Therapy for Adults, Emerging Adults, & LGBTQ+ Teens
In-Person in Maplewood and Online throughout New Jersey
You’re not sure who you are
Your true sense of self is buried deep inside and is afraid to come out and play.
Somehow, your identity became about what other people thought of you.
How you should see yourself, who you should be attracted to, and what you should do with your life were implied – if not dictated.
Maybe your family is supportive, but the truth is, they don’t know how to help.
The struggle is real
And it’s yours.
It doesn’t matter if people don’t get it. And it’s not your job to explain it to them.
How can you when you’re struggling to understand it yourself?
You’re tired of catching glimpses of your true self. Tired of having fleeting moments of being at peace or in the flow.
You want to feel more present, self-assured, and accepting of yourself so that others can accept you, too.
The suffering is overwhelming
Your life might look fine, but something feels amiss deep in your soul.
Every decision about the future is fraught with self-doubt and conflicted feelings.
How can I trust myself when my feelings change? What if I make the wrong choice about my career? How do I know this is the right person for me?
You’ve heard that pain is inevitable and suffering is optional, but you’re unsure what the difference is.
Working harder isn’t helping
The harder you try, the worse you feel. The stress of making a change is unbearable.
Family and friends just don’t understand your feelings.
The more you try to explain, the more alone and misunderstood you feel.
You’re looking for answers but coming up short again and again.
Something has to give
You’re tired of having nowhere to turn. Someone who really gets it. All of it.
Wishing you could consistently be your true self and confidently move through the world.
You know that things will never change if you don’t do something different.
Tyler
Tyler’s anxiety and discomfort were climbing at an alarming rate, and they were not exactly sure why.
They asked to come to therapy to get some relief and learn new ways of dealing with the negative thoughts, unwavering self-doubt, and inability to relax.
At first, Tyler was nervous about doing art therapy and did not really like art, but it was fun to play with different materials while talking about unsettling and confusing things. It seems much easier to talk when your hands are busy.
Ali
Ali had been to therapists in grade school with mixed results. She was better at managing the big emotions she felt, but the dark moods never seemed to lift.
College had been a big adjustment socially and emotionally, and things were going well for the most part. But something seemed out of sorts with what the next “right step” should be with her career. It was challenging to figure out how to live independently AND be true to herself.
Carolina
Carolina has been struggling for the past few years and can’t quite put her finger on ‘why.’
There’s been a stirring within to find her true passion or do something creative with her life, but she has no idea what that looks like.
Every time she gets close to an answer, ‘reality’ sets in. And she stops moving forward because she can’t justify making a move and earning less money at this point in her life.
But staying in her current job is costing her well-being.
There is a way forward
Talking in therapy can help you identify and normalize your thoughts and feelings.
And where words are insufficient, you’ll learn to process your emotions using your natural creative process.
Let the self-understanding and insight gained in therapy help you create a life you love.
Tyler
Stuff that seemed big initially slowly felt more manageable. Bit by bit, they started to feel more willing to continue to explore things on their own in-between sessions.
Having someone to talk to every week, someone who really gets them, takes the edge off the everyday trials. The discomfort has become more tolerable, and Tyler feels more in charge of themselves, inside and out. The focus has now shifted to really figuring out who they want to be in this world…
Ali
Therapy this time around was a choice, and it gave Ali the space to explore the struggles and possibilities at her own pace. The trauma she experienced in the past slowly unfolded.
Using self-expression was a safe way to move through it. She also liked having an objective party she valued, to bounce ideas off and look at things from a 360-degree perspective before making a decision.
Carolina
When she’d had enough of struggling to get up in the morning and the headaches became recurring, she reached out to try therapy.
Carolina took comfort in making art to help process her fears and dreams. Over time she could make sense of the wave of emotions she’d been feeling. She always feels like she gets something out of each session and can take that home and apply it for herself, bringing back insights the next week.
As Carolina deepens her self-understanding, she is growing more courageous and taking more meaningful steps toward finding her true purpose.
Who I Am
Rachel G. Couillard
Licensed Professional Counselor & Board-Certified Art Therapist
Hi, I’m Rachel
Let’s get down to self-discovery and self-acceptance. I want to help you make connections that create understanding, possibility, and hope.
Together, we’ll tap into your creative thinking to problem-solve and plan. We’ll work as a team to foster a sense of vulnerability and safety to explore any topic comfortably.
I’ll help you learn to use self-expression to build self-confidence and uncover new ways of coping.
I’m ready to walk by your side on this journey, no matter what we encounter.
What I Offer
Emerging Adults
Therapy
Counseling Art
Therapy
LGBTQ+ Teen
Therapy
Group Art
Therapy
If you’re anti-art…
We can also talk things out and incorporate creative thinking in a way that feels authentic and useful to you. My goal is to help you find a way to make the change you’re seeking. Self-expression is a powerful tool and not reliant on talent.
If you’re art-neutral…
Creating in session is always focused on the process and not the result. Making art in session may be directed or self-driven and is always optional.
If you’re pro-art…
We can always incorporate your personal work into our sessions. This gives you the opportunity to use your creative process to deepen how artmaking helps you experience and cope with any and all of life’s surprises and challenges.