Art Therapy • Nesconset, NY
Art Therapy
with Susan Lau
A creative, compassionate path to healing and growth.
Art therapy offers a safe and welcoming space to explore thoughts, feelings, and life experiences through the creative process, guided by a New York State certified art therapist. No artistic experience is needed, the focus is on communication, self-expression and healing.
Overview
What is art therapy?
Art therapy is a therapeutic process that uses art making, creativity, and reflection to support emotional well-being, self-expression, and personal growth.
For some people, words do not always come easily. Art therapy offers another way to communicate feelings, process challenges, and gain a deeper understanding of oneself. Through drawing, painting, collage, and other creative approaches, clients can explore emotions in a way that feels supportive, engaging, and accessible.
Art therapy is different from an art class. The goal is not technique or performance, it is therapeutic support, emotional exploration, and growth. You do not need to be an artist to benefit.
Art therapy is a mental health profession that supports and enriches individuals, families, and communities through creative expression and the art-making process. It integrates psychological theory and human experience within a safe, therapeutic relationship to promote healing, self-awareness, and personal growth.
For more information please visit the American Art Therapy Association.
Who it is for
Who can benefit from art therapy?
Art therapy can benefit people of many ages who are seeking support, expression, and a more creative path toward healing and self understanding.
Children
- Anxiety or worries
- Difficulty expressing feelings
- Behavioral or school challenges
- Social or emotional support
- Family transitions or grief
Teens
- Stress and anxiety
- Identity and self esteem
- Peer or family challenges
- Emotional overwhelm
- Confidence building
Adults
- Anxiety and stress
- Grief and life transitions
- Mood support
- Self discovery
- Alternative to talk-only therapy
Benefits
How art therapy can help
Express feelings that are hard to put into words
Reduce stress and emotional overwhelm
Build confidence and resilience
Strengthen emotional regulation
Develop healthier coping tools
Increase self awareness and insight
Process life experiences and transitions
Create space for healing, reflection, and growth
Susan's approach
Warm, thoughtful, and individualized
Susan's approach is calm, supportive, and client centered. Sessions are designed to feel safe and welcoming, with room for reflection, curiosity, and meaningful creative expression.
Some clients benefit from guided prompts and gentle structure. Others thrive with more open, creative exploration. Each session is shaped around the person's needs and goals.
Art Therapy vs. Talk Therapy
A different kind of conversation
Art therapy is not about replacing all other therapeutic approaches. It is another pathway for insight, support, and healing, and for many people it can feel more natural and accessible.
Traditional talk therapy
Relies primarily on verbal communication to explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Highly effective for many people and situations.
Art therapy
Adds a creative process to explore emotions, experiences, and patterns in a different way, especially when words feel limited or overwhelming.
It can be especially helpful for people who process visually, benefit from hands on engagement, or need a gentler entry into emotional exploration.
Sessions
What happens in a session?
Each session is guided by Susan and shaped around the client's needs and goals. A first session is simply a place to begin, with no pressure and no expectations about artistic ability.
1
Use art materials to explore thoughts and feelings, or respond to a prompt
2
Create freely, drawing, painting, collage, or other materials
3
Reflect on images, symbols, or themes that emerged in the artwork
4
Talk through what came up and build coping tools and self awareness
Meet Susan
Susan Lau, MSED, LCAT, ATR
New York State Certified Art Therapist, ATR
Susan is a compassionate art therapist who believes in the power of creativity as a path toward healing, connection, and growth. She offers a supportive environment where clients can express themselves freely and explore their inner experiences without judgment.
Drawing from clinical training in psychodynamic, interpersonal, and cognitive behavioral approaches within a humanistic framework, Susan works with children, adolescents, adults, and seniors. She holds a Master’s degree in Art Therapy and Special Education and is a registered, licensed art therapist.
Sessions are held at Art & Soul Studio in Nesconset, NY, a fully accessible storefront thoughtfully designed to support creative expression and therapeutic engagement.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be good at art?
Not at all. No artistic skill or experience is required. Art therapy is about expression and process, not artistic ability.
Is art therapy the same as an art class?
No. Art therapy is a therapeutic service focused on emotional well-being, self-expression, and personal growth, not technique or instruction.
What ages do you work with?
Susan works with children, teens, adults, and older adults across a range of emotional and developmental needs.
What concerns can art therapy support?
Stress, anxiety, emotional expression, self esteem, grief, life transitions, trauma, and other challenges.
What happens in the first session?
The first session is a chance to get to know Susan, discuss concerns and goals, and explore whether art therapy is the right fit, with no pressure..
Do I need to bring my own materials?
No. All materials are provided.
Does Susan accept insurance?
Susan is an in-network provider with Cigna Healthcare. If you have another insurance plan, you may be able to use out of network benefits. Susan can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
Ready to learn more?
Whether you are seeking support for yourself or your child, Susan can help you determine whether art therapy may be a good fit.
Location
Art & Soul Studio · Nesconset, NY
©2026 Susan Lau – Art Therapist