Hello and Welcome →

I’m Kayla. I support individuals in moving forward and growing healthier relationships with themselves and others through holistic and creative processes. For over 15 years, I've been weaving together my desire to create, heal, and cultivate community through my own art process, teaching art, facilitating art therapy groups and meeting with individual clients and families. I offer women and families a total wellness lifestyle- one of hope, empowerment and healing. 

 

My Journey to Here

I've been immersed in the world of colors since childhood. My mom is a professional cake artist and I spent many days watching her and learning how to mix colors. I loved watching her creations come to life.

I have created for as long as I can remember most often inspired by images in my mom's figurative character cake books. In school I always loved the assignments that required drawing images of what we were learning and creatively illustrate our own poems and stories.

I recall art was always a release for me, but it wasn't until a friend along with her sister and mom died in a plane crash when I was in elementary school that I realized art was also a way for me to process trauma and communicate my feelings. Growing up in the midwest I was offered many of the traditional midwest notions for healing and many of them did not sit well with me.  I didn't know how to talk to others about my thoughts and feelings, but art allowed a safe space to release my emotions. I continued to use art as a means of self-care all throughout childhood and now as an adult.

Knowing the power of art for my self-expression as well as its crucial role in my evolving identity, I received my undergraduate degree in Art Education. Upon graduation, I began teaching as an Elementary Art Teacher at two at-risk schools. My students inspired my graduate school decision to become an Art Therapist and Mental Health Counselor which has enhanced my self-expression.  I taught art to over 600 students each year and was continuously inspired by them to further my education to become an art therapist and mental health counselor. As an educator I noticed how powerful art was to my students and how it impacted their emotional expression similar to how it has for me. I yearned to learn to help others express themselves in an honest and authentic space. I am so grateful for the journey my experience as a teacher has led me on.

I love being and creating with people, leaning in and hearing their stories, teaching and empowering people to step into a new space and witnessing profound transitions happening. I have been deeply honored to sit alongside the healing journey and self-discovery of my clients.

Art Therapy + Mental Health Counseling

I am a Nationally Registered Art Therapist (#17-082) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State (LH60746482) and Licensed Art Teacher. I earned my Master of Arts Degree in Psychology with a specialization in Art Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University Seattle. Upon graduation, I opened a community art & wellness studio in Seattle where I ran my art therapy practice and facilitated art classes for kids and adults.

I now have an online practice with a signature program, Revitalized Motherhood Method and also offer limited openings for individual sessions. A revolutionary program for kids is currently in the works to be released early next year. The way in which I practice is not to diagnose, but rather look at the whole person and what is impacting their desire to live the life that they envision. Utilizing my education and passion for holistic health, I offer my guidance and support through the art making process, mindfulness, and essential oils to equip and empower my clients with tools to thrive!

You can learn more about my services here.

Health & Happiness, 

Kayla

A Holistic Art Therapist’s Guide to Helping Children during Uncertain Times

A Holistic Art Therapist’s Guide to Helping Children during Uncertain Times

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has raised a variety of questions and concerns for parents and caregivers regarding how to support their children physically and emotionally. Utilizing holistic modalities such as art and essential oils empower children in their healing journey. The following article will provide educational tools for helping children process trauma in response to the outbreak.

What is Art Therapy? Art therapy breaks the barriers for children to express themselves without a dependency on words. Art therapy also gives children a safe place where they can learn how to use new materials expressing inner feelings, sublimate inappropriate behaviors, and learn social skills. A variety of art mediums can be used with children depending on their individual case. While an art material may be beneficial to one child it may be detrimental to the condition of another. An art therapist is professionally trained knowing the assets, limitations, and metaphors when choosing the best material for a client. During individual sessions children can create art to express their feelings, bring an awareness to their inherent strengths and previous coping mechanisms, as well as gain a sense of normalcy to the emotions they are having.

Behavioral and emotional responses. When working with children during uncertain times such as a viral outbreak, it is important to identify the actual emotions the child is experiencing. There are many different kinds of emotions that can accompany a complex emergency such as the child’s sense of safety and security at home, school, around the neighborhood, daily rituals being interrupted, or the death of a loved one. The child might be processing family stress due to the potential loss of their incomes, fears of empty supermarket shelves as people prepare for the worst-case scenarios.

Like adults, children also experience and process loss stress in a variety of ways. Some children might not express emotions, and adults need to understand that those individuals need the same kind of support as a child who outwardly is more expressive with their emotions. Children also have their own set of coping strategies that can be expressed in a variety of ways. It is often difficult to communicate overwhelming feelings while also reliving the fears through dreams and nightmares. It is important to provide the child a safe space to explore their feelings and cope in their individual ways as well as provide them with other effective coping strategies. Following stressful experiences a child might become withdrawn, angry, depressed, anxious, insubordinate, restless, or regress amongst other behavioral changes. Children need a space that is free from the chaos that is happening around them by eliminating or limiting the amount of media they are exposed to. Creating a safe space for a child free from the media to express their emotions can allow them time for processing and feel a sense of normalcy back in their life. 

