Not Your Average Therapy
TALK • ART • WALK
“We can’t stop the waves, but we can learn to surf.”
Trauma and grief changes the brain. When something terrible happens to us, it can alter our brain and make it difficult to manage feelings, behavior, thoughts and body reactions. Create Mental Wellness Counseling offers a unique set of services so you can create your own path for healing based on your needs.
I offer a combination of Trauma-Informed traditional talk therapy, art therapy, and nature-based therapy. Engaging our bodies and brains in different ways helps process and manage stress, and provides different forms of emotional connection and expression. Sometimes words alone aren’t enough or aren’t available to us. Talking primarily relies on the executive functioning part of our brain (focus, logic, planning, following directions, managing emotions and impulses) - which can be altered by trauma and grief.
I offer a discreet office setting with walking trails and relaxing water views. Whether you’re suffering from grief, trauma, stress, or overwhelm, I am here to listen and support you in learning ways to feel better. No matter what you are going through right now, you can thrive and find wellness.
debra gottschalk, lpc, atr-BC
Professional & personal info
I hold a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy & Counseling from Albertus Magnus College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Moore College of Art & Design. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Connecticut and a Board-Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC). I have specialized training in grief and complicated grief counseling, and trauma / PTSD therapy – I’m a Compassionate Bereavement Care (CBC) certified counselor as well as a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) clinician.
I not only rely on my education, professional training, and science, but also use my own lived experiences with grief and trauma to help inform my work. I know what it’s like for life to change in an instant – I have a special place in my heart for those who know this pain and this is why I believe in doing this work. And I have not only witnessed the healing power of art making and nature for clients, but use it myself.
When I’m not working, you can probably find me cooking or eating (I love food! : ), hiking, hanging with my family, coordinating chaos, or making art in some way.
Equity + Inclusion
Create Mental Wellness Counseling purposefully aims to create a safe space by providing equity and inclusion through anti-discrimination, equal access to mental healthcare, promoting anti-racism, LGBTQ affirming, empowering body positivity, supporting spiritual equity, and engaging in anti-ageist practices.
I am committed to continually doing my own work through supervision and training. In addition, Create Mental Wellness Counseling donates to organizations that align with its areas of focus and values of equity and inclusion.
The Connecticut Women's Consortium is a non-profit organization with a vision that behavioral health care systems serving women will be accessible, effective, and practice holistic, trauma-informed and gender-responsive care. To achieve this vision, we strive to eliminate discrimination and promote excellence in the care for women through education, training, advocacy, and policy development.
Evermore is making the world a more livable place for bereaved families. An emerging movement of concerned citizens who believe that bereavement care in America is broken. We are committed to an America where all families and professionals have access to care, programs, tools, policies and resources to respond and adjust to loss.
ACLU CT The American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut is a nonpartisan, non-profit membership organization that defends, promotes and preserves individual rights and liberties under the U.S. and Connecticut constitutions. They work to promote reform on social justice issues including Smart Justice, Criminal Justice, Policing, Voting Rights, Free Speech, Immigrant Rights, Privacy, LGBTQ Rights, Women’s Rights, Youth and Student Rights, Racial Justice, Freedom of Religion, Open Government, Disability Rights, and Reproductive Freedom.
Native American Land Acknowledgement
Create Mental Wellness Counseling recognizes and gives honor to the indigenous people whose land we occupy: Quinnipiac and Hammonasset, whose land was stolen by European colonizers, creating a human rights atrocity contributing to multigenerational and systemic trauma. We commit to honoring indigenous people, amplifying their voices and raising awareness. Learn more
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