Teresa Trout, LMFT
An Integrative Approach to
Healing and Growth
Rooted in creativity, compassion, and collaboration, my therapeutic approach weaves together proven methods to support your journey toward healing and transformation.
Person-Centered
Fostering Deep Emotional Bonds
Building Authentic Relationships
Activism, Advocacy, and Community Building
Harnessing the Healing Power of the Creative Arts
Teaching and Collaboration
Individual, Relationship & Family Therapy
I have 15+ years of experience working in both the mental health & creative arts field with diverse populations of adolescents, teens, and adults. Within my toolbox is a wealth of creative tools that we can resource together in addition to talk therapy. I offer affirmative and knowledgeable healing services for those who identify as LGBTQ+, BDSM/Kink & Non-Traditional Relationships & Families.
Group Therapy, Workshops & Trainings
I offer a variety of groups, workshops, and trainings for both personal and professional growth. I believe that the expressive art can help us reignite our creative spirit and see our lives in new ways. The best way to understand Expressive Arts Therapy is to experience it firsthand. My practice utilizes a collaborative process wherein we work together to explore and gain new insights, tools, and resources for personal growth.
Creative Wellness for Organizations
I offer a variety of groups, workshops, and trainings for both personal and professional growth. I believe that the expressive art can help us reignite our creative spirit and see our lives in new ways. The best way to understand Expressive Arts Therapy is to experience it firsthand. My practice utilizes a collaborative process wherein we work together to explore and gain new insights, tools, and resources for personal growth.
Creative Arts Therapy Pathway Support
Welcome to a Space Where Creativity
Meets Connection
I offer personalized therapeutic services for individuals, relationships, and groups, blending evidence-based approaches with the transformative power of expressive arts. Whether you’re seeking individual growth, relational support, group connection, or creative professional development, my approach is tailored to meet your unique needs and goals. Together, we’ll co-create a path toward healing, resilience, and self-discovery
Harness the mind-body connection through creative expression to process emotions and promote healing.
Explore the transformative potential of art-making to foster resilience and self-awareness.
Engage in a multisensory approach to uncover deeper insights and new perspectives
Utilize evidence-based expressive arts methods to activate inner resources for growth and change.
What is Expressive Arts (EXA) Therapy?
Expressive Arts Therapy is a multimodal therapeutic approach that integrates art, music, movement, drama, and writing to support healing and personal growth. By engaging the senses and exploring creative expression, individuals can process emotions, externalize challenges, and develop new perspectives. Grounded in trauma-informed practices and neurobiology, EXA helps individuals connect with their innate creativity and foster resilience.
Do I Have to Be Good at Art?
Not at all! Expressive Arts Therapy focuses on the process, not the product. Creativity is a natural capacity within everyone, and the goal is to use art as a tool for self-expression, not perfection. Even talk therapy can also be expressive, utilizing narrative therapy techniques to externalize challenges and create metaphors for deeper understanding and healing. Whether through painting, movement, or storytelling, EXA empowers you to explore your unique voice and experiences.
What is the Difference Between Creative Arts Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy?
The term Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) was traditionally used to describe therapeutic practices focused on a single art form, such as art, music, or dance therapy. As philosophies and theoretical approaches in the field evolved, the term Expressive Arts Therapy (EXA) emerged to reflect a multimodal approach that integrates various art forms. CAT is still widely used across the field, and I use the terms interchangeably. While I am trained in “Expressive” Arts Therapy, I resonate with the word “Creative,” as it feels more approachable and less intimidating for many people.
The Role of Neurobiology in Expressive Arts Therapy
Neurobiology shows us the importance of “coming to our senses” when addressing trauma. As Cathy Malchiodi and Dan Siegel emphasize, the body holds the key to healing by engaging nonverbal, sensory-based forms of communication. Expressive arts therapy activates the senses to “tell the story” of trauma through implicit, nonverbal expression, allowing the brain and body to process and release emotions safely and effectively.
Key Modalities in Expressive Arts Therapy
- EXA integrates various creative disciplines, such as:
- Visual Arts: Drawing, painting, or collage to explore emotions and foster mindfulness.
- Movement and Dance: Using the body to express and release feelings.
- Drama and Role-Play: Externalizing challenges to gain perspective and insight.
- Music and Sound: Creating or listening to music to soothe, energize, or express emotions.
- Creative Writing: Journaling, poetry, and storytelling to process experiences and discover new narratives.
The Benefits of Expressive Arts Therapy
- Enhances emotional resilience and self-awareness.
- Provides a safe outlet for processing trauma.
- Fosters personal growth through creative exploration.
- Helps build confidence and communication skills.
Person-Centered Approach in Expressive Arts Therapy
Inspired by Natalie Rogers’ person-centered expressive arts therapy, this approach emphasizes empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard. It creates a collaborative space where individuals can explore their experiences and find their own paths toward growth.
Meet Me
I am a graduate of the Expressive Arts Therapy program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). I combine my background in mental health, expressive arts, and trauma-informed care to offer therapeutic services tailored to each individual’s and group’s needs. With 22 years of experience in the creative arts, I hold a B.A. in Visual Arts from UC San Diego, where I used art to process trauma and mental health challenges. I have also deepened my expertise through ongoing training in Drama Therapy, working with esteemed professionals such as psychodramatist Sylvia Israel and Drama Therapy pioneer Armand Volkas.
Training Testimonials
“I like Teresa’s energy level, her sensitivity, and patience with my lack of knowledge for Zoom technology. I appreciated her including me, as a non-therapist, within this course and always pointing out the strength in the participants.”
“Being able to do the activities ourselves was so helpful. Not just hearing about them and jotting down notes, actually doing the work to understand how it can feel to the client. The experiential learning was key. Also, having to do the work myself helped break through some of my artistic and expressive blocks.”
“I gained confidence as a therapist and my ability to utilize expressive arts techniques with my clients. The class helped me work through some of my blocks as a creative. It helped me understand interventions that will work with my clients and how to best practice them.”
Partnering in Growth
Are you ready to explore the transformative power of Expressive Arts Therapy? Whether you’re seeking personal healing, professional development, or creative collaboration, I’m here to support you. Together, we’ll create a path tailored to your goals, grounded in empathy, creativity, and evidence-based practices.
Personalized Sessions:
Therapy for individuals, relationships, and groups.
Professional Growth:
Guidance for integrating expressive arts into your work.
Creative Collaboration:
Workshops, trainings, and wellness programs designed to inspire and empower.
