We help adults ages 25+ develop better mindfulness, relaxation, and emotional regulation through various Creative Arts Therapies so you can move through anxiety, trauma, and life transitions.
Most adults who find their way to art therapy have already done some version of the work. Whether you've sat across from a therapist, talked through situations, or resonated with something you saw online. But something still feels missing.
Art therapy for adults is not finger painting. It's not a hobby class. It's a structured, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that uses all sorts of creative modalities to help adults access, understand, and move through what's hard.
It often looks like exploring:
Adults arrive at The Artful Life carrying all kinds of things. Some have a specific diagnosis. Some just know something feels off. Here's what our art therapy for adults programs cover:
For neurodivergent adults, including adults exploring or newly understanding a diagnosis, our work isn't about fitting a mold. It's about understanding how your brain and nervous system actually work, and building support around that, not against it.
Founded in 2016 by Natalie and Madelene, The Artful Life is the North Shore's only Expressive Arts Therapy group practice of its kind. What started as a single studio, has expanded into two locations in Beverly and Salem, MA, with a full team of masters-level licensed therapists serving clients of all ages.
Our studios are a welcoming, fully-inclusive environment for all. Your identity and lived experience aren't checked at the door. They're central to the work.
Our work is guided by four core beliefs:
We hear this all the time, and it's never a problem (we mean it!). Art therapy for adults has nothing to do with artistic skill. There's no right way to engage and nothing you need to produce. Your therapist guides the process, and the focus is entirely on what the experience brings up for you.
Most adults start with individual therapy. Other options include structured group therapy programs, parent support sessions, and relationship therapy (which isn't limited to romantic couples, but rather any dynamic). Your therapist will help determine which treatment pathway fits where you are.
Every session is tailored to you. Some may involve a creative modality alongside conversation: art-making, movement, writing, or another form of expression. Others may be more talk-based. Over time, most clients notice feeling more grounded, more able to understand their emotions rather than be overwhelmed by them, and clearer in their relationships and sense of self.
Yes. Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP), also referred to as Ketamine Integration Therapy, combines ketamine — a legal, FDA-approved medication — with structured psychotherapy sessions before, during, and after the experience. At The Artful Life, it's always embedded within an ongoing therapeutic relationship, never a standalone procedure. It's available to qualifying adult clients and tends to be a fit for those with treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, or anxiety. Whether it's right for you is determined through a clinical assessment before anything begins.
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy for trauma processing. A standard course is delivered across weekly sessions over time. An Intensive condenses that work into longer, dedicated blocks, allowing adults to move through traumatic material more efficiently without the gaps between weekly appointments. It's a strong option for adults who are ready to do focused trauma work and want to make meaningful progress in a shorter timeframe.
Yes. We accept insurance from a range of providers including Aetna, WellSense, Carelon, Point32 Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare/Optum. See our full, up-to-date coverage list here.
We have two full-service locations, plus a boutique studio on the North Shore of Massachusetts.
Whatever brought you here, you don't have to navigate it alone anymore. We're here for you.
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