Chelsea is the Director of the Atlanta Office. She is a Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and obtained her Masters of Science in Art Therapy from Florida State University. Chelsea discovered her passion of using art to help others at a young age. She observed the power of art as an alternate form of communication and avenue for healing through programs offered at a local homeless shelter run by her father. Chelsea has experience working as an art therapist and counselor in multiple therapeutic settings, including Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Pediatric Rehabilitation Services, Progressive Pediatrics, and Pyramid, Inc.  Her specialization is working with clients who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as well as individuals living with physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities.

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Chelsea has experience helping individuals with anxiety, low self-esteem, grief, struggles with transitions, and friendship struggles. Chelsea previously was the Coordinator of the preschool program at Early Emory, the Emory Autism Center’s lab school. There, Chelsea developed an art-based program called Social and Adaptive Learning through Visual Expression (SALVE) for adults on the autism spectrum. She was awarded a grant from Autism Speaks in order to fund SALVE’s mission of teaching people with autism how to use visual arts as a method of expressing themselves to connect with the world around them.

 

Chelsea has also conducted a number of research studies exploring art therapy as a treatment intervention for ASD including “Discovering Good Practice for Art Therapy with Children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Results of a Small Survey,” recently published in The Arts in Psychotherapy. Chelsea suppprts and supervises the Atlanta team in providing individual and group therapy services to children, adolescents, adults, and families. These services focus on assessment, emotional recognition, coping skills, anxiety, empowerment, motor skills, communication skills, behavioral techniques, parental support, art therapy, social skills, attention span, and stress management. Chelsea assists parents and teachers in creating and implementing behavior management plans to encourage children to engage in more positive desired behavior.