Elizabeth Allen, LCPAT, LGPC, ATR-BC
Offering Art Therapy, EMDR, and Counseling in Maryland
Understand your patterns,
overcome past experiences,
and create lasting change in your life.
art therapy
Art therapy is an integrative arts-based approach to therapy. Through this process, you will utilize whatever art materials are comfortable for you in order to further express your emotions, work through experiences, and discover new insights about yourself. Sometimes art can help us gain a better understanding of ourselves or think about things in new ways! Art therapy supports activation of both the right (emotional) and left (logical) brain, allowing us to tap into our deeper emotional side which may be more difficult to access with only language. There will be plenty of opportunity for talking things out in our sessions as well!
EMDR therapy
EMDR is a structured therapy that encourages the patient to focus briefly on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched, effective psychotherapy method proven to help people recover from trauma and PTSD symptoms. Ongoing research supports positive clinical outcomes, showing EMDR therapy as a helpful treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic pain, addictions, and other distressing life experiences (Maxfield, 2019).
Definition from EMDR International Association (emdria.org)
I offer two options for EMDR work: weekly 50-minute sessions or intensive sessions. For intensives, we will meet more frequently or for longer periods of time. For weekly EMDR, we will meet each week at a designated time. EMDR treatment may be appropriate for any age of children, teens, and adults!
relationship therapy
I help couples navigate communication skills, emotions, values, and any challenges that they may be facing to improve connection and support within the relationship. We all have our moments of highs and lows, it’s about working on how we come together and work through the lows when they arise. I believe that these exist in any relationship, and every couple can benefit from some extra support to fully understand their own patterns and behaviors and how to meet their partner’s needs.
child & teen therapy
Adolescence in particular can be a very difficult time for both children and parents! I offer sessions for teens to provide a safe, trusted space that allows them to process their feelings, support emotional regulation, and work on developing skills to cope with anxiety, depression, grief, and low self-esteem. I also offer the opportunity to work with parents individually or partnered with their child to support them on navigating parenting. If you are struggling with how to support your child, please inquire about services for your teen or yourself!
