Lee Ann Thill

Vegan Art Therapist in New Jersey

I’m Lee Ann and I get it. I really do.

PhD. Licensed Art Therapist. Artist who’s comfortable with messes.

Life imitates art – both can get messy. However, cleaning an art mess is different from sorting through a life mess. Sometimes they’re more than we can handle by ourselves.

That’s where I come in. I want to help you figure out the messy stuff.

But maybe you’ve heard the saying: to clean a mess, you have to make a mess. As an art therapist, I’ll guide the process of sorting through messy stuff using art.

And like everyone, I’ve had to sort out some messes, so I’m sensitive to your distress and understand the desire to heal.

Making a mess with art materials – literally or figuratively – can make it easier to process messy life stuff. We’ll make a mess to clean a mess so you can begin healing.

Specialties

Disordered Eating. Body Image Distress. Chronic Illness. ADHD.

I provide therapy for teens, women and LGBTQ+ folks with disordered eating, body image distress, chronic illness and/or ADHD.

My specialty is helping people who have some combination of these issues. Each of these experiences has its own challenges, but when combined they’re overwhelming – one making the other worse, then the other way around. It can really complicate healing.

I want to help you find the balance and self-acceptance that has escaped you. You deserve to have understanding and guidance from a therapist with expertise, who wants to see you thrive and accept youself.

Companion Animal Grief & Loss

Losing or anticipating the loss of your best friend is devastating. You feel lonely and lost without them. The rest of the world speeds along, while the bottom drops out of your world.

I’m here to take the edge off feeling alone. I want to know all their silly nicknames – Stinky, Furbutt, Queenie, Snoofles, Mrs. Wigglebottom – and everything about them and your life together.

Grieving pet parents receive sensitive, specialized support. I draw from my knowledge and experience as a therapist and a lifetime of love and loss with companions of many species so I can help you find your way forward.

Services

Individual In-Person

Clients in South Jersey can work with me at my office in Gibbsboro, Camden County, close to Voorhees, Cherry Hill, Berlin and surrounding areas. My office combines familiar features of a therapy office, like traditional seating, with art studio features, including work space, a wide range of art supplies and lots of natural light.

Telehealth

I offer virtual art therapy for clients in New Jersey so you can get care that might otherwise be difficult to access. Art therapy is modified to maximize the benefits of this treatment approach while meeting from the comfort of home.

My Approach

Accessible: If you’re “not an artist,” you’re in the right place because I try to help people become comfortable experimenting with art-making, regardless of skill level.

Relational: The client-therapist relationship is the best indicator of therapy outcome. This means working through feelings together in therapy, even the uncomfortable ones, to heal past relational wounds.

Authentic: I show up as me – laidback, a little offbeat, kind of a smartass – so you feel more comfortable showing up as you.

Flexible: Therapy without a fixed sequence or formula, responsive to your needs and at your pace.

Creative: Creativity isn’t just for artists. Part of my approach to therapy is helping you recognize how creative power can help you heal.

LEARN MORE

Art Therapy

Art therapy combines visual expression with psychotherapy to help people explore thoughts, feelings and experiences. Creative expression has psychological and physiological benefits, and reflecting on art can promote problem-solving, insight, and fresh perspectives. Its action-oriented nature is energizing and activating. Art therapy is appropriate for people of all ages and levels of artistic experience. NO artistic skill or training is required.

Like other master’s level mental health providers, art therapists are knowledgeable about human development, counseling theories, psychopathology and ethics, in addition to art therapy skills and theories. Art therapists are credentialed by the Art Therapy Credentials Board in the US. In NJ, only licensed art therapists (LPAT) can call themselves art therapists and offer art therapy.

What To Expect

During the first session, we will discuss your issues of concern, and how my approach could meet your needs. The goal is to start building rapport and give you an opportunity to consider if working with me will be a good fit. Communicating your questions and concerns will help us establish a productive relationship.

A typical art therapy session starts with talk therapy, followed by an art therapy prompt, which is designed to spark a conversation in the latter part of the session about how the art relates to your therapy issues. As you become familiar with art therapy, we can take a collaborative approach to choices about art materials and processes.