Dynamic Family Art Therapy

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Amelia Upton, MA, LMFT, ATR-BC, MHP Welcome! I am an Art Therapist and Family Therapist, in Seattle, WA. I enjoy time outdoors, being creative, and time with my cats and dog.

Went for a beautiful and short hike yesterday at Big Four! Getting outside is wonderful for your mental health - how will you take care of yourself this week?

I am now able to bill insurance directly for people with Aetna, Cigna, or BCBS Mass insurance!!

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Peas & Po! These are the peapods I collected last night -- they were tasty!

We grew a tomato!!! When I planted these, I thought I purchased cherry tomatoes -turns out they are some other variety of yellow toms 🤣 Today I gave the plants a hair cut in hopes the rest will ripen 🤞

Smokey sunset

Dakota got her spay surgery (equivalent to human: radical hysterectomy) on Tuesday - just in time for the heat wave. We are all trying not to melt 🥵 I am consistently amazed at this strange, protective, and sweet creature who is putting up with doggie clithes while she heals in this heat.

Wally and Po have been doing their best to provide Dakota with moral support 🐱💕

I have been having a hard time wrapping my head around the "need" for Dakota to loose all of her reproductive organs, when our male cats had a much less intense and less invasive procedure. With humans, we have some many different options to limit and stop pregnancy surgically - why is it that with female/dogs with a uterus, 'standard procedure' means taking all of the organs? As a non-medical professional, I am skeptical and wonder about less invasive options. Any thoughts, hive mind?

It's gardening time again! I find getting into the dirt is good for plants and restorative for me - and our pup, Dakota! Dakota is eager and ready to help 🤣 who knew surfing bushes was a thing??🐶

Wishing you all a restful caturday 🐱

Sitting in the urgent care missing my floofs ❤🐱❤🐶❤🐱❤

No need to worry -- pretty sure I contracted an eye infection from our puppy 😷 🐶

I had the priviledge of attending a webinar training on su***de assessment today. I was thrilled to get a variety of new resources - one I found especially helpful is the website: www.NowMattersNow.org

Now Matters Now offers FREE 3-5 min videos on DBT skills -- this resource is so important becuase it makes specific skills for managing intense emotion and thoughts of su***de and self-harm more manageable.

As a mental health therapist with personal experience of on-going thoughts of self harm, I know how important getting more support during a difficult time can be.

***deprevention

Midweek cute: Dakota after playing for over an hour in the light snowfall we got last night!

How will you cozy up and care for yourself this week?

Love is Love is Love is Love IS Love!!! ❤💕❤💕❤ Love is not always obvious and often different than we expect 💗 Where do you find love in your life?

🌈

The love of two brotherly kitties 🐱❤🐱❤

I finished my anti-racisim training, and looked over to see these two sweet snugglers! We people can learn much from cats.

-racist

Blushing sunrise today! I am always amazed at the unexpected that seems to occur during every dog walk 🐶🤩 What will you notice today?

Sleepy kitties! Wishing you a cozy and healthy week!!

A beautiful sunset after a beautiful, cold, winter day!

It's 2022 and this is the 8th day in a row of snow covering Seattle!! Still feeling surprised we made it past 2020, feels like my brain it glitching on the date. Glad to be staying warm with this goofy pooch!

#2022

After a long day of romps, walks, and playtime in the snow -- Dakota passed out 🤣 she has been sleeping with her limbs streched out for over an hour!!

By the power of pecans!! Got to enjoy a lovely meal with a few wonderful family members today. I am feeling so grateful for the brief time we shared in pandemic times. Wishing you lovely moments of gratitude this week!

Our little 'intern' graduated Puppy Kindergarten! We have all pearned so much during the 6 week traing course. Can't believe Dakota is almost 5 months old already! 💕🐶💕

Taking some self care reflection time today. I find crystal and mineral formations fascinating and consuming. How will you take time to slow down and reflect this week?

Feeling grateful for our new intern, Dakota! She manages to consistently keep us on our toes and find new appreciation for the little things 🐶💕

Feeling amazed that our dahlias are still blooming! Ahh! 🌦

Can't believe our two tomatoe plants are continuing to produce mid September!

Fresh from the garden! The past few weeks we have only had 1 or 2 cherry tomatoes ripen each day -- until today we had 10!! 🤩🍅

Fluffy cuteness for the midweek low!