We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Natasha Green a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Natasha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.

I was working at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Healthcare System as a medical support assistant (MSA). I had done an internship in the billing department the summer prior so I had a foot in the door. For the MSA position, you needed a certificate in the field or a bachelor’s degree of any discipline. My BA from the University of Minnesota and my prior internship helped me get the job. I did not go to school for that job nor was I particularly passionate about that work. I worked the evening shift which was slow most nights and the work was fairly easy, but I wasn’t using my art degree. One day a coworker of mine asked me if I could do anything for work, what would it be. I told them that I would love to have an art studio where people, specifically teenagers could come and create art to help them work through difficult situations and navigate issues they were facing. My coworker responded with “I think something like that exists already. I think that’s art therapy”. After that conversation I looked up the career art therapy and began researching what I needed to do to become an art therapist.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a licensed professional clinical counselor and a registered art therapist. I provide traditional talk therapy and art therapy to individuals thirteen years old and up. I work with individuals navigating anxiety, depression, and trauma as well as other life adjustments. I specialize in neuroscience, trauma-informed art therapy. I own my private practice Green Amethyst Art Therapy. I work out of my art studio Green Amethyst Healing Grounds where I also host groups and non-clinical art therapy open studios for the community. I absolutely love what I do and hold each of my clients close to my heart. My favorite part of my job is of course seeing my clients reach their goals, but even more so seeing the smaller progressions of growth like when they set their first boundary or communicate what they are feeling or how something affected them.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Other than training and knowledge, I think it’s not only helpful but crucial that therapists have worked through or at bare minimum are aware of their own issues and traumas. Not only does this allow the therapist to have personal experience of what going through the therapeutic process is like for their clients, it also allows the therapist to be mindful of their own triggers and pain points that may arise when working with clients.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

If I could go back I would absolutely choose the same profession. I feel guilty from time to time when I think about the fact that I make a living doing something so fulfilling that I love so much. Then, I remind myself of the hard work and sacrifice it took for me to get here.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.greenamethysthealing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenamethystarttherapy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenamethystarttherapy