Geography shapes who we are. We are formed and inspired by the landscape around us - whether it be through nature or an urban environment. I was born in Washington, D.C. Due to my father's work as a nutritional anthropologist, we moved to different landscapes in Jamaica (the Caribbean), Norway, Connecticut, and Ohio. After I went to college my parents landed in Northern Virginia for my father's job in DC working for the US Government through AID (Agency for International Development). Soon after their move, I took a train cross country to San Francisco. I never imagined I would stay on the West Coast for an extended time, but ...

"Art Cures" Offering: A Series of Creative Exercises for Personal Healing and Social Impact.   As we move through our days, it is hard not to have the awareness of suffering in other parts of the world, as well as close to home. People often speak to me about feeling helpless and uncertain about how to support a loved one and/or a cause they want to fight for. At times, it can be paralyzing, and for me, it can be amplified if I am depleted or find myself overloaded with painful realities.   I have found that simple actions are ...

An 'Art Cures' Offering: A Series of Creative Exercises for Personal Healing and Social Impact. There is always a place in the body where a sense of ease can be found. The body is our home that carries us through the world; it helps us connect with others and our environment. The way that our body functions contains a vast amount of intelligence and resilience. When facing current events and sensory overload, it is a useful tool to tap into an anchor/resource in the body as it can give us relief from the mind's preoccupation with fear, worry, self-criticism and ...

An 'Art Cures' Offering: A Series of Creative Exercises for Personal Healing and Social Impact. Do you fall into despair or overwhelm around life events and the barrage of news updates? So often we stay glued to the phone and get inundated with information which can increase anxiety and decrease our ability to respond effectively. There is such a strong need for the 'pause' - the ability to find places and spaces to connect with the deeper meaning of life. It was so much easier to stay present when I was younger - before all the virtual distractions. Listening to ...

A big thank you to  Elizabeth Edwards of the Giving Voice to Recovery podcast whom recently interviewed me about my film, The Creative High. We dive into topics including: The transformative quality of the creative process The stories told in The Creative High Insights, resources, and solutions for artists, their families, recovery communities and those in the behavioral health field around the globe. Give the interview a listen here.

Life is in a constant state of flux. We are continually being asked to adapt to 'new norms' and are still adjusting to the effects of the pandemic. Instability in governments, war, climate insecurity, losing loved ones, and facing mental health crises are front and center for so many of us. I see first hand in my own life, and through my work with others how easy it is to get caught up putting out metaphorical 'fires', i.e. reacting to life rather than taking time to tend to what needs attention and care. If we can find pauses in our ...

As we move through our days, we experience so much in our own lives, work, and interactions. We are affected by the environment around us and global events. Some of us feel so much! I have always been sensitive to outside stimulus and had strong empathy for suffering. This is the gift of the healer and the artist. It can also be overwhelming and exhausting. Having strategies to release and express can provide relief. Art expression is be an excellent and effective tool. This week has been especially affecting as we navigate the news from the Middle East. Finding ways to care for ourselves ...

As I prepare to leave the Bay Area and step into a new chapter in life and work, I am in a reflective time inquiring into what I have gained over three decades of immersion in Northern California culture. This career I have cultivated has brought me into the roles of mentor, therapist and teacher (and of course 'artist'). I don't take for granted that I've landed in my purpose and calling, and that I receive tremendous value from engaging in the work. In my recent Art Cures retreat at the San Francisco Zen Center I gathered with many students and clients that I have supported over ...

I want to talk about my first hand experience with rejection. Part of achieving success as a creative person is learning to market oneself, be visible, and in turn find strategies to manage disappointment. Like most of us, I have had my share. And, despite the knowledge that rejection is to be expected, it is hard to accept when encountering it. Getting the 'no' from a film festival, a decline letter from a grant proposal, a brush-off from a potential client, or being 'ghosted' when sharing work can be discouraging. All of these instances have given me the opportunity to ...

A big thank you to podcast host Jordon Ferber for our recent interview together on the "Where's The Grief?" podcast! Since I’m a big comedy fan, it was especially fun to talk with Jordon who is a stand up comedian in NYC. He draws on his own art life and his experience losing his younger brother to a car accident at the age of 21. I was inspired to learn that he also guides others with grief support groups. We talk about the creative process, my work as an art and movement therapist and how I found a path towards ...