Julie Sousa, MA

Julie is an Expressive Arts Therapist and Clinical Mental Health Counselor originally from NH. Julie has also lived in cities such as New York City and Boston, liking both the serenity of nature and excitement of urban life. She completed her Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a speciality in Expressive Arts therapy from Lesley University in 2020.  Julie has worked in a variety of treatment settings over the last six years such as, youth group homes, homeless shelters, inpatient psychiatric hospital settings, substance use residential programs and community-based settings. Julie enjoys working with a wide range of ages and life experiences but has more specific experience working with LGBTQIA+ youth, youth on the Autism spectrum, adults experiencing more acute mental health and substance use disorders and/or people dealing with major life transitions. 

Julie utilizes a range of modalities including art therapy, poetry, dance/movement, yoga, meditation, spirituality, play therapy and nature therapy. Julie is always exploring new approaches to mental health treatment with a trauma-informed, person-centered and cultural humility lens. Julie is a recent graduate of a 200hr yoga teacher training and likes incorporating somatic body work and mindfulness into sessions. In her free time, Julie enjoys creating mixed media art, going to museums, hiking mountains, doing yoga and traveling to learn about different cultures and geography. Julie believes in the power of the mind-body connection and an individual's own personal ability to heal through the creative arts with encouragement from a therapist.

Contact Julie: julie.sousa@artfullifecenter.org