SUMMARY:

In this episode of TLC Connections, we welcome Cara Addis, a licensed professional counselor and board-certified art therapist, to explore how art therapy can help students navigate emotions, build resilience, and develop essential social skills. As a mobile school-based therapist, Cara works with students from ages 4 to 18, integrating creative expression into counseling to support emotional regulation and problem-solving. She shares insights on the unique challenges of working with different age groups and the importance of providing students with safe and consistent spaces to explore their thoughts, emotions, and creativity.

GUEST BIO:

Cara Addis is a licensed professional counselor, board-certified art therapist, and certified trauma professional. With more than four years at The Lincoln Center, she serves as a mobile school-based therapist, providing individual and group therapy to students across multiple districts. Cara specializes in integrating various art therapy methods into school settings—helping children and adolescents develop emotional regulation, social skills, and self-expression. Passionate about the power of creativity, she believes in using art as a tool for healing and personal growth.

Connect with Cara on LinkedIn

HOST BIO:

Alyssa Brouse, LCSW, is a dedicated mental health professional passionate about guiding individuals through life’s challenges. As Vice President of School-Based Services at TLC, Alyssa leads a team of mental health professionals providing critical support to school districts and their students.

With extensive experience spanning schools, hospitals, outpatient settings, and other clinical environments, Alyssa is uniquely equipped to support clients at various stages of life and care. Drawing from a diverse therapeutic toolkit that includes DBT, ACT, Narrative Therapy, and more, she tailors each experience to meet her clients’ unique needs.

Connect with Alyssa on LinkedIn

SPONSORS:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company serving the Greater Philadelphia Area. Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital, TLC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit providing innovative education, coaching, and counseling services to individuals and families, as well as grant writing and management services for school districts and universities.