Judy Balian holds masters in counseling and psychology from Hofstra University. She studied expressive arts at Saybrook Graduate School with Natalie Rogers, Ph.D., a pioneer in the field who incorporates the person-centered philosophy of her father, Dr. Carl Rogers, into her training.

What is Expressive Arts?
Expressive arts uses drawing, movement, painting, sculpting,
music, writing and improvisation
in addition to spoken interaction
to facilitate self-knowledge and insight. No artistic talent is
needed.

Most artists, psychologists and scholars say that creativity originates in your unconscious mind. The use of expressive arts is a powerful means of rediscovering your own natural creativity while gaining insight and self-knowledge.

Expressive arts is not about creatinga beautiful picture, choreographing a dance for the stage or writing the next great novel. It is simply a way of expressing yourself using different media which can lead you to greater awareness and connection, often very quickly. It is never about the product you are creating or perfection. Neither is expressive arts about interpretation of your art, writing, or any other form of self-expression by anyone other than yourself. You will not be “diagnosed” nor will your work ever be judged.

Expressive Arts and the Two Sides of the Brain
The expressive arts approach allows you to access knowledge from the right side of your brain as well as the left.

The scientific basis for the expressive arts approach is explained by a discovery in the 1960s by the Nobel prize-winning psycho-biologist, Roger W. Sperry who found that the two hemispheres of the human brain have two very different ways of thinking.

The left hemisphere of the brain processes information logically and sequentially. It looks at details rather than the whole. Highly verbal and intellectual, it likes to measure, compare, plan, analyze and make decisions. It’s also competitive and can be judgmental. Your inner critic lives in your left brain.

In contrast, the right brain is visual and cooperative, processing information in an intuitive and simultaneous way by looking first at the whole picture then the details. It sees connections between things whether they are physical, emotional or intuitive. It likes to imagine and create. 

Highly functioning, creative individuals effectively use both sides of their brains to solve problems. The use of expressive arts promotes this whole brain approach to personal growth and creativity development.

Is Expressive Arts for You?
While most traditional forms of coaching, counseling and therapy tend to rely solely on verbal exchange, expressive arts uses a wide range of self-expression methods to help you gain insight and awareness. 

In an Excoveries class or private session you might move physically to express an emotion that is difficult to articulate verbally. You might use art to clarify a situation that is confusing. Appropriate guided visualization might be followed by journaling or drawing. You might be invited to act out a situation or to focus on sensations in your body as a guide to your emotions.  Each session is tailored to your personal situation and goals, and different modalities are used as appropriate for you.

Give yourself the gift of an expressive arts class or session and rediscover just how creative you are!

“Judy's expressive movement workshop flowed in a way that allowed my authentic self to shine through with comfort and ease.  It helped me open to a deeper aspect of myself, one that I usually keep hidden.  Brilliant!!”

Helena Lake
Artist/Massage Therapist

Janet Carey
Portland, Oregon

The Artist's Way book is an amazing way to unleash the creative power we each have within…but without Judy's wonderful, professional and creative guidance 
through our weekly classes, it would have been just another book!”
 
Lencsi Angel

“Judy’s Self Card concept is such an important one—a stroke of genius for the body of work in expressive arts!”

Gail Kailbourne, LPC
Statesville, NC

“As a blocked artist I've found Judy's unique approach to walking her students through the Artist's Way helpful in unlocking the doors to restricting thoughts that I've held within, which when released, bring forth answers to questions such as, ‘What is it I would want to do if I knew I could not fail?’”

Sherry Bejarano

“I began the Artist’s Way class with some reservations and hesitations—primarily because I have always resisted identifying myself as any kind of ‘artist.’  I have done a 180 degree turn, and I am so thankful I took this class. My creative expression (writing) is now fundamental to my daily well being. Thank you, Judy. You did a wonderful job facilitating and guiding me.”