Joy Watts

I specialize in helping individuals understand and navigate anxiety, stress management, trauma (PTSD & CPTSD), neurodivergence, life transitions and grief & loss. I believe that everyone has the ability to find happiness and joy within their life with the right guidance. I am passionate about helping clients find their way back to creating an empowered and sacred life. I encourage individuals to take a deeper look at their emotional, psychological and spiritual landscapes through creative expression. I invite each client to use the process of art-making to gain deeper awareness into their life through the use of metaphor, symbolism and expression. As an art therapist, I believe in the power of creativity and self-expression to heal and transform. I am committed to providing a non-judgmental and empowering therapeutic environment that supports my clients in their journey towards greater well-being and fulfillment. My approach is grounded in compassion, empathy, and a deep appreciation for the uniqueness of each individual. ​ With a focus on working with adults and teens, I specialize in helping clients explore their symptoms, past history, challenges, behaviors and cognitive/internalized beliefs. I enjoy working with the LGBTQIA+ community and helping clients navigate non traditional relationship styles. I teach how to befriend emotions, regulate your nervous system, navigate life transitions and reduce chronic stress. I employ a holistic and integrative approach that incorporates art therapy, mindfulness practices, psychotherapy, psychedelic integration, parts work, EMDR, and transpersonal therapy. ​ I believe that the creative process can offer profound insights and opportunities for growth that goes beyond the limits of talk therapy. My goal is to provide a safe and welcoming space where clients can process and explore complex emotions so that they can reclaim their authentic selves and live a joyful, peaceful, and embodied life. ​ I'm committed to using evidence-based practices, prioritizing harm reduction, a client-centered approach, and trauma-informed care. My goal is to empower clients in their therapeutic journeys by providing education and support. I graduated from Naropa University in Boulder, CO and I hold a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Transpersonal Art Therapy. I use trauma-informed and client-centered approaches to guide my therapeutic work. I utilize tools such as mindfulness, art therapy, applied polyvagal technique, holistic integration and nature-based therapy. What is art therapy? "What is art therapy?" is one of the most common questions I get as an art therapist and understandably so because it is not a traditional style of therapy, but it is a highly effective way to help people integrate and process their emotions without the need to describe traumatic material verbally. Here is a short list of how art therapy can help.   1. Art is inherently therapeutic. This means that just the act of art-making alone offers some therapeutic benefits. Art-making and other forms of expression such as music, dance and movement can help us feel supported. Art-making also helps with self-awareness, self-esteem and establishing skills that helps us to remain curious about our experiences. Throughout our life different experiences teach us about who we are and expression helps us integrate the meaning of those moments.   2. Art-making helps to see the situation in a new way. Sometimes the solution to what is causing us distress can be difficult to understand. Art-making can be a way to see the same situation, but outside of ourselves through the use of metaphors and symbols. This helps the mind find solutions through non-verbal and non-literal forms. 3. Sometimes words alone can't describe what we are feeling. We have a limited vocabulary to convey the human experience and the complex feelings that can come up. This can prevent us from understanding, or describing what is going on in our internal world. Art can be the bridge between emotions and our relationship to them.  Frequent Asked Questions Do I have to be an artist to do art therapy? No. You do not need to have any artistic skills to participate in art therapy. It focuses on the process of making art rather than the end product. Stick figures are welcome here! Can I do art therapy online? Yes. I offer art therapy online as long as you reside in CO. You can use any supplies you have at home and even a piece of scrap paper and pen is enough to do art therapy. The preferred materials for online art therapy are markers, color pencils, crayons, watercolors or collage materials. Can I do art therapy in person? Yes. My office is located in Old Town Lafayette, CO. Do you accept insurance? Yes and no. In my private practice I just accept private pay and HSA at this time, but I can provide a Superbill. A Superbill can be used with some insurance providers who offer out of network benefits. You can contact your insurance provider for more details. I also work at a group practice that accepts Medicaid, Aetna, United and Kaiser. Do I need to do anything for the first session? Yes. You will need to complete some paperwork that will be sent to you electronically after scheduling your first session. If you are preparing for your first online art therapy session please bring some simple materials of your choice. If you have questions about any of this you can always reach out to me via email. How do I get started? Click the button on this page that says "Request Appointment" and select a time for a free 20 minute online consultation. During this meeting we will discuss your interest in therapy and I can answer any general questions you have about getting started. If we feel that we are a good fit for one another we will schedule our first session. When are you available for sessions? I am available Tuesdays-Saturdays from 9am-5pm.