I Stand Accused

the art of expressive therapy

John Moyer c.1996

Recently, I was unexpectedly accused online of unprofessional conduct for not referring clients to a licensed art therapist. This accusation, leveled by a Canadian art therapist, was surprising given the absence of a nationally recognized professional license for expressive art therapy in the United States.

I’ve been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2002 (Pennsylvania did not license counselors until then) and a Nationally Certified Counselor since 1998. Prior to that, I earned a master’s degree in the Psychology of Education. My therapeutic approach is adaptable, tailored to each client's unique needs. I avoid rigid models, recognizing that different clients require different tools. For example, traditional talk therapy might not be suitable for young children, while adults can often benefit from incorporating playfulness into their therapeutic process. While I have training in play therapy and expressive arts therapy, I don’t exclusively use these modalities. …