Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Rosenberg.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m an Art Psychotherapist/Psychodynamic Psychotherapist and Ceramicist currently living and working in Los Angeles and serving the communities of both East LA and West LA. Ever since I was a small child, I have been creating art to self soothe; when my parents would argue, I often found myself in my room obsessively gluing sequins onto cardboard boxes or painting with watercolors – entrenched in my own world.
I earned my BA in studio art at Oberlin college and eventually post college found myself living and working in China and Singapore where I had a brief stint as a Grad student studying film at NYU Tisch Asia and where I held a series of odd end film and editing jobs. After a personal medical scare, I returned to the states and came to the realization that I wanted to use my knowledge of the arts to help and support others.
In my late 20’s and early 30’s, I attended Pratt’s Creative Art Therapy Graduate program where I dug deep into the healing arts, learning how different mediums can help heal different populations, the symbolism of shapes and colors, and how to communicate with others in this visual/non-verbal language. After interning in hospitals and clinics, I eventually became licensed as a therapist in California where I currently see clients in private practice and perform both art and talk therapy.
As well as practicing therapy, I am a potter and sell my work internationally. In addition, I perform “art as therapy workshops”, most recently completing a residency at Villa Lena in Tuscany, teaching about the practice of art and healing with an international audience.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Life is full of ups and downs. Art therapy was never in my knowledge base until later in life and I had to try quite a few different fields before coming to it. I’ve also worked in some very challenging settings throughout my ten years of practice as a therapist and along the way, I’ve been able to uncover which populations and diagnoses I’m best able to treat. In these challenging settings just like front-line workers, therapists often experience vicarious trauma, which although hard often makes one a stronger practitioner. Thus the challenges of yesterday have helped me to focus my work in private practice and be prepared for whatever comes up in peoples’ dynamic lives.
Perhaps the road to making my pottery has been a bit smoother as I do it more for myself and for my own healing purposes than for others. I’ve been surprised by the interest in my work despite spending little time advertising it and I’m very grateful for the support of my buyers.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In my psychotherapy work and because I gravitate towards the arts myself, I find myself doing counseling predominately with creative professionals. I see a lot of clients in the fields of entertainment, music, art, architecture, graphic design, advertising and digital technology. In addition, I have a sub-specialty in working with children and families and a certification to provide psychosocial support to kids in medical environments. The kinds of issues that tend to come up in my practice include: anxiety, depression, family conflict, grief/loss, issues with self-esteem, life transitions, infertility, new medical diagnosis and relationship issues.
In my personal pottery work, I’m known to have organic and playful forms. I love exploring different glaze combinations. I have fun making my pottery pieces and I think that shows in the pieces that I produce.
As for what I’m most proud of, I’m most proud of having created my own road and building my own business. I’m also proud of having reached people in other countries since my pottery sells abroad and through my workshops in Europe. Occasionally I’ll receive a note or a thank you from someone that I’ve supported through a dark time and that means the world to me.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Following your heart.
Pricing:
- Individual Clients: $175-$200 a session
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katerosenbergtherapy.com + www.katerosenbergworks.com
- Instagram: @artistsandtherapy + @gestalty
