NOTE: As of March 16, 2020 all sessions will be remote
 

                                                                                           

WELCOME to Counseling and Art Therapy                                                    

 
This is a place to explore your inner strengths and embark upon a journey of self-understanding, personal change and growth. On this site you will find resources and information about counseling and art therapy.
 


MARCIA WEISBROT LPCC, ATR-BC 

Throughout my life I've been working with people to use imagery for healing and growth. For 10 years I worked as an art therapist in healthcare programs. 

My training includes graduate degrees in art therapy and studio art. I am a licensed counselor, certified art therapist, and practicing artist (www.marciaweisbrot.com) providing individual and group sessions, art therapy supervision, workshops and in-service training. I am passionate about the power of art to promote insight, and unlock personal strengths." 
                                                                                                

INDIVIDUAL Counseling and Art Therapy

Participant (left), in individual session

Counseling and art therapy are practical and creative approaches to help you manage stress and increase self understanding when you are facing transitions, loss, grief or depression and anxiety. If you are diagnosed with a life changing illness such as cancer, or stroke, counseling and art therapy can also help you cope. From diagnosis through treatment, and beyond, I can provide support to you for as long as you need it. We work collaboratively during your process of healing.

Counseling is confidential. It can be short term and is solution focused. I use cognitive behavioral therapy to help you problem solve and gain self-confidence. You can choose to work within the counseling process, or through art therapy, or within both disciplines. Counseling is a collaborative endeavor.

If you choose to use art therapy, it is a way of knowing yourself by reaching inward. As a practicing artist I'm engaged in the creative process and can help you access this part of yourself. I can help you look at your life and problem solve creatively, provide a visual record for you, and teach you to use your inner visual language to help you grow and understand yourself. Art therapy helps with stress management and anxiety in ways that verbal therapy cannot.

Empathy is a keystone of the therapeutic relationship. Because I've been through difficult times myself, including family stress, depression, and breast cancer, I have first-hand knowledge of the issues my clients face and I have personal experience with how effective the approaches I use can be.
  




GROUP Sessions

Two participants in group art therapy
Being part of a group provides you with different insights as you share experiences with others. This shared experience can help you with personal understanding. Group support can be stronger than individual sessions, and decreases isolation. Group structure provides a mirror of the larger world and opportunities to gain broader feedback. Issues we work on in group art therapy include: self-esteem, social anxiety, relationship challenges, career development and life transitions.
            

No groups available right now. Please check back.

WORKSHOPS, Presentations, In-services, Consultation or Classes are also available.

Please email weisbrot9@gmail.com, or call 415-735-5216 for more information.








      


   
FREQUENTLY Asked Questions


What is professional clinical counseling?

Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. - See more at: http://www.counseling.org/about-us/about-aca#sthash.4qvpCcYt.dpuf
Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. (American Counseling Association)
Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. - See more at: http://www.counseling.org/about-us/about-aca#sthash.4qvpCcYt.dpuf
Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. - See more at: http://www.counseling.org/about-us/about-aca#sthash.4qvpCcYt.dpuf


Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. - See more at: http://www.counseling.org/about-us/about-aca#sthash.4qvpCcYt.dpuf
Is it different from psychotherapy?

There is an overlap between counseling and psychotherapy; similar training and approaches. Usually, psychotherapy is longer and more in depth. The differences do blur. Art therapy is psychotherapy using art and may go deeper than verbal therapy.


What is art therapy?

Spontaneous imagery comes from deep within us and provides immediate access to feelings. In art therapy we use this imagery as a catalyst to augment understanding and healing. This is a creative process that includes psychotherapy and knowledge gained is long lasting.


Who can benefit from art therapy?

Almost anyone. There are some people who obviously benefit more: people who have difficulty verbalizing their feelings, people who have speech and/or hearing issues, and people who are just "talked out" of verbal therapy, are feeling stuck and need more than words to express themselves.








How do you work with someone in art therapy?

Art therapy is a highly individualized process; each person creates imagery according to their needs. Here is one example: you might select images to create a collage. Together we look at your collage to determine what it means to you. We might choose parts of it to work with, taking the form of talking about your imagery, dialoging with it or creating  images in response to it. This adds to your self understanding, provides a release, and becomes part of your personal history.


How long will I be involved in this?

It depends on what your needs are. Some people come for just a few sessions. Others need more time. This is important to discuss at the first session.
  

What training do you have to do this work?

I am trained as a clinical specialist in art therapy (ATR-BC), with an M.A. from the University of Illinois. For 10 years I worked in healthcare: psychiatry, AIDs, and medical rehabilitation. In 2011 I began completing requirements, e.g., classes and exams, to earn a license to do clinical professional counseling (LPCC). This is a mental health counseling license, and I have been licensed since 2014. You can find more details about my experience here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcia-weisbrot-98942096


Do you have areas of particular specialization in your practice? 
  
Yes. I have particular expertise working with persons with anxiety, self-esteem issues, and mood disorders--both depression and bipolar. I also have experience working with people who have life threatening illnesses, including cancer, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and are making an adjustment to disability. I am trained to practice mindfulness based treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). I work with adults starting at age 18, and older adults through their 90's.






What does this cost? Is this covered by insurance?

Many insurance providers have mental health coverage. I can give you an invoice to submit to your insurance provider. This is known as "out of network." Your insurance would then reimburse you for part of the cost. If you are insured by one of the following companies I can bill them directly:

Cigna and Cigna EAP, Claremont EAP, CorpCare, Curalinc, Lyra, BHS.                                                      

I am applying to others so please check back, or call me: 415-735-5216 if you have questions.
 

My fee for individual sessions, if you have no mental health insurance, is $90- to 120- per session. I will work with you to find a fee that is reasonable and affordable as I am able. An initial consultation by telephone is at no charge. Payment is by check or cash.

Where are you located?

I live and work in San Francisco, and currently provide sessions by telehealth only.


Please email weisbrot9@gmail.com, or call 415-735-5216 for more information.





Professional counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. - See more at: http://www.counseling.org/about-us/about-aca#sthash.4qvpCcYt.dpuf




MORE information

www.calpcc.org  California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC)


www.norcata.org   Northern California Art Therapy Association (NORCATA)

www.arttherapyalliance.org


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5jsps0wK2w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exRRwiIFNU

www.counseling.org  American Counseling Association (ACA)