Who Am I?

Hello! I’m Nicole Kent (she/her/hers), a cisgender Caucaisan woman. I am a registered art therapist dedicated to helping children, teens, and adults navigate their emotions and experiences through the healing power of art. In my time as a therapist, I’ve seen how art can change lives for the better!

I am Level 1 Gottman trained, and also enjoy working with couples and families reconnect with each other and have satisfying relationships.

I love working with:

• Kids, teens, and adults who:

  • don’t want to let their past dictate their future

  • aren’t sure who they are or why they’re here - and want to find out

  • don’t feel confident in their current body, and yearn to feel comfortable in their own skin

  • aren’t satisfied with their eating habits, and want to feel more confident in their ability to treat their body well

  • are going through tough stuff and need someone to help them ease the weight on their shoulders

• Couples and families who are experiencing friction or conflict in their relationships and want to genuinely reconnect with each other

How I Help

Every person is unique, and so is their journey. I believe in creating a safe, nurturing environment where children, teens, and adults can express themselves freely, explore their feelings, and build resilience. Art therapy offers a non-verbal outlet for expressing what might not yet have words, allowing you or your child to access and process difficult feelings in a gentler, less intimidating way.

As a therapist, I focus on building a strong, supportive relationship with my clients to help them heal and grow. Together, we'll create a comfortable, non-judgmental space where you or your child/teen can feel at ease. We'll use creative activities to help you connect with your true self. My goal is to help you feel safe enough to take off your 'mask' and just be yourself, especially since therapy is often the only place you may feel comfortable to do so. I believe that being vulnerable is where real change and important growth happen.

I use proven therapy methods and focus on each person’s needs. During sessions, clients can draw, paint, sculpt, or use other art forms to explore their feelings and build coping skills. I also work closely with families and support networks to make sure everyone gets the help they need.

When I work with children and teens, I believe in involving the whole family. I'll focus on your child's needs, help you understand what they are going through, respect their privacy, and create a safe space for them. Parents who are ready to make changes at home often see the best results in their child's therapy.

What it’s like in a session with me

Each session is tailored to meet you or your child where you are that day. Everyone is unique, so our approach in each session should be too. You don’t have to be at your best when you come to my office; showing up is the hard part, and I’m glad you did.

It's an honor to talk with you or your child about what matters most. We'll work together to help you see yourself with compassion, and we'll use creativity and imagination to explore and grow. I'll support you or your child as we tackle whatever challenges are coming up.

If it's too hard to talk about what you've been through, we can use creative art-making to help you express your feelings in a more comfortable way. Art can often make emotions less scary, and allow us to understand and release our emotions so we don’t get stuck in them.

You can do this, and I'll be right here with you, using different art activities and counseling tools as needed. You don't have to be an artist for art therapy to work; it's about the process, not the finished product!

More about me

During my free time, you’ll find me with my loved ones, exploring new places, or enjoying one of my many hobbies. I love catching a good movie or TV show, bike riding, gardening, listening to music (jazz and rap), cooking/baking, and playing board games (Ticket to Ride is my new favorite!).

"Our imagination is the most important faculty we possess. It can be our greatest resource or our most formidable adversary. It is through our imagination that we discern possibilities and options. Yet imagination is no mere blank slate on which we simply inscribe our will. Rather, imagination is the deepest voice of the soul and can be heard clearly only through cultivation and careful attention. A relationship with our imagination is a relationship with our deepest self.”

― Pat Allen