Honoring Service: Art Therapy for Veterans & Military Families in the Indy Area​

art therapy for veterans

Veterans Day honors our service members and their families. But for many veterans in Indianapolis, dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) or transition can be isolating. These intense experiences often reside in the non-verbal centers of the brain, making them incredibly difficult to translate into words. Finding a path to healing requires a different language.

Beyond the Costume: Art Therapy for Identity and Self-Acceptance in Central Indiana​

Unmasking Emotions

Beyond the Costume: Art Therapy for Identity and Self-Acceptance in Central Indiana https://www.shaymakercounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Do-you-have-to-be-good-at-art.mp4 As Halloween approaches, we often think about masks and costumes—the versions of ourselves we show the world. But what about who we are underneath? For many, especially teens and young adults, navigating identity and building self-acceptance can be a difficult journey. It […]

Unmasking Emotions: Art Therapy for Depression & Anxiety in Indianapolis

unmasking emotion

Unmasking Emotions: Art Therapy for Depression and Anxiety Treatment in Indianapolis October is Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 5-11) and National Depression Screening Month, making it the perfect time to talk about destigmatizing mental health. When you’re grappling with depression or anxiety, it can feel like you have to “put on a brave face” for […]

Fall Colors, Inner Peace: Finding Calm Amidst the Autumn Bustle with Art Therapy

Finding Calm

Central Indiana is transform with the stunning colors of fall, and our schedules are becoming just as vibrant—and overwhelming. Between back-to-school events, social gatherings, and the start of the holiday season, it’s easy to feel pulled in a dozen directions. The season of harvest and change is beautiful, but it can also stir feelings of […]

Finding Your Way Through Grief: How Art Therapy Can Help

Finding Your Way Through Grief

Finding Your Way Through Grief: How Art Therapy Can Help With the vibrant life of summer fading into the quiet beauty of autumn, the season can stir powerful emotions of reflection and nostalgia. For those navigating grief and loss, this natural transition can often magnify feelings of sorrow. This makes an already difficult journey feel […]

Embracing Change: Navigating Fall Transitions with Art in Central Indiana

Fall Transitions with Art

Embracing Change: Navigating Fall Transitions with Art in Central Indiana As the vibrant greens of summer shift to the golden hues of autumn, Central Indiana undergoes a beautiful transformation. Yet, alongside this beauty, fall often brings significant changes to our routines, from back-to-school pressures to shorter daylight hours. These transitions can stir up feelings of […]

The Story of Colors in Art History: Gold, Blue, White, and More

Tubes of paint releasing gold, blue, white, red, green, and black colors onto a textured canvas, symbolizing creativity and art therapy.

Color has played a pivotal role in art, connecting artists to their cultures, beliefs, and natural surroundings. Among the vast palette of hues, colors like gold, blue, white, red, green, and black hold profound historical significance. Let’s explore how these colors came to life in art history, their symbolisms, and what their origins reveal about […]

Navigating Election Season Stress: Tips for Managing Anxiety and Maintaining Mental Health

Pop art illustration of a stressed businessman holding his head in frustration with red lightning bolts and a bold yellow burst background.

As a board-certified art therapist and mental health counselor, I have witnessed how the stress of political events, particularly during presidential election cycles, can profoundly impact individuals and communities. The heightened media coverage, divisive rhetoric, and uncertainty about the future can contribute to feelings of anxiety, tension, and even helplessness. Understanding how these stressors affect […]