Hello, I am AnnCharlotte.
Welcome to ACT Cates, I am grateful you are here. As I think about my journey as an artist - evolving toward creative therapy, life coaching and the clinical world, honing in on my definitions and applications while recognizing art’s interventions in my own life - I realize these ideals are why I started a therapeutic private practice many years ago.
I believe any creative process can be healing, and the possibilities are infinite when blending the process with deep discussion, clinical based talk therapies, spiritual connection, life coaching and vocational services. I have made it my life's mission in sharing these practices and tools with others in order to facilitate personal growth, effect positive change and reach one’s ultimate potential.
I will often state, “I am objective in my chair, and I am rooting for you”. In other words, I have a beautiful view, and I can offer that objective perspective which brings such clarity and light to the darkness. I see your potential and center this around you. We use creative energy to light the way…we choose a path and we get you there.
So, let us rediscover your story together and create a healing transformation for the positive, beautiful chapters to come!
My Philosophy
A typical session is a blend of deep discussion, and creative thinking. If you’re up for it, we'll do some art-making, or process something you’ve created prior to our weekly session. Sometimes, we will just use other forms of talk psychotherapies and life coaching strategies. I also believe in spiritual practices, and I may ask if I can pull out a deck of angel or spirit animal cards to help see what the universe offers (every once in a blue moon, hehe!).
I will tailor our sessions to your unique needs and challenges, with a bit of integrated practices from my clinical background and education theories tossed in, and at some point I will ask the creative side of you to embark on the journey with us. You do what is in your comfort level.
When creative therapy is used in conjunction with talk therapy, we discover a dynamic approach to self-expression, and work through deep content towards a regrowth, a transformation and a self empowerment ritual. We can manage anxiety, work through trauma, better our communication, restore our relationships with others, and find an overall better life balance and harmony.
So, what is Creative Art Therapy?
Creative Art Therapy is a modality that uses the arts (journaling, art-making, photography, music, dance, writing, etc.) as a self-expression language for personal growth and insight. Creative therapy is a form of integrative psychotherapy that involves the use of art-making and talk therapy in a session, with no art experience needed.
When we create, we use the potential to connect internal thoughts, feelings and perceptions with one’s outer life and experiences.
For many individuals, any type of illness or misfortune can be a transforming experience. Almost every individual experiences some type of misfortune in their lifetime. Being creative is accessible to all humans. And the change you desire (or perhaps dread) can happen easily - by simply creating it.
You are the designer, the artist of your life. Let’s realize that potential together, so you can live your life to the fullest.
My Story and Professional Experience
I am married with a 4 y/o firecracker daughter and two cats (one cat turned 20 y/o this year!). We live out on farm country in eastern Long Island, where I work from my home office art studio space.
I make art regularly and show in galleries. My last solo exhibition was at a NYC gallery in the summer of 2022. My next solo exhibition is at the Capacity Contemporary Gallery in Louisville, KY, opening January 2024. I have also done a few Artist Residencies, most recently
an international residency in Nova Scotia.
I started my Art Therapy Private Practice in 2017, and was a contracted therapist at a private counseling practice located in Port Jefferson, NY. Prior to this, I lived in NYC and LA for many years. I was the Fine Art Activist, Educational and Therapeutic Specialist at a government non-profit, serving homeless and mentally ill residents of NYC. I was hired by Long Island University in the graduate Art Therapy Department in 2015. As a graduate professor, my courses blend fine arts with psychology and arts community outreach. I enjoy giving lectures and leading discussions about art and self-empowerment philosophies.
I dig humor and believe in the healing power of laughter, along with creative therapy and daily dancing. I make art and have dance parties with my daughter almost everyday, which makes my husband and I laugh a lot. I love to volunteer at my daughter’s pre-K school. My daughter, the class, teachers and I just made a mural about community for her school earlier this year. My daughter told me it was “cool” to have me at school with her. I will never forget how that made me feel and how I smiled. The mural came out beautifully.
Education
Long Island University, MA, Clinical Art Therapy, 2012
School of Visual Arts, BFA, Bachelors Fine Art, 2003
Credentials
NY State Licensed Creative Arts Therapist #001864
Services
Life Coaching (Virtual)
Most of us consider ourselves high functioning, but in reality, we feel often we are just scraping by. Together, we can break that feeling, through one-on-one and group settings we can build a personal vision for your future to achieve major goals, maximize your potential, boost your feelings of self-worth and empowerment. We can build healthier relationships with others, achieve higher professional goals and become the most authentic and joyful version of yourself.
Individual (In Person, Virtual)
Together, we can explore creative resources that help with anxiety, self esteem, depression, communication, family or relationship issues, and overall personal growth. We can manage anxiety, work through trauma or better our communication to restore our relationships with others and find an overall better life balance and harmony.
Marital or Family Groups (In Person, Virtual)
Both Marriage or Family Groups are seen together to have the opportunity to talk, in a safe and supportive environment, where the therapist advocates for each member of the group. In all relationships we seek balance in order to function, but certain negative conversation patterns or behaviors and ways of interacting become extreme and problematic. In these types of group therapies, a therapist can facilitate the members to recognize the negative patterns that were developed and create positive changes to explore new phases of relationships and create tranquility.
Women's Groups (In Person, Virtual)
Support groups for women to share, explore, build skills and encourage one another to live authentically in mind, body, heart and spirit. Focusing on issues related to physical and emotional well-being with regard to self and relationships.
Women’s Retreats
We have many amazing things in the making! Please email us to inquire.
Corporate Wellness
Creative wellness in the workplace fosters employee connection and communication, reduces work affiliated or personal stressors, and creates connections and a meaningful purpose to your company. This can be done though experiential creative workshops with no art experience necessary.
BOCES Arts-in-Ed:
Eastern Suffolk BOCES, an inclusive educational cooperative of 51 Long Island school districts, provides regional leadership and advocacy, direct instruction, management, and support through quality, cost-effective instructional programs, and shared services. AnnCharlotte is now a provider offering services and programs that are highly participatory, where various drawing, painting and mix media techniques are introduced with an emphasis on self-expression and applied intervention. Participant’s symbolism and personal language/imagery are explored as a means of communication and utilized to promote personal growth and wellbeing.
BOCES - Arts in Education (esboces.org)
