Hi! I’m Kristy Leone, LCPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC. I am an art therapist. I am an artist. I am also an overthinker, sensitive spirit, and outdoor adventurer!
Just like you, I navigate the intricate labyrinth of my own thoughts and dreams.
In the past 10 years, my journey has woven through diverse settings and career paths: non-profits, behavioral health centers, grief counseling centers, summer camps, nursing homes, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, pre-schools, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and private practices.
Through this experience, I've had the privilege of engaging in roles such as community outreach, employee mentorship, wellness initiatives, art education, and staff supervision.
These adventures led me to carve my own path, establishing a therapy practice that not only allows me to connect deeply with my clients, but also grants me the opportunity to feel fulfilled as an artist and adventurer of the great outdoors!
Kristy Leone, LCPC, LCPAT, ATR-BC (she/they), The Outdoor Art Therapist
From an early age, I’ve been deeply moved by the resilience and creativity of children. They possess an innate ability to express themselves and make sense of their world through art and play, often in ways that us adults find difficult to access at times. My decision to work with children stems from a profound desire to support their emotional and developmental growth during these formative years.
Specializing in inner child healing for adults is a natural extension of my work with children. Many adults carry unresolved wounds and unmet needs from their childhood that continue to influence their present-day experiences and behaviors. By focusing on inner child work, I aim to address these deep-seated issues and foster healing and growth in a supportive, empathetic environment.
As an adult, reconnecting with your inner child can be a powerful and transformative journey. It allows you to revisit and heal past wounds, cultivate self-compassion, and embrace parts of yourself that may have been suppressed or overlooked. My approach integrates art therapy and other holistic practices to facilitate this process, helping adults navigate their emotional landscape with greater clarity and resilience.
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Collaboration is at the heart of my therapeutic approach.
I believe that the most effective therapy happens when client and therapist work together as equal partners. I value your expertise about your own experiences and perspectives, and I'm here to offer support, guidance, and insight. Together, we'll explore your goals, navigate challenges, and celebrate your achievements.
By fostering a collaborative relationship built on trust and mutual respect, we can co-create a therapeutic journey that is tailored to your unique needs and aspirations. Your voice is essential in shaping our work together, and I'm committed to listening attentively and honoring your autonomy every step of the way.
My favorite therapeutic approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which aligns beautifully with my belief in collaboration. ACT emphasizes embracing your thoughts and feelings without judgment, while focusing on actions that are true to your core values. This approach helps you build psychological flexibility by increasing awareness of the present moment and committing to values-driven actions.In addition, I incorporate parts work into our sessions. Parts work involves exploring and understanding the different aspects or “parts” of yourself, such as inner child, inner critic, or different emotional states. This method fosters a collaborative relationship with yourself, allowing you to engage with these parts in a compassionate and integrative way.
Together, ACT and parts work support a dual collaboration—between you and me, and within yourself. This holistic approach encourages you to work harmoniously with your internal experiences while we partner together to navigate challenges and celebrate growth. By honoring your inner dialogues and aligning with your values, we create a therapeutic journey that is both empowering and transformative!
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In my practice, I approach each aspect intentionally, meaning that I conduct therapy with purpose, mindfulness, and careful consideration. This includes maintaining a limited number of client session spaces in my calendar. This deliberate choice allows me to uphold a shorter caseload, ensuring that each individual receives the focused and personalized care they deserve. By dedicating ample time and attention to each client, I strive to create a supportive and nurturing therapeutic environment where growth and healing can flourish.
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I am deeply dedicated to fostering inclusivity. I proudly advocate for the rights of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and trans communities. As a White, queer art therapist, I am keenly aware of the ongoing need to untangle, unlearn, and relearn. My commitment to learn, unlearn, and relearn means embarking on my own inner journey, uncovering conscious and unconscious biases, and actively participating in the transformation of systems that perpetuate oppression and White Supremacy.
This dedication isn't just a professional ethos; it's a personal journey that shapes every aspect of my practice and who I choose to collaborate with.
