So nice to meet you!
Hi I’m Amina Shaw-Moss,
A visual arts psychotherapist based in Brooklyn, NY and the founder of Third Hand Healing (THH). THH is a mental health platform and collective of clinicians committed to providing holistic tools for mental and spiritual well-being for all. We are experts in various healing modalities: art psychotherapists, meditation practitioners, reiki practitioners and trauma-informed therapists. We are a strong group of BIPOC clinicians dedicated to making psycho-education more inclusive and accessible. I also provide individual and group therapy within a client base. Welcome to our community.
What Is Creative Arts Therapy?
Creative arts therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art as a tool to tap into and articulate life experiences. Most experts agree that at least 70% of our communication with others is non-verbal. Creative arts therapy reduces the pressure to use language to explain experiences and emotions. It provides another vehicle for communication as the art practice becomes a way to convey what cannot be spoken. This feature also makes creative art therapy incredibly inclusive and can involve those who are differently-abled or who may not have the capacity to speak.
Creative arts therapy is also disarming. My job as a visual arts therapist is to remind you that I am here with you. THH offers various art materials depending on the client’s needs and abilities. For example, a 3 year old may need more controlled materials while a 34 year-old client may not. Let’s paint, draw, sculpt and get to know each other, using art to break the tension of the therapeutic space.
As a visual artist, it has been incredibly rewarding to be able to help others gain greater levels of mental health through art-making. You can find my daily writing and art on Instagram @ThirdHandHealing, a space to connect and explore mental and spiritual wellness.
