About

Yvette Lyons, Ph.D. received her Doctoral in Clinical Psychology, with a Specialty in Expressive Art Therapy. She is a Certified Expressive Arts Therapist (C.E.A.T.) as well as a Certified Life Coach. As an educator, for the past decade, Dr. Lyons has been the Director of the Expressive Arts Therapy Department at the San Diego University for Integrative Studies. She has trained students from all over the world on Expressive Arts Therapy for Healing and Transformation. Additionally, Dr. Lyons has been teaching at the Master’s Degree and Doctoral level in the Clinical Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy and Expressive Art Therapy since 2006.

Dr. Lyons has facilitated workshops in Expressive Arts Therapy as well as Mandala Assessment Research Inventory (MARI), and Sandtray Therapy. As a therapist, Dr. Lyons worked in individual therapy and group therapy.

She has worked in a variety of setting from private practice as well as San Diego County Mental Health Programs. She has consulted with county and private programs on the use of Expressive Arts with their organization and trained their therapists and employees. Dr. Lyons dedicates her life to education in Expressive Arts Therapy as well as increasing public awareness on how the arts are used for self-awareness, healing and transformation.

Education/Training

• Ph.D. Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Expressive Arts Therapy
• Master’s in Marriage/Family Therapy
• B.A., Psychology
• Certified Expressive Arts Therapist
• Certified Guiding Mindful Change Life Coach
• Certified Sandtray World Play Therapy
• Certified MARI (Mandala Assessment Research Inventory) Teacher/Trainer
• Certified Reiki Teacher/Trainer; Certified Meditation Coach

Carla Bittencourt, M.A. Holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Expressive Arts Therapy. She also studied Gestalt-therapy at Pacific Gestalt Institute in Los Angeles. Currently Carla is working with individuals in therapy along with group therapy. She has been the Co-Creator of The Creative Healing Arts Center since 2018 where they facilitate workshops and trainings in Expressive Arts Therapy.

Carla’s primary focus is mindfulness based expressive Arts. The benefits of a mindfulness practice has been experienced for thousand years throughout Eastern and Western cultures, and from religion to science. Her work is based on a relational approach, and her goal is to support people to learn mindfulness techniques through a creative practice which will help them deal with personal and relationships and to become more authentic. This approach can be used with any population from children to the elderly, and with any health conditions physical or mental. She works with such issues as depression, anxiety, trauma, etc.

Today, Carla is combining her knowledge in mindfulness and creative therapies with individual and group therapy, workshops and trainings in a private practice setting.

Education/Training

• Master of Arts, Counseling Psychology
• B.A.,Behavioral Sciences
• Studied Gestalt-therapy at Pacific Gestalt Institute in Los Angeles
• Certified Expressive Arts Therapist
• Certified Sandtray Therapist

hristine Dennis, LCSW has a Masters’s Degree in Social Work and is currently obtaining a Doctorate in Educational Psychology. She is a licensed clinical social worker with specializations in alternative treatment modalities. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200) and a Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher (RCYT). She is also a Certified Expressive Arts Therapist (C.E.A.T) and completed her program through The Creative Healing Arts Center, with additional level 2 training in sand tray and sound healing.

At the center, Christine shares her love of the arts by providing sound bath meditations. She is also available for private and corporate sound baths on weekends. Christine values the experience and benefits of being immersed in sound while giving oneself permission to explore within. When we slow down our bodies to focus on our breathing, heartbeat, and thoughts, we are often challenged with finding a way to separate ourselves from our racing minds. Being alone with our thoughts can be intimidating, and silence is when we are most vulnerable. Through sound baths, Christine provides an opportunity for people to experience their subconscious while still drifting in and out of awareness as they are encapsulated by sound.

Education/Training

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• Master of Social Work (MSW)
• B.S Psychology with Clinical Specialization
• Certified Expressive Arts Therapist
• Certificate in Play Therapy (2 year program)
• RCYT and RYT 200