NCC Spotlight: Robyn Spodek-Schindler

Though she had been an artist her entire life, Robyn Spodek-Schindler, NCC, LPC, LPAT, ATR-BC, was unfamiliar with art therapy until one of her sisters mentioned it. At the time, Spodek-Schindler was an undergraduate student who hadn’t quite settled on her career path.

“I only knew that my passion was working with children and families, and that a life goal of mine was to do something where I could help people. I had never heard of art therapy, and I had some doubts. After doing some research on my own, I felt like I had hit the jackpot. This was my calling! The rest is history.”

After receiving a master’s in mental health counseling, Spodek-Schindler earned an additional master’s in clinical art therapy and began her career within the hospital system.

“I worked on general pediatric floors, NICUs, oncology units, and more. I stayed within the medical field for several years, providing a safe space for those going through traumatic medical-related issues and coping with mental health issues that developed as a result,” she says.

She eventually decided to transition from providing therapy in medical settings to working in mental health facilities, where she began as a general therapist and worked her way to becoming a clinical director and director of programming for adolescents.

In 2011, she opened a private practice, Paint the Stars, LLC, in New Jersey. Today her business has grown to include 11 other therapists. Paint the Stars provides art therapy, music therapy, play therapy, sand tray work, and traditional talk therapy for all clients ages 3–100.

We spoke with Spodek-Schindler recently about her work as an art therapist and the benefits of integrating expressive arts into counseling.

Is art therapy more effective among clients with specific mental or behavioral health concerns? How may these clients typically present themselves in session?

We see a wide variety of issues within our practice. Candidly speaking, we definitely see more depression and anxiety than anything else, but typically there are many dealing with comorbidity. The effectiveness of art therapy in particular is not based on the person’s diagnosis but more so on the work that takes place within each session. Each client brings their own level of motivation; if that motivation is low, we strive to increase it, as that is what will really help to ensure success in therapy.

The benefits of art therapy are seen across the board no matter what age or diagnosis because some people reflect and process better through being creative than they do through talking. The children who come to see us almost always present with low self-esteem. I call it the root of all evil. A child with poor self-esteem is more liable to experience anxiety and depression. Diagnoses such as ADHD or specific learning disabilities often lead to low self-esteem. Due to this, building up that confidence is almost always a priority.

How do you determine whether a client is a good candidate for art therapy?

I have yet to meet a child who is not a good candidate for art therapy. There are no boxes that a child needs to check off to be deemed a candidate for art therapy or fully benefit from the creative arts therapies. I love to tell everyone I meet that if this therapy is not right for you, keep searching until you find the right fit. Children who are otherwise normal functioning and developing, those who are selectively mute, children on the spectrum, children with severe disabilities, severe medical issues, severe mental health issues, or any other type of child one can think of, I have worked with every type of child, and every single one has been able to participate and benefit from art therapy. I’ve had parents say to me, “My child has severe sensory issues, how can they possibly do art therapy?” My simplest response is that there is an art medium for everyone.

In what ways can art therapy improve a client’s mental health and well-being?

In my experience, I have seen tremendous growth in clients of all ages through the process of receiving art therapy. When the combination of client motivation and clinical expertise come together, it can make for some truly positive growth. As a clinician, I look for a decrease in active symptoms within just a few sessions. This is a good sign that we are on the right path and we should continue. I’m very open and transparent with my clients and their families. I never want to waste anyone’s time or money; therefore, we are always re-evaluating treatment plans to ensure improvement.

Over the years I have seen clients of all ages go from almost no self-esteem to having healthy self-confidence; from crippling depression and anxiety to utilizing important cognitive skills to battle future negative thoughts; from unprecedented quick rage to recognizing body signals and using relaxation techniques; from experiencing PTSD to the point where one is unable to function to working through past traumas and feeling a sense of relief as they continue navigating. To say art therapy helps improve one’s mental health is an understatement. Art therapy is no different from CBT or DBT or any other specialty within the therapy field. We teach the same skills—we want clients to recognize triggers, reach deep emotions that may be buried, learn and utilize coping skills, etc.

The reason why I believe creative arts therapies are so successful with children is because children naturally communicate through play and creativity. Because this idea of being creative comes so easily to them, I believe, they start therapy off with less of a wall up. They are more willing to hear what I have to say, more willing to try what I suggest, more willing to talk and open up.

How can art therapists help the healing process?

Just like any other therapist, we are a part of the process. We are there to hold space and make any client feel as comfortable as they possibly can. We are hand holding without physically holding hands (although sometimes that can be part of the process for an art therapist). I like for the clients I am with to feel like they are the director in the room and I am just awaiting their direction.

As an art therapist, I have to be able to read the room and know my client. Do they need me to stay quiet, hold space, and just observe? Do they want me to mirror what they are doing in a paraphrased, reflective tone similar to that of [Viktor] Lowenfeld? Does the client need me to create alongside them to feel comfortable starting the process? I ask myself these questions and more as a way to make certain I am helping their healing process. It is important to note that the healing process can change over time, so any great clinician will continuously change their process to keep up.

What can art therapists learn from observing a client’s creative work?

There is so much that can be told from observing a client’s creative work, starting from what mediums they choose and how they approach using those tools. I’m always intrigued with how a client will apply pressure, for example. I’ve seen a client take a drawing tool and press so lightly I could hardly see what was put on the paper. This could of course be a sign of anxiety but also a sign of low self-esteem. Likewise, I’ve seen a client push down so hard with a drawing tool they almost break the tool or paper. This could also be indicative of anxiety, but perhaps they are also frustrated with the task at hand.

When you go through training to become an art therapist, there are certain clinical assessments you learn about, and even after 15 years of experience, it still blows my mind how accurate some of those assessments can be. I’ll provide you with a clinical example: I have a young girl whom I’ve seen for quite some time, several years. Upon our initial consultation she was dealing with a PANDAS diagnosis after having a rough battle with strep. Our focus was primarily the anxiety that surfaced as a result of her illness. I was able to do some of my favorite modalities with her, including medical art therapy, using medical tools and supplies to help overcome medical trauma and fears. Over time, she did a great job working through that difficult period but unfortunately battled other medical conditions along the way, and each new diagnosis provided a new set of issues.

Because we worked together for such a long time, I really got to know her, and I was able to pick up on parts of her personality through the art-making process. I noted new things that began to pop up like how careful she was with line making, how precise she felt she had to be, the constant erasures so she could get it “just so.” Her original anxiety, which presented as psychosomatic symptoms and high emotions, was changing. She had better control over her emotions and fewer complaints, but I could still see these new quirks popping up. We did start working on perfectionism, the anxiety that goes along with that, and the pressure she puts on herself. Over time her anxiety continuously morphed into different stages; it was as if as she matured and developed, so did her diagnosis. Through something as simple as drawing, I was able to learn so much about her and really begin to help her with other issues that weren’t previously known or seen to be a priority.

Robyn Spodek-Schindler, NCC, LPC, LPAT, ATR-BC, is the owner and clinical director of Paint the Stars Art Therapy, LLC, in New Jersey. She has been working with children, adolescents, and young adults for nearly two decades in schools, counseling programs, and hospitals. She received a master’s in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University and a master’s in clinical art therapy from LIU Post.