Community
Making Space: A Jewish Creativity Circle
A relaxed 90-minute creative gathering — no art experience needed.
Spirit of the space
The creativity circle takes place in a Jewish communal context in Palo Alto, CA. It’s a space for imagination, presence, and connection — open to adults of all backgrounds and skill levels. My approach is informed by the Open Studio Process developed by Dr. Pat Allen, ATR-BC — grounding the work in presence, process, and creative exploration. Art making may sometimes center on text study or Jewish themes.
What to expect
We’ll begin with a brief grounding exercise, followed by a gentle art prompt and open studio time. There will be time for reflection, writing, optional witnessing and sharing, and then a group closing. This is not an art class ---- t’s a chance to slow your pace, explore, and reconnect with yourself and others.
The creativity circle is 90 minutes. The $5 session fee helps offset supplies costs, room rental, and insurance.
All art materials are provided. Feel free to bring an art journal if you like.
Registration
Space is limited to 10 participants. To reserve your place, please complete the form below and submit the $5 registration fee.
You'll receive a confirmation email with location details before the session.
Creativity circles are scheduled on the 3rd Sunday of the month through the end of 2026
July 19, Aug 16, Sept 20 (Cancelled), Oct 18, Nov 15, Dec 20
1:00–2:30 PM (PDT)
To help me match your registration, please use the same name and email when completing payment.
Therapy Offerings
As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Art Therapist and Board Certified Art Therapist practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area, my focus is on helping you to find emotional outlets, create support systems, and gain insight into what has been creating depression or anxiety or other disorder in your life. I am trained in a wide range of trauma-informed therapeutic approaches, and will tailor our sessions to meet your individual needs.
I am an outpatient provider for Kaiser in CA. I am also accepting new clients - including those who are also Kaiser members - through Gesher Community Care (Formerly Gesher Campus Care)
I treat transition-age youth (18-24), adults, couples and families. My clinical approaches include Neurodevelopmental Art Therapy (NDAT) with techniques for dealing with developmental and relational trauma, Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) with breathing and meditation techniques, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). I also teach mindful self-compassion which is strongly predictive of well-being, and lower levels of anxiety and depression. The emotional right brain is dominant in all forms of psychotherapy which is especially true in child and adolescent therapies. Learning resilience and self-compassion are key components on the path to mental, physical, and emotional wellness.
I also incorporate art making, art journaling, mindful awareness, guided imagery, and other creative coping skills designed to empower you beyond the therapy session. No artistic talent is needed to participate in Art Therapy, only a willingness to suspend self-criticism and judgment, and to trust your own intuition.
Community Offerings
In addition to my psychotherapy practice, I offer local, in-person, non-clinical art-making groups rooted in creativity, reflection, and connection.
These gatherings are separate from psychotherapy services and are open to members of the broader Jewish community across the SF Peninsula, South Bay, and beyond. You’re invited to slow down, create, and reconnect — without pressure, judgment, or performance.
I aim to bring warmth, structure, and thoughtful facilitation to each group, creating an environment that is welcoming, grounded, and accessible — even for those who say they “can’t draw a straight line.”
I am a member of several urban sketching groups, including Urban Sketching Tel Aviv — on my own and with friends — as a way to stay connected to my own creative process.
I co-facilitate a clinicians’ support group with the Jewish Community Mental Health Initiative (JCMHI), which offers more than 25 free, virtual support groups worldwide. I’m also a co-leader of the Peninsula/South Bay “spoke” of Chai Cycle, a Jewish cycling community based in Contra Costa County.
In my free time, I enjoy being with my husband Richard (a retired software engineer and my unofficial IT department), our Shetland Sheepdog Bella, and close friends and family.