmed by sensory input, impacted by others’ emotions, overstimulated by bright lights, smells, and other sensory details, easily startled, creative, enjoy the arts, perceived by others as shy, and many more.

    This questionnaire is a great place to start.

  • No. Being highly sensitive is not a diagnosis in the DSM and it is not a disorder. It is an innate trait found in about 20% of the population (Elaine Aron).

    However, identifying as an HSP usually comes with facing some challenges since society is not built for the highly sensitive. Therapy can be a great way to explore these challenges and find helpful ways of coping.

  • No! In fact, about 20% of the population is also highly sensitive. High sensitivity is an innate trait, which gives HSPs a handful of challenges AND gifts (Elaine Aron). Non-HSPs may not be able to understand your experience, and that’s okay. It is important to identify your unique strengths and learn to appreciate your sensitivity.

    My art therapy groups are designed to help you connect with others like you, lean into your sensitivity, and develop awareness of your own strengths. If that sounds useful for you, reach out! I’d be happy to answer your questions.

Working with Me

  • Yes!

    I am grateful to share the therapeutic space with everyone who identifies within the LGBTQ+ community. I understand that it is a vulnerable choice to share aspects of your identity with anyone, especially a new person. I encourage you to take your time sharing with me, an to do so as you feel safe.

  • Generally, no.

    I am glad to incorporate it as you wish, if it is useful for you. Otherwise, I have no intention of sneaking in any religious talk.

    I am happy to answer any questions you may have about my personal beliefs, especially if it can help you feel safer in this space.

    More details about my religious background in this blog post!

  • Non-TN/non-VT residents cannot meet with me for art therapy since my counseling license is only valid in Tennessee and Vermont.

    However, you are more than welcome to explore any of my other services. My creative expression workshops, mindfulness sessions, and courses are all open to people located anywhere.

  • Session length depends on a few factors. Typically, sessions are 50-55 minutes. However, I also offer 75-minute and 90-minute sessions. These longer sessions are great options for a few different situations:

    • you notice yourself running out of time to process the deeper stuff

    • you feel like you’re not making as much progress as quickly as you’d like

    • you need time in the beginning of the session to process that week’s events before diving into other goals

    • you want to make faster progress on your goals, especially if that includes processing trauma

    • you need more time to dive into the art therapy aspect of the session

    It is up to you, sometimes with the recommendation by your therapist, to decide if you’d like to try longer sessions. If you’re interested in trying longer sessions, you can let me know in our consultation call.

  • Behind the scenes, I am often…

    • writing notes after each session

    • making treatment plans and periodically updating them

    • communicating with you and/or your treatment team

    • searching for and sharing resources

    • attending continuing education events

    • engaging in independent continued learning (reading, exploring new research, etc.)

  • If we’re meeting in-person, we’ll meet in my office space located in Nolensville off of Haley Industrial Blvd.

    Parking is available and the office is on the first floor.

Financial & Insurance

  • At this time, I do not accept insurance. See details below about using your out-of-network benefits.

    However, I am a provider on Spring Health. If your employer provides access to Spring Health EAP, we may be able to meet through that platform.

  • I understand that mental health care is an investment. My hope is to provide accessible care. If you cannot afford my standard rates, for whatever reason, please refer to my profile on Open Path. I provide a limited number of reduced-rate spots through Open Path. Contact me below or through Open Path to check availability.

    You may also want to check your health insurance for out-of-network benefits (see below).

  • At this time, I do not accept insurance.

    However, if you would like to check and/or use your out-of-network (OON) benefits, you have a couple options.

    First, I am a provider through Thrizer. Thrizer can submit your OON claims for you and, if you are eligible, send reimbursements directly to you. You can learn more about them on their website or by asking me.

    Second, you can check your out-of-network benefits on your own to see what coverage your plan has for “outpatient psychotherapy” or “outpatient group psychotherapy,” depending on which service you’re pursuing. As an LPC-MHSP in Tennessee, I can provide you with a superbill (an itemized receipt of services) for our therapy services. You would then submit that superbill to your insurance for reimbursement, if your plan covers it.

    Please note that if you plan on using your out-of-network benefits, whether by submitting claims yourself or by using Thrizer, you will still be expected to pay the full fee at the time of service.

    Read more about how to use out-of-network benefits.

  • I do not communicate directly with clients’ health insurance. However, I am connected with Thrizer, who will communicate directly with your insurance. They can do the work for you to check your benefits, submit out-of-network (OON) claims, and send you applicable reimbursements.

    Ask me how to get connected with Thrizer if you’d like help navigating OON benefits for our work together.

  • Please review details about the Good Faith Estimate here.

  • I accept cash, check, credit card, debit card, HSA, and FSA.

Extended Sessions & Intensives

  • I offer extended sessions at either 75-minutes or 90-minutes.

  • Intensives are therapy sessions that last between 2-3 hours. They’re intended to provide extra time to really dig into a theme or stuck point.

  • Extended sessions and intensives may be helpful for you if…

    • there’s a stuck point or theme you’d like to dive into

    • you find that the standard 50-minutes doesn’t feel like enough time

    • you want to make progress in a goal area sooner

  • Short answer: no!

    If you aren’t already engaged in art therapy with me, we’ll have a 75-minute intake session before the intensive, as well as a 75-minute session after the intensive. Each of these sessions will be about 1-2 weeks apart.

    If you’re already engaged in art therapy with me, we can interweave intensives into your treatment as needed.