WMAI Art Therapy Programs and Services

ART THERAPY PROGRAM AND SERVICES

WMAI is excited to provide clinical individual and group art psychotherapy services for our military veterans, family members and caregivers through our Art Therapy Program. Our Art Therapist, Alyssa Goggan, MA, ATR-P, LGPC, LGPAT. She is supporting our Military in the Arts Initiative by providing FREE individual and/or group art therapy, operating the weekly Open Studio and conducting other therapeutic art workshops for our military community with area mental health professionals, military base personnel and Workhouse staff.

The Art Therapy Program provides:

• FREE individual art therapy and group art therapy sessions (6-8 people)

• Veterans (active duty, retired, reservists), their families and care givers (age 10+)

• Creative, non-threatening, therapeutic environment by a clinical art therapist (private practice model)

Eligible Clients are:

• Seeking adjunctive art therapy environment

• Already engaged in ongoing outpatient psychotherapy (required for art therapy services)

• Emotionally stabilized, higher functioning (not in crisis); Service dogs welcome

• Open to using artistic materials & processes to improve and restore mental health functioning (no previous art experience necessary)

If you have questions or would like to receive more information about individual or group art therapy, please contact alyssagoggan@workhousearts.org or call her confidential voicemail at 703-584-2929.

STATEMENT ON ART THERAPY

“Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. It can also advance societal and ecological change. A goal in art therapy is to improve or restore a client’s functioning and his or her sense of personal well-being.

-American Art Therapy Association (AATA), arttherapy.org

LINKS AND PAPERWORK

Please see below a list of paperwork and additional resources regarding the Workhouse Military in the Arts Initiative, art therapy services.

• Individual and group art therapy services informed consent

• FAQ

• Practice Policies

• About Art Therapy

• Art Therapist

FAQ’S

Q: What is Art Therapy?

Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy, utilizing art as a communication, healing, and nurturing tool. Art Therapy is facilitated by a master’s level clinician, within a safe and confidential space. For the official definition of ‘what is art therapy,’ please see the American Art Therapy Associations definition here.

Q: Who is eligible for art therapy services?

Workhouse Military in the Arts Initiative (WMAI) offers art therapy services to veterans, active duty personnel, reservist, dependents, family members, and caregivers. Individual sessions are provided for 10+ years old. The individual must be seeing a primary therapist, as WMAI services are adjunctive in nature, providing additional therapeutic support.

Q: What is the different between Veterans Open Studio (VOS) and art therapy sessions?

Veterans Open Studio (VOS) is a space for veterans and their family members to gather and engage with the fine arts in a nonjudgmental, educational, and therapeutic space. While the art therapist assists in running Veterans Open Studio, these weekly groups are not art psychotherapy. A VOS participant will learn new fine art skills, while working in a community of other veterans and their family members.

Art Therapy sessions are a form of psychotherapy and completed in a confidential and therapeutic setting, with the art therapist and client. WMAI offers both individual and group art therapy.

Q: Do I have to have a background or experience with art in order to participate?

No previous experience is needed! Art Therapy is a safe place for the participate to use art, no matter the skill level, understanding of art materials, art history, or art education. Art Therapy is for anyone interested in exploration and engagement with the creative process.

Q: What are the benefits of seeking art therapy?

Through a positive, strengths-based approach to therapeutic care, the art therapist helps the client process through a large variety of mental health needs and/or life stressors. Art therapy engages the mind, body, and spirit and provides a safe place for one to address cognitive, emotional, and/or social needs. A treatment plan is created to set and achieve goals, helping clients to pursue a sense of wholeness and well-being.

Q: What kinds of materials are used in art therapy?

Any and all!! Paint, sculpture, drawing, found objects, collage, and more.

Q: What makes WMAI different and so unique?

WMAI is unique in its structure, as it provides free mental health services and programming to our community. While we are not a clinical setting, art therapy services are provided in a safe and confidential structure, both in-person and online. The art therapist will work in tandem with your primary therapist to support your personal goals of achieving wellness and success.

Practices and Policies

While WMAI is a non-clinical setting, our art therapy services function under a private practice model. This allows for the art therapist to work in a clinical manner, supporting patients through art psychotherapy in a safe and confidential environment.

Cancellation and Missed Appointments Policy

If you are unable to attend a scheduled appointment, we request that you provide at least 24 hours advanced notice to our art therapist. You will not be charged or billed, as WMAI services are free.

Missing of three scheduled art therapy sessions may result in termination of services. Please communicate with the art therapist the reason for missed appointments, as we understand schedules and therapeutic needs change.

Primary Therapist and Referrals

WMAI is an adjunctive service and offered in addition to seeking and continuing primary therapy. The art therapist will work alongside your primary therapist to support current and art therapy treatment goals.

WMAI accepts referrals from anyone seeking art therapist services in the Northern Virginia region. The therapist will provide initial paperwork and complete an intake session, prior to beginning therapy services, as to ensure appropriateness for services.

Telehealth Services

WMAI offers telemental health service through the virtual, HIPAA compliant platform Doxy.me. Virtual sessions are completed in a confidential setting between the art therapist and client. While the art therapist will work to provide complete confidentiality, the client must assume that virtual means are not always considered completely secure.

When completing a virtual art therapy session, we ask that you find a private space, not within a public or shared space. The art therapist will ask for you to confirm your privacy and safety before completing a session.

Limits of Confidentiality

The relationship between client and psychotherapist is confidential and protected legally and ethically. Your information is used to provide treatment and every effort is made to keep it protected and secure. Both verbal information and written records about a client cannot be shared with another party without the written consent of the client.

Some limits to confidentiality and exceptions include:

1) The duty to warn and protect a client in danger of harming him/herself or another person

2) When there is suspected child (under the age of 18) or elder abuse or neglect

3) In the case of a court order subpoena or legal matter

4) Regarding clinical supervision or consultation, your identifiable information will remain confidential as the session content is used to gain additional insight, feedback and guidance to further assist in your treatment.

This information is provided within an informed consent, which can be found here (live link to doc) and will be signed prior to beginning art therapy services.

About WMAI’s Art Therapist

Alyssa Goggan, MA, ATR-BC, LGPC, LGPAT is a Registered-Board Certified Art Therapist (#19-010), professionally credentialed by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (atcb.org). In addition, Alyssa is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGP10213) and Licensed Graduate Professional Art Therapist (ATG263) with the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. Her therapeutic work at WMAI is solely provided under her art psychotherapy credentialing and she receives ongoing clinical supervision to enhance her ongoing training and adjunctive work with our art therapy clients.

Alyssa’s clinical experience covers a large range of populations including pediatrics, adolescents, young adults, and geriatrics. Her training as a trauma informed art therapist and counselor provides her with the skills to address psychological and emotional needs including anxiety, depression, PTSD, relationship building, and creation of positive coping strategies. Alyssa works from a strengths-based approach and believes in the power of arts as a form of healing. She began her career as an art therapist within clinical hospital settings and finds benefit in collaboration with other care providers to support a whole-person approach to care. Alyssa has previously worked with military families and is committed to supporting our Nation’s veterans and their families.

If you are interested in learning more about art therapy, please click here.

If interested in seeking free art therapy as a part of the Workhouse Military in the Arts Initiative, please contact AlyssaGoggan@workhousearts.org or call 703.584.2929.