How caregivers can navigate support at home. When supporting children, one must be empathetic and listen to the child, while also encouraging them to tell the story of what is happening from their perspective. This allows the child to choose the pace while exploring the thoughts and feelings surrounding the current situation. Storytelling is beneficial to help normalize and universalize the child’s thoughts and emotions surrounding the trauma, as well as allow the individual to describe their version of the story and circumstances surrounding their everyday life.

Children who have not developed the language skills needed to tell their story can create images as their response to the trauma. It is also beneficial to use books when working with children. Storytelling can be done in a variety of ways depending on the child’s interest and cognitive and developmental levels. Perhaps writing poems for older kids or creating visual stories with drawings along with conversation bubbles. Playing with toys, dolls and sand tables are also beneficial ways to allow children to express their stories and overall feelings.

Using essential oils to support emotional needs. Essential oils are natural, effective and safe aromatic compounds extracted and distilled from plants. They are concentrated, fast acting, and quickly absorb into the skin. Aromatherapy is an extremely powerful way to impact our emotional wellbeing using essential oils. Our nasal passages are a direct pathway to the limbic system of the brain, this is where the amygdala processes the body’s emotional responses. So simply inhaling the aromatic compounds of an essential oil is an effective way to calm the nervous system reducing anxious feelings and/or uplifting your mood.

Essential oils from citrus fruits, herbs, flowers and tree can offer emotional support and comfort in times of trauma. Some suggestions for use are; Comforting Blend, Grounding Blend, Restful Blend, Ylang Ylang, Siberian Fir, Geranium, Cedarwood, Melissa, Lavender, Frankincense, Birch, Marjoram, Juniper Berry, Wild Orange, Lemon, Encouraging Blend, Renewing Blend, Basil, and Lemongrass. Create a diffuser or roller blend to assist in processing trauma, loss and grief, and emotional pain during transitional phases that are causing heightened stress, anxiousness, and restlessness. Essential oils can be an effective tool to help in releasing a multitude of heavy emotions allowing one to move forward in life.

Art therapy interventions. Art therapy is a beneficial treatment for children struggling from crises that are affecting the individual’s everyday life. Children are free to explore their inner feelings in a nonjudgmental environment accompanied by an art therapist. An art therapist provides children with art supplies and knowledge of how different media are used while guiding them through the creative process allowing them to make sense of their experiences and further process loss and grief and empower them to be in control of their healing journey. Art therapy can teach children to communicate thoughts and emotions not easily vocalized using various art materials to visually move the trauma out of their body.

When selecting art supplies to use with children after complex emergencies, one must be aware of the various metaphors inherent in the materials. Drawing materials can be offered to children to allow for control while depicting their story. Paint is more often used to increase an individual’s free flowing expression of emotions. The therapist must critically think about the individual’s abilities and state of mind when offering paint.

Collage materials are another valuable material to offer children because they provide images readily available for children to gravitate towards helping to depict their inner story and they are easy to work with offering the child a sense of mastery. Later on, children can be offered three-dimensional materials such as Model Magic to begin reconstructing their environments. Art therapist might also choose to have more direction within the therapy sessions. A variety of directives have been used with this population and all act as a beneficial part of the healing process. Some of the directives include, creating murals, feeling maps, memory boxes, paper Mache expression masks, and self-portraits of the individual before, during, and now.

Every child has their own unique way to cope with stress. Some children do not express emotions, some act out or regress in their natural behavior, and others become anxious. It is important to allow the child to tell their story and also identify their own personal losses and feelings surrounding the situation. Art therapy can be a beneficial way for children to express their thoughts and emotions following crisis situations. Some children use art to tell stories and recreate images of their experience, while others choose to use art as catharsis and relaxation. Whichever way a child chooses to use art, creating inherently allows the individual to become an active participant in their healing process.

My go to trauma essential oil recipes.

 “I am Comforted” 10 ml Child Essential Oil Roller Blend: 4 drops Steadying Blend, 2 drops Juniper Berry, 2 drops Siberian Fir, 1 drops Cedarwood, 2 drops Lavender and top with carrier oil of your choice.

“I am Releasing” 10 ml Childhood Trauma Essential Oil Roller Blend: 3 drops Helichrysum, 3 drops Frankincense, 3 drops Melissa, 2 drops Reassuring Blend, 2 drops Renewing Blend and top with carrier oil of your choice (to make for an adult, just double the drops of each oil).

Health & Happiness.

Kayla

Download [FREE GUIDE] 5 Practices for Ambitious Moms in Times of Overwhelm to Reduce Stress here.

Kayla Helenske, MA, LMHC, ATR

For more information about my services and offerings please visit: www.kaylahelenske.com

Urban Retreat: Expressive Painting

New Dates Just Released Today! Register today to secure your spot and join us for an inspiring, playful, and transformative weekend. http://www.expressivejourneysarttherapy.com/workshopsretreats/

2017 Urban Retreats: Expressive Painting

Explore expressive painting and mixed media in an intuitive and process focused way that is healing, playful, and transformative.

