Michael G. Bauer, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #102229, Registered Art TherapisT, #18-139 providing

Counseling for Creative People

In-Person and Teletherapy ServiCES

I wrote a short post on social comparison, something that comes up in therapy sessions with clients, especially around our social media use.

The blog post touches on a little bit of research around the subject, which sheds light on how common it is

Therapy can look like a lot of different things. I wrote a blog post about how one approach to meaning making is storytelling. Check it out!

Many therapy modalities utilize forms of narrative writing to achieve healing and growth. For example, Na

I created a free worksheet for couples called “The Couples Recipe”. Find it in the blog section of the website. Download it and let me know what you think!

#couples #creativity #connection #needs #exercises #counselingforcreativepeople

The introduction from the book “Creators on Creating” asks some good questions, one being “Why does creative potential sometimes seem to go to waste, or to go unused for many years?”

“If the society we live in puts too

I’ve been reading about creativity and stumbled on “The Practice” by Seth Godin. He offers a lot of helpful ways of thinking about being an artist. He writes, “You were born ready to make art. But you've been brainwashed into

I’ve been thinking about how to harness the power of my phone: how to make it work for me rather than it inadvertently zapping my time, attention and energy. Here are a few thoughts:

1) We have choice around the type of content we expose ours

As therapists we enter the mental health field with the intention of helping others. My understanding of how to help people has changed over time as I’ve delved deeper into the therapeutic work. For example, as a new therapist I didn’t un

CONTACT

(848) 228-3701

Call now for your free 15 minute consultation and we can discuss how your time in therapy can be helpful. During our intake over the phone, I will ask basic questions to get a sense of presenting issues, where you are at, and your needs.

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ABOUT

Counseling for Creative People is a private therapy practice based in Highland Park, Los Angeles, California. My name is Michael G. Bauer and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Art Therapist, artist, and founder of Counseling for Creative People. I am happy you’ve landed here and am grateful for the opportunity to take part in your personal journey.

Counseling for Creative People helps people improve their lives through creative therapeutic action. I work to provide quality, well informed care, and do it in a way that advances creative expression through new ways of thinking such as playing, creating, and processing through art making in a variety of mediums.

ABOUT MICHAEL G. BAUER

Redmond_4766 (1_edited)_small).jpg — “But, if you have nothing at all to create, then perhaps you create yourself.”
**Carl Jung**

HE/HIM/HIS

I am an artist, therapist (LMFT) , and art therapist (ATR). These different hats will inform our work together. I strive to live a life filled with creativity in many domains whether it be engaging in a fun conversation with a friend, baking a loaf of bread, or playing the harmonium. I make an effort to understand and prioritize the fundamental elements that make me feel whole, to understand my gifts, and to do the same with my clients. Artistic expression has been a focus in my life since I was an adolescent. I studied art at UCLA. My art practice naturally led to an interest in working with groups and learning about the psychological experience. I pursued graduate school at Loyola Marymount University and over time gained rich experiences in working with children, families, and adults at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, and Take Root Therapy.

SPECIALTY

My areas of focus are Art Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Behavior Art Therapy.

Art Therapy enriches clients through art-making, creative processing, and the human connecting experience of our therapeutic relationship. Through art-making, we explore our emotional landscapes and discover underlying meanings we can apply to make necessary changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy shown to be effective for a range of problems including obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. CBT is based on the concept that our challenges come from unhelpful ways of thinking that affect how we feel and behave. People can learn better ways of coping by gaining awareness of the thoughts and emotions and lead to shifts in thinking and behaviors.

Cognitive Behavior Art Therapy merges Art Therapy with CBT. This entails structured art activities that provide cognitive behavioral tools, or less structured interventions that explore core cognitive behavior concepts such as thought processes and held beliefs.

WHO I SEE

I see teens, families, adults, and couples, and provide affirmative, supportive, therapy. I make an effort to support diverse people with different lived experiences as an ally to LGBTQIA + non-binary communities, and those actively seeking alternative relationships.

It is important for my clients to feel safe, heard, and understood.

FEES

A 50 minute session with an individual, couple or family: $165

90 minute group therapy session: $75

Please message if you are interested in group treatment.

Payments can be made with cash, credit or debit cards. A limited number of sliding scale sessions are offered based on financial need.

TREATMENT

We encounter many challenges during the course of our lives. Whether it be difficulties in family, peer, or romantic relationships, isolation in a new city, or a shift into a new life phase, we can work together to find a greater sense of resolve. If it is a professional impasse, or grieving the loss of someone or something, suffering from depression, anxiety, or experiencing obsessive compulsive thoughts and rituals, our time together will be both explorative and grounded in ways that help you apply the tools you need to move through difficult times.