Michelle Walker, ACMHC, Art Therapist
Michelle Walker, Art Therapist
michelle@thehealinggroup.com
Michelle Walker, ACMHC, ATR-P
Hi, I'm Michelle, an art therapist and mental health counselor. I blend talk therapy with the experiential process of art making to help people better understand themselves, their relationships, and the patterns that show up in their lives.
My approach often resonates with individuals seeking deeper self-understanding, more authentic and connected relationships, and a stronger sense of who they are. They may be deeply reflective and insightful about their inner world, and often have years of personal growth work or therapy behind them, yet still find themselves caught in familiar emotional or relational patterns that feel difficult to shift.
They may be working through identity shifts, resurfacing attachment wounds, changing beliefs, relationship challenges, or exploring sexuality and intimacy. Often they are asking questions like:
Who am I when I stop living according to inherited expectations and begin listening to myself?
How do I become more fully myself while remaining meaningfully connected to the people I love?
How do I make sense of the messages I inherited about sexuality when they no longer fit with what I actually feel, want, or experience?
Together, we create space to approach these questions with curiosity and compassion, moving toward a more authentic, intuitive, and self-trusting way of living and relating.
I believe that the relationship we build in therapy matters. Developing trust takes time, and meaningful change often unfolds within the context of a safe and authentic therapeutic relationship. Rather than rushing toward solutions, we create space for curiosity, self-understanding, and the exploration of patterns that may be showing up both inside and outside the therapy room.
Art Therapy with Me
Art therapy is an integral part of how I work and can be woven into sessions alongside talk therapy. I believe creativity is a natural part of being human and that making art can help us access and understand thoughts, emotions, and experiences that are difficult to put into words.
Art therapy is not about artistic talent or creating something “beautiful.” It might look like scribbling on paper, finger painting, playing with clay, creating a collage, or simply experimenting with materials. The goal is not necessarily the finished product, but the opportunity to slow down, express, notice, and explore what comes into view.
Many people are surprised by what emerges when they engage with the creative process. Creating and exploring imagery can help us better understand ourselves, process emotions, regulate our nervous systems, and reconnect with intuitive parts of ourselves that may have been cut off or pushed aside over time. No art experience is necessary—only curiosity.
"Often the hands will solve a mystery that the intellect has struggled with in vain." — Carl Jung
Education and Training
Masters degree in Art Therapy and Counseling, Southwestern College; Santa Fe, NM
Bachelors degree in Fine Art, Utah State University
Human Sexuality Certificate, New Earth Institute, Santa Fe, NM
*Michelle is available for a free 15 minute consultation for new clients.
Michelle is supervised by Mary Attridge, CMHC, ATR-BC, ATCS, EMDRIA-CIT and Janet Vivian, LCSW
SPECIALTIES:
Perinatal mental health
Sex/sexuality
Faith transition/religious issues
Anxiety
Depression
Life transitions
Relationship issues
2SLGBTQIA+ issues
MODALITIES:
Art Therapy
Attachment theory
Interpersonal neurobiology
Psychodynamic
Jungian/analytical
Trauma-informed
Somatic approaches
Mindfulness-based approaches
