Art for Emotional Expression with Kids and Teens

In reflection of the holiday of love, it is important that we keep in mind that this is not just an adult holiday. More and more teens are expressing their feelings regarding the excitement and anxiety that comes along with this day. One of my young clients shared this artwork and titled it “Looking for Love”. Art is a great way of expressing feeling for kids and teens and can be an instrumental tool in open expression of emotions for the younger generations. I often encourage this form of expression during sessions for kids or teens who struggle to find words for their emotions. It is a great way to start a conversation regarding hard topics while immediately adding a coping skill -art- to reduce distress around uncomfortable feelings.

** Client consented to sharing of her artwork for this post.

Anna Major, LMFT and Clinical Supervisor

I am a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT 98441) and one of the first European trained practitioners of Prenatal Bonding in the United States. As a native of Hungary, I am fluent in Hungarian and English, understand a fair amount of German and am studying Spanish. In Budapest, Hungary, I had the pleasure of training with the creators of the prenatal bonding method, doctors Raffai Jeno and Hidas Gyorgy and have seen the evidence, first hand, of how much brighter and healthy children can be if given the best possible start.

In both private practice and community mental health settings, I also have over 8 years’ experience working with issues ranging from ADHD, PTSD, depression, anxiety and have helped children and families cope with domestic and sexual abuse as well as parenting difficulties. I work collaboratively with my clients and use an eclectic treatment approach which includes mindfulness-based techniques, humanistic-existential methods, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), attachment theories and family systems models.

My clients gain insights into their difficulties and create positive patterns of behavior by working with me. They have healed from past traumas, repaired broken relationships and achieved a great variety of therapeutic goals. The greatest athletes have coaches that help them to overcome challenges that are holding them back from greatness and therapy works similarly. I believe that therapy is a journey; I did not construct your road but can help to realign you towards your destination.

Anna is currently accepting online clients. To learn more about her schedule and availability, pleasecall/ text/ email her at 424-262-0382; Anna@pacificmft.com.