Ms. Lewis is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist. She earned a Master’s of Science degree in Art Therapy from Nazareth College of Rochester and a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Painting from Ohio Northern University. Ms. Lewis is the lead therapist for our SSP research project, and for polyvagal informed therapy. She is currently working towards her certification as a Trauma Informed Expressive Arts Therapist (EXAT).
Her previous work history includes servicing foster children involved with the department of child services (DCS), a group home, schools, home based therapy, community mental health centers and a psychiatric hospital. She works with children, adolescents, adults and families dealing with disruptive behavior issues, parenting, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, transition to adulthood difficulties, and trauma.
As an Art Therapist, Ms. Lewis integrates person centered therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Ego State Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Polyvagal Informed Psychotherapy approaches into the therapeutic art making process. The introduction of the Expressive Arts has allowed for greater exploration into past traumas, anxieties and depression using a top down +/ bottom up approach through the use of mark making, rhythm, movement, storytelling and other somatosensory interventions. Ms. Lewis is also an expert in delivery of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and trains other clinicians on this modality. She is heavily involved in the collaboration with our practice and the IU Traumatic Stress Research Consortium project using SSP as well.
When not working, she enjoys walking her dogs, drawing, photography, singing, hiking, baking and spending time with family and friends.