Anxiety and Trauma Help with the Mona Lisa

Much like the mysterious Mona Lisa smile, reaching out for therapy can feel like an unclear process. You’ve experienced many unexpected of layers that have made life complex… Health issues, family dynamics, relocation, weddings, rupture in close friendship, grief and loss are taking their toll. You may feel disconnected from yourself and don’t have the words to express or connect. You might feel paralyzed by anxiety and tension. Feel frozen, starting therapy can feel daunting.

However, you recognize its time to take action with the work and life stress. You want to overcome anxiety and fears. You need a safe place to express and understand your unstable childhood. You feel your emotions are becoming difficult to manage. You desire to be present with your loved ones.

Art therapy and EMDR therapy with me helps to shed light on your patterns. We all find ways to cope with the conflicts and difficulties of living life. Sometimes what worked before is failing you now. We may fall into cycles of unhelpful ways of coping and need new strategies to feel better.

So how does the famous painting of the Mona Lisa help us with anxiety and trauma experiences?
The smile of Mona Lisa is often viewed with mystery and neutrality. Much like Mona, you can begin to “half-smile” at your old patterns, saying, “Ah yes, this again; it’s okay; I know what this is and what to do.” Without judgment, you can begin to recognize your past cycles, old stories or negative self-talk. Mona can serve to give yourself this “half-smile,” which is an inner knowing, a sense of trust in yourself. You can begin to separate the external conflicts of the world to see the real you.

The real you is empowered, aware and self-assured. Therapy can help you half-smile at this old stuff as an inner nod to the true you. In truly knowing yourself, you can break the hold of old patterns and point yourself to the freedom of living this moment fully.

Through Art Therapy and EMDR, therapy with me is a safe space where your concerns are expressed and held in confidentiality. By processing your past or exploring your current concerns, therapy may help you gain composure and calm, much like our friend Mona Lisa.

Ready to gain freedom from old patterns? Let’s make a fresh start together to create your calm for clarity and change. Feel free to reach out for a free consult.

You can also learn more about the work I do on the Meet Andrea page.

I’m here to hold and understand the unfolding mystery with you.

Andrea Sutrick, ATR-BC, LMHC