Gretchen Tucker

LPC

In my teen years and through college, I started to realize that art and writing were the easiest ways for me to express my thoughts and feelings. Whenever I struggled to express myself, I would turn to art-making or writing as a path toward understanding myself. This became a useful path for me to also share my thoughts and feelings with others. Because of that, I knew that art and creative self-expression was a vital part of my life, and I began to realize what kind of positive impact it could have on others and on their mental health and wellness. Once I put all those puzzle pieces together for myself, it was a simple decision to pursue art therapy and counseling as a career. I have been practicing trauma-informed art therapy for 13 years and I am continually awed by the creativity and resiliency of my clients. If we work together, my goal is to create a space that feels safe and supportive for you. We will target goals that feel meaningful, to help you achieve more fulfillment, peace, and satisfaction in your life.

I know that finances can be one of the biggest barriers for anyone to pursue therapy today. Because of this, I choose to panel myself with insurance companies and to accept private pay, so that people have the option for either avenue. Using your insurance to pay for outpatient mental health treatment is an option that seems to be harder and harder to find. I want people to know that they are worthy of good quality mental health care, and that there are places they can receive this care, without having to take on so much of the financial burden themselves.

I have been specializing in trauma treatment for over 8 years, and I have discovered that most people do not have any opportunity to learn about trauma until trauma happens to them. One thing that is fundamental in my practice is helping folks to understand how our brains and nervous systems operate, how we can expect them to operate when things are "good" and how we can expect them to operate after traumatic events or experiences. When we have more information about how everything is working (or not working), we can choose a better path forward. I am EMDR-trained, and can offer virtual EMDR sessions, as one possible approach to navigating trauma, stress, and distress. If you want to learn more about how EMDR and/or art therapy can help you, we can arrange a free 15 minute consultation call. I'll be happy to speak with you to see if I can be a good fit to support you in your goals and your journey.