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Since a young age, I've fostered a deep connection with nature. Regardless of the weather, I've always found solace and inspiration in spending time outdoors, whether it's walking through forests, foraging for treasures, or simply basking in the stillness of natural landscapes.
Much like navigating a hike, I approach life with a readiness to embrace the unexpected. While we may prepare for our journey, the path ahead often presents unforeseen challenges and obstacles. Yet, it is in these moments of adaptation that we discover our greatest strengths—our ability to innovate and improvise. This spirit of adventure, discovery, and problem-solving is precisely what fuels my passion for artmaking.
It's why I provide walk and talk therapy sessions, as I believe that the natural environment can serve as a powerful backdrop for therapeutic exploration and personal growth. Walking side by side, surrounded by the beauty of nature, we can engage in meaningful conversations and delve into deep introspection, all while benefiting from the calming and rejuvenating effects of being outdoors -
In my creative process, I delight in using found objects, recycled materials, and donated art supplies. Each piece becomes a canvas for exploration, a testament to the beauty and potential found in the everyday. Just as nature offers endless possibilities for inspiration, I aim to infuse my artwork with the same sense of wonder and resourcefulness.
My passion for art extends beyond my therapeutic practice—I have also had the privilege of teaching art classes in various forms. Whether instructing children, adolescents, or adults, I find joy in sharing my love for creativity and guiding others in their artistic journey.
Through these experiences, I have witnessed the transformative power of art in fostering self-expression, building confidence, and nurturing personal growth.
acceptance + commitment therapy (ACT)
ACT is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes accepting thoughts and feelings rather than struggling against them. It encourages mindfulness and helps individuals commit to actions that align with their core values. This method is particularly effective for managing anxiety, depression, and other emotional difficulties, as it fosters a sense of psychological flexibility and promotes meaningful living.
parts work (inner parts integration)
Parts work focuses on understanding and integrating the different parts of ourselves that may have developed in response to past experiences. By acknowledging and nurturing these parts, we can address internal conflicts and foster a sense of harmony and self-acceptance. This approach is valuable for working through trauma, OCD, and neurodiverse experiences, helping clients achieve a greater sense of inner balance.
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LCPC: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
LCPAT: Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapist
ATR-BC: Board-Certified Art Therapist
Board Approved Supervisor for Counselors
Board Approved Supervisor for Art Therapists
Drexel University, Master of Arts (MA) in Art Therapy & Counseling (2019)
Arcadia University, Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology (2017) -
Viewing Termination as a Transformation: Development of a Method by Kristy Leone, Master of Arts (M.A.), Drexel University, August 2019
Using Clay Sculpting to Prime Readiness to Change: An Experimental Analog Study by Kristy Leone, Steven J. Robbins, Michael T. Morrow, Art Therapy, 35(3), 1-7, January 2019
Reducing Negative Mood Through Drawing: Comparing Venting, Positive Expression, and Tracing by Kayla Smolarski, Kristy Leone, Steven J. Robbins, Art Therapy, 32(4), 197-201, October 2015 -
Cognitive Behavior Institute
-Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Training (2024)
-Safety Behavior Therapy for PTSD (2024)
2-Day Supervision Training with Dr. Marsha Riggio, LCPCM (2023)
Expressive Therapies Summit Conference
-Experiential Activities for Supervision (2023)
-Dancing Mindfulness: Trauma-Informed Practice Training (2022)
-Expanding the Capacity for Joy: Awe, Gratitude, and the Resilient Nervous System (2022)
-El Duende Process Painting One-Canvas Supervision Training (2022)
-Phototherapy and Therapeutic Photography: Creative Techniques (2021)
-Tarot and Visual Imagery in Expressive Arts Therapy Sessions: A Phenomenological Approach (2021)
-Vicarious Trauma, Compassion Fatigue & Burnout: The Impact of Clinical Work on the Clinician (2021)
Recognizing and Responding to Implicit Bias Training, Quality Interactions (2022)
The Four Modules of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy: 12 Week Workshop- Therapy Summit, Dr. Yosef Posy (2022)