DATES:

Winter Retreat 1: January 28+29 (an amazing time to find yourself settling in to the new year and focusing in on wishes and intentions for the year to come).

Winter Retreat 2: February 25+26

Spring Retreat 3: March 18+19

TIME:

Saturday 3-7:30pm

Sunday 10-5pm

Come let go and explore your inner canvas. The Urban Retreat will take place at Circle of Art Studios located in the Magnolia neighborhood in Seattle, WA. Filling the studio with our expressive journeys, connecting with our inner canvas and collaborating with each other will transform and help you to reconnect with your creative spirit.

We will spend time painting in silence and listening to music. Building layer upon layer. Scraping and carving away at previous layers. Processing and sifting through inherent metaphors that are brought to light. Be prepared to let go and invite the unexpected to emerge during this rich and restorative workshop.

About the Retreat:

We will awaken our inner canvas painting throughout the workshop on a 24x24 canvas as well as create a soulful and intentional collage. The process of creating is in and of itself therapeutic. The process of painting from within can be transformative for many, often bringing to light parallel issues from what is coming up for them in their painting and what is happening in their everyday life. Perhaps feeling stuck and afraid to move forward or make mistakes on a canvas speaks volumes to how one experiences life on a day-to-day basis. This type of painting allows for one to try on new ways of being, explore, play, make mistakes, and take new risks. A beneficial practice for professional artists as well as those who haven't used art supplies since childhood. We will also be integrating mindfulness through witness writing to create a deeper connection to the process.

All materials will be included. At the end of the retreat you will have created two pieces that are filled with emotional content as well as a new approach to your art making experience. You will also have the opportunity to create an intention setting (motivate, tension release, joyful, balance, etc) essential oil mist and rollerball to take home, bringing the experience along with you. Saturday night we will end our session at a nearby Puget Sound beach releasing our fears and letting go of what is holding us back (driving access and beach parking make it accessible for everyone).

Some thoughtful words I have recently received about my classes

Kayla's studio is cheerful and welcoming, and she brings so much positive energy to class. I joined her Intuitive/Expressive Painting Series as a total novice; her encouragement to be curious and experiment with an open mind made it such a fantastic experience. Definitely recommended!

I so enjoy working with Kayla! I am on my 3rd intuitive painting class and I love the atmosphere and the setting and the freedom and encouragement to step out of my comfort zone in the world of painting.

Every time I leave Kayla’s studio I feel lighter on my feet.

Registration & Payment

Cost: Includes all materials and a nutritious snack each day. $350

A payment plan is available for the retreat. The final payment is due prior to the start of the retreat. A $100 non-refundable deposit is due at time of registration to secure your spot. Space is limited so register today to secure your spot.

Expressive Journeys Art Therapy and Mental Health Counseling

Kayla Helenske, MA, LMHCA is co-owner of Circle of Art Studios where she teaches art classes and operates her art therapy and mental health counseling practice, Expressive Journeys.  Helenske’s practice is unique to the area being the only mixed media and pottery studio for kids and adults to also include art therapy and mental health counseling services.

Helenske supports individuals in moving forward and growing healthier lives and relationships through holistic and creative processes. For over 15 years Kayla has been weaving her love of art, healing and community through her own art process, teaching art, facilitating art therapy groups and meeting with individual clients and families. Helenske focuses her practice in working primarily with children, teens and women with a multitude of presenting symptoms such as anxiety, depression, loss and grief, emotional regulation, life transitions, self-esteem and social skills.

Art therapy is a means of utilizing art materials to allow thoughts and feelings to move as you dialogue with your inner canvas through lines, shapes and colors giving image to what the experience feels and looks like in your body. The art allows the maker to capture a moment- a tactile representation of thoughts, feelings, as well as further connect and reflect upon what is working, not working or perhaps missing from their life. The process of creating also allows for a cathartic experience, expelling built up stress, anger and/or grief. The actual feelings of anger, sadness and grief are emotions experienced by everyone. Withholding these feelings and suppressing them can impact our physical and mental health, as well as relationships with others. As a client centered and strength based therapist, Helenske also intertwines mindfulness in her practice guiding clients to note how they feel before, during and after art making which is often accompanied with witness writing their thoughts. 

Along with meeting with individual clients, Helenske offers group work including Women’s Identity and Stress Reduction, Intuitive Painting Classes and The Art of Friendship: A Social Skills Group for kids. Friends and families can also schedule private sessions to come together to process loss and grief, transitions or reconnect as a family through art making.

Circle of Art Studios offers a multitude of services including mixed media and pottery classes for kids and adults, art+wine events, raku parties, team-building events and birthday parties. If you are looking to reconnect with your friends and family, let Circle of Art Studios help you host your next gathering. Please visit www.CircleofArtStudios.com for more information.

You can learn more about Kayla Helenske and her practice, Expressive Journeys at www.ExpressiveJourneysArtTherapy.com and connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.