Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Claire_Lauren Kalala_Parks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Claire_Lauren, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?
We met in grad school and bonded over a shared dream of starting an art therapy practice. We spent six long years planning, saving, and refining our vision. Through practicums, internships, first jobs, we gathered as much information as we could; our mentors and colleagues throughout our training and post-grad positions were invaluable in learning what it means to work in private practice. These experiences totally helped to shape how we wanted to build The Art Room.
While juggling big life transitions and building our families, we hunkered down to do research about starting a business in MD (what kind of entity, how to set up finances and record keeping) and how to ethically run a therapy practice (how to continue working in-person or virtually, continuing ed training, marketing for clients that fit our expertise). After about a year, we made the decision to return to a brick and mortar space, taking a big financial leap to trust that clients wanted to come back into an in-person art therapy space and missing the work that can happens while sitting in space with a client.
In hindsight, there have been steps we took that ended up being unnecessary as our vision shifted over the years. Groups we joined, trainings we signed up for but didn’t end up being interested in…we don’t consider it wasted time, but we may have been able to use the time more effectively. We offer to any young professions considering starting their own practice to be mindful of both the logistics of the business they want to create but also the desired culture of their practice. Knowing what your values are personally and professionally is a great way to build a solid foundation for your practice.
Claire_Lauren, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
We were both artists in our first careers, using our fine art background less than we had planned. We found our way to a graduate art therapy program, with a desire to help others through creativity, and met each other – the rest is history! In 2023 we officially opened The Art Room, Center for Creative Healing.
At the Art Room, we use art therapy & talk therapy to support individuals who feel stuck carrying experiences beneath the surface. Many of our clients have “done therapy before” but felt something was missing.
We specialize in supporting adolescents & adults who:
– Struggle with emotional intensity, shutdown, or dissociation
– Have a history of complex or developmental trauma
– Feel disconnected or unsure of who they are
– Have difficulty verbalizing their experiences
– Are neurodivergent & feel misunderstood
– Carry grief or loss that hasn’t fully been processed
Our approach to treatment is: trauma-responsive, attachment-informed, paced, identity-affirming, experiential, and evidenced-based.
We provide individual primary or supplemental therapy and therapeutic art groups. We stand apart as the only art therapists providing the kind of treatment we do in Hagerstown, MD. We want to continue to expand our services and offerings, becoming a place where both clients in the community and future art therapists can find support and feel seen. We welcome future collaboration and believe in inclusive, non-stigmatizing care for all that come through our door!
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Other than formal training and clinical knowledge, we believe the most essential quality for succeeding as an art therapist is remaining culturally humble. Cultural humility is an ongoing practice of self-reflection, curiosity, and accountability—it asks of providers to continually examine their own assumptions while honoring each client as the expert of their own lived experience. At The Art Room, this means creating a space where identity, history, and community are not only acknowledged but respected and integrated into the therapeutic process. By approaching every individual that comes to us with openness and a willingness to learn, we can prioritize healing in a way that stands on an authentic therapeutic relationship grounded in trust, safety, and collaboration. Cultural humility allows the work to stay client-centered, trauma-informed, and responsive. It ensures that creativity becomes a bridge to empowerment rather than a one-size-fits-all intervention.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
One of the most meaningful pivots in our career thus far happened as we were building our marketing plan for our practice. In the beginning, we positioned art therapy as our niche, making it sound like a modality layered onto traditional therapy. At the time, that framing felt strategic and accessible. But as we invested in coaching, mentorship, and deeper professional development, we began to more fully step into our identity as art therapists. We recognized that art therapy is not just a tool we use—it is a distinct and rigorous mental health field with its own theory, ethics, and clinical depth.
That realization shifted everything. Instead of trying to “fit” art therapy into a broader narrative, we centered it. We got clear on the clients we feel most aligned with, the stories and strengths they bring into the room, and the kind of transformative, creative work we are uniquely trained to facilitate. Our messaging evolved to reflect who we truly are.grounded, clinically sound art therapists who believe in the power of creativity as a pathway to healing. That pivot allowed us to present ourselves to the world in a way that feels honest, confident, and deeply authentic, and it ultimately attracted the community we were meant to serve.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theartroomcch.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theartroomcch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theartroomcch
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-art-room-cch
Image Credits
Chelsea Rae Photos