We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lisa Richardson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lisa below.

Lisa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I would have to say my first risk happened during my undergrad when I decided to change majors from business to graphic design. I never knew what I wanted to be “when I grew up.” I only knew my life needed to have creativity in it. Ten years later I started working on a Master’s in Art Therapy, inspired by working as a program director for an afterschool art program for teens.

While working on the Master’s I took a position as a case manager at a community mental health facility. Upon graduating I began working towards licensure as a liaison between the agency and local and state hospitals, as a client intake coordinator, and facilitated psychoeducational art therapy groups for IOP/PHP. I also worked with children through a domestic violence agency on Saturdays.

After becoming clinically licensed in Connecticut, I moved to Florida in 2010 to be closer to my parents, then became licensed, registered for an EIN, and got married in 2012. The next big jump, or push, depending on perspective was to begin working full-time for myself in 2015.

It never failed, each time a big shift occurred I had the choice of feeling bad for myself or believing everything would work out as it needed to. I began noticing and watching how faith appeared in my life each time things felt too big to handle. I also spend less time dwelling on the uncomfortable bits seeking to learn what I can and hold more space for gratitude.

Post-Covid, I began working from home offering counseling through telehealth. The timing helped me avoid burnout because I started to rethink whether I could or should continue as a therapist. Also during those months, I began spending more time with my own art-making, challenging myself to create a painting series, entered a couple of shows and contests, and tried my hand at using a POD site.

I am enjoying facing my challenges because that is my purpose in life, to live and face personal challenges, and see how I can use that information to help others along the way on their journey. A favorite quote from Auntie Mame, based on the book by Patrick Dennis is “Live, life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!” It may not be the exact quote but it’s always on my mind and in my heart.

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 an Art Psychotherapist working with clients who want support managing their stress which may be a trauma response, people who are ready to better understand themselves, develop healthy coping skills, and learn how to use their creative process to explore their feelings, reframe unhelpful thinking patterns, and seek answers.

I have been meeting with clients individually through telehealth since giving up my office after the Covid lockdown. I have begun doing more group work at a few locations in the community. This month I was at the Florida Creativity Conference in Sarasota (https://www.flcreativity.com/). I am currently in the process of creating a 90-minute experiential for Laurel Civic Youth Empowerment Summer Camp in Laurel, Florida.

In addition to my Art Therapy work, I am volunteering with Venice Theatre’s Pinky’s Players, the best show in town! Our performers are adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who work every year for 9 months on an original script putting together a show that will run May 2-5 this year. I believe this is the 26th show.

I am proud of the people I get to work with, who come to me for help. Their growth and insight is a beautiful thing to behold. The eureka moments when I see the light of realization in a client’s eyes as puzzle pieces fall into place are amazing. I am honored by their willingness to receive help and their trust in working together.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I rented a room in a suite used by two other therapists. That proved to be a little more expensive than I could manage so I had to let it go. I was also not paneled with any insurance, building a caseload was slow. It did not help that I tend to be shy and a bit reserved.

As I gave up the space a friend asked me to do some art therapy work with students at the day program she was managing, which led to full-time as her administrative support when her job changed to program manager. The company’s president permitted me to use a space on the campus to see clients on the weekend so I did not have to worry about rent, and I could start building up my side gig as a licensed therapist.

My favorite part of the story is when said friend fired me. I was hurt and confused because I felt like I failed at a job I did not like. At least the part of the job dealing with numbers and billing. Anyway, hurt and confused, it took me a week to finally get that my friend (AKA Little Big Sister) did me a favor. She was the mama bird pushing me out of the nest. We had a good laugh and my processing speed was. My Little Big Sister felt relief because she thought that push could have damaged/ended our relationship.

A month later I found a room to rent at an office condo, hung my shingle, and began seeing clients full-time. I think it was 2 years before I moved into a large space with another therapist, then the COVID lockdown came and I worked from home eventually giving up that office space.

I have been working from home and loving the flexibility I can create in my weekly schedule which gives me time for family. Now I am trying to add more time to paint to the mix of individual client work, dog training, cooking, writing, and exploring with my mom. I have also gotten more involved with my church as a vestry member and the Diocese as a member of a group that helps Aspirants on their journey of discerning a call to the Diaconate or Priesthood. I am learning a great deal of new lingo.

I am also working on developing an art-mindfulness-faith experiential with my husband, without the Bible-thumping some may think is part of the program. I mentioned the bit about writing. I started writing my feelings and thoughts the day my Dad died (12-18-2023). I was thinking of publishing it to share with other people who are grieving because I was finding it very interesting as a helper to now need help but not able to articulate what kind or to accept it. I may just give it to Mom when it’s done.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Although I studied art in college I never could consider myself an artist because my work was not as detailed, imaginative, or spectacular as my classmates. When I entered the Art Therapy Masters program I learned that it was more about the process of visually communicating that makes our art unique and wonderful. Art-making serves a different and vital purpose for me, and this reframed thinking is what I want to share in the world. The benefits of making art expressively help one find their voice, and define their existence by standards that are deep and meaningful, not superficial and trite.

Then I started participating in an online creative group, Woman Unleashed, which more details, and I keep experiencing more insights as I explore my relationship with faith. Very interesting paradigm shifts for me. Exploring, and seeking answers to my questions continues to be a great deal of fun. Add a little music to the mix, and you make magic.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://spiritedawayarttherapy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saatherapy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saart/

Image Credits
Photos of me taken by: Lisa Hlywa (Business name is Photography By Lisa E) (Blue/White shirt with hand up) Victoria Dietz (Yellow shirt/red plant) Rhonda Sudik (yellow shirt in front of artwork)