Create New Possibilities

Neuro-affirming & queer-affirming therapy for kids & young adults (ages 10-20)

Prism Art Therapy offers in-person art therapy in Gibbsboro, NJ and
virtual art therapy in New Jersey, Connecticut & Pennsylvania

Portrait of Dr. Lee Ann Thill

Meeting your kid where they are today, guiding them where they want to be tomorrow.

mom and daughters in kitchen. Kids are doing homework, mom is helping
Teen boy taking photos for art therapy

Imagine if your kid had a better handle on their emotions so they could do regular “kid stuff” without overwhelm, anxiety and big emotions. Prism Art Therapy in Gibbsboro, NJ and virtually across NJ, CT and PA, helps young people, ages 10-20, have more successes at school, home and socially, and as their parent, you can finally feel less worried that moments of calm will abruptly feel out of control.

If “just talking about it” isn’t doing it for your kid, art therapy is hands-on, and focusing on art eases pressure from feeling “observed and judged.” Their input on what to make and how to create it is valued, and then they’re guided to talk about real life concerns that currently make them spiral.

Unique kids need a unique therapy approach and a therapist who understands their unique challenges They can trust that therapy is a safe place to explore why they’re struggling, and you can trust that your child’s needs are being addressed.

If your child’s emotions have become unpredictable and interfere with daily life, art therapy could help them build skills to appropriately manage stress, while giving you peace of mind. I’ll work with them to build on their strengths so they can navigate everyday choices while discovering who they truly are.

Children

Teens

Young Adults

Vulnerabilities
of kids who are neurodivergent or queer

Neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ kids have a special spark that shines bright when things are going right – interesting perspectives, confidence to do their own thing, resourcefulness to get their needs met.

However, they can be overwhelmed or conflicted about being different, making it hard to be the best version of themselves. Sadness, frustration, anxiety and feeling “not good enough” can lead to:

  • withdrawing and arguments at home
  • resisting school or academic performance concerns
  • trouble making or keeping friends
  • assuming small setbacks are failures
  • moodiness that makes all of the above snowball

Mental and behavioral issues that can develop are on top of more ordinary challenges of growing up. As a parent, it can make you feel powerless and exhausted.

Prism Art Therapy is here to help your child identify and build on strengths so life at home is calmer, you and your kid enjoy time together, and they feel more at ease with who they are.

Lee Ann Thill, art therapist

I’m Lee Ann and I get it.

I really do.

PhD & Licensed Art Therapist.
Neurodivergent, queer, feminist.
As an artist, not bothered when things get messy.

Art and life can both get messy, but sweeping up paper scraps is easier than dealing with life messes. That’s where I come in because I want to help with messy life stuff.

I’m sensitive to others’ distress and understand the desire to feel better. Having worked through my own messes as a young person, I’m familiar with the benefits of therapy from both the client and therapist perspective.

Perhaps you’re familiar with the saying, to clean a mess, you have to make a mess. Art therapy is an interactive approach that brings order to chaos, and I will work with your kid to connect our work in therapy to the real life messy challenges they’ve been trying to manage.

Together, we’ll try to sort it out so that they feel better and can move forward.

“Lee Ann is super nice and obviously very knowledgeable. After going through several therapists in online platforms who I didn’t feel good about and didn’t feel like they understood me, I feel like Lee Ann does. I’m happy I tried again with her.”

Zoe (pseudonym)

Art Therapy in South Jersey

New solutions to old problems start with imagination 

In art therapy, your child will use artmaking and discussion to express and explore their thoughts and emotions.

If your neurodiverse child has verbal processing issues, art therapy can bridge gaps between their emotional life and language to bolster comunication skills needed for fulfilling peer relationships and a calmer homelife.

Artmaking activates creativity, intuition and intellect, thus providing a more comprehensive therapy experience that can lead to the changes you imagine they can achieve with the right support.

Your child will have a safe, judgment-free space to freely express themselves through art, and then discuss the art and how it relates to their current challenges. Understanding those challenges is a step towards being better able to build friendships, succeed in school, and reduce conflict at home.

The focus of our work isn’t art education and skill development, although part of our work could include learning new techniques. Rather, we’ll focus on self-expression and combining art with narrative – storytelling as it relates to why they’re in therapy.

Above all, the art isn’t the end goal. Instead, it’s a means of reflection, problem solving and envisioning the future so they have clarity about what they want for themselves and and how to make it happen. Even so, your child could very well be proud of their finished artwork, boosting confidence and sense of competence that could go a long way towards seeing themselves in a new light.

group of preteen girls posing for the camera
Watercolor tray used in art therapy with Lee Ann Thill In Gibbsboro NJ

My judgment-free approach is:

Accessible: Your kid doesn’t need to be “good” at art, and the process is tailored to their skill level.

Relational: Establishing trust and open communication with your child is essential because the best indicator of good therapy outcome is satisfaction with the client-therapist relationship.

Authentic: Your kid should feel comfortable being themselves, even when they’re still figuring out who they are, so I show up as me – laidback, a little offbeat, kind of a smartypants.

Flexible: Therapy will be responsive to your child’s needs and it’ll move at their pace, without a rigid plan that doesn’t account for people’s differences. We’ll discuss how therapy is going and make adjustments as needed.

Creative: Your kid will be supported to use creative expression as a healthy outlet and a way to approach everyday challenges. Ultimately, art therapy is a launching point for them to feel more confident, resourceful and competent, so they’re less likely to be immobilized by emotional spirals that lead to meltdowns.

Art Therapy Services

Individual Art Therapy in Gibbsboro, NJ

Clients in South Jersey can work with me at my office in Gibbsboro, Camden County, close to Voorhees, Cherry Hill, Berlin and surrounding areas. My office combines familiar features of a therapy office, like traditional seating, with art studio features, including work space, a wide range of art supplies and lots of natural light.

Telehealth in New Jersey, Connecticut & Pennsylvania

I offer virtual art therapy for clients in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. For young adults attending college in NJ, CT or PA, we can continue to meet while they’re at school, they continue to get the support they need in order to feel successful. Art therapy is modified for telehealth in order to maximize its benefits from the comfort of home or college.

View of Lee Ann Thill's office
view of Lee Ann Thill's office

Consistency instead of chaos. Peace instead of power struggles.

Your child can be less frustrated and embarrassed about losing control. You can have less conflict at home and more joy spending time with your child.

Book a consultation or first appointment to start art therapy

in Gibbsboro, NJ or virtual art therapy in NJ, CT or PA.

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american art therapy association - aata member
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psychology today profile
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new jersey art therapy association - njata member