Good Mess is an Art Therapy Studio in Decatur, Georgia - with the purpose of supporting teens and families facing challenges from Depression, Anxiety, OCD, and ADHD.
Philosophy
"We are all doing the best we can - and we can be better"
I believe that everyone is doing the very best that they can with the situation, skills, and knowledge they have available to them at this time. Nothing feels worse than judgement- and we spend so much of our lives doing everything we can to avoid that. "Safe space" is a word that is thrown around a lot these days- but I truly believe in having a studio free from any judgement of any choice, thought or fear. The idea for Good Mess came from a place of acceptance- of breaking free from the tight grasp of perfectionism; understanding that life is messy and we are messy and that is what makes it beautiful. My number one goal is that everyone who comes through my doors feels understood and accepted, and then they able to walk out of them feeling appreciative of their differences, with the tools to celebrate them.
What is Art Therapy? Is it "real" therapy?
Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy involving the encouragement of free self-expression through painting, drawing, ceramics, playing, acting, music making, or any other "expressive" activity. It is a very real form of therapy- and can be considered an extra tool in the clinical therapy toolbox!
What if I HATE art- do I have to do it?
You absolutely will never have to do anything you do not want to. Some individuals I work with chose to never touch an art material- and feel totally comfortable with their whole course of treatment being talk therapy; while others find comfort in knowing that we have a lot more to rely on besides just the words. It is all about learning what works best for getting you to your goals.
What if I HATE art- do I have to do it?
You absolutely will never have to do anything you do not want to. Some individuals I work with chose to never touch an art material- and feel totally comfortable with their whole course of treatment being talk therapy; while others find comfort in knowing that we have a lot more to rely on besides just the words. It is all about learning what works best for getting you to your goals.
What does a typical session look like, do I need to bring anything?
A typical session will start with a check-in of what highs/lows you may have experienced in the past week- this allows for you to get to lead the direction if you experienced something you wanted to process deeper. Following this; there will be options related to your goals. This could look like building clay bowls while exploring grounding + mindfulness, or learning a new skill to use temperature change to regulate huge feelings, working together to find ways to self-advocate to teachers or parents, or even doing some interceptive exposures to build your strength in navigating panic attacks.
How much is this going to cost?
I aim to be completely transparent about prices of services- all the details and breakdowns can be found here on the individual services page. I see both in-network and private pay individuals- and reserve a few reduced-rate slots at 12pm and 1pm throughout the week for those that have the need for a sliding scale option. I can provide school excuse notes for those individuals!
Can I do sessions in person or are they
virtual?
Typically in-person sessions have been the most impactful for the people I see! Virtual sessions can be a great option as a back-up, or if needed due to certain circumstances, however they are rarely the primary mode of therapy I use.
How long does therapy take?
Going to have to provide my least favorite answer of all time here- it depends! Sometimes someone is working on a very specific challenge or challenging season of their life, and are able to dive right in, process and problem solve, and feel ready to step-up from services after a few months. Sometimes, someone coming to me wants to get stronger in many areas of life, and finds a lot of benefit in having an extra support in their life, and they get to choose the pace they want therapy to be.
Can I do sessions in person or are they virtual?
Typically in-person sessions have been the most impactful for the people I see! Virtual sessions can be a great option as a back-up, or if needed due to certain circumstances, however they are rarely the primary mode of therapy I use.
How long does therapy take?
Going to have to provide my least favorite answer of all time here- it depends! Sometimes someone is working on a very specific challenge or challenging season of their life, and are able to dive right in, process and problem solve, and feel ready to step-up from services after a few months. Sometimes, someone coming to me wants to get stronger in many areas of life, and finds a lot of benefit in having an extra support in their life, and they get to chose the pace they want therapy to be.
How much is this going to cost?
I aim to be completely transparent about prices of services- all the details and breakdowns can be found here on the individual services page. I see both in-network and private pay individuals- and reserve a few reduced-rate slots at 12pm and 1pm throughout the week for those that have the need for a sliding scale option. I can provide school excuse notes for those individuals!
Frequently Asked Questions