About Alexis Plastow, She/her

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Hello, my name is Alexis I am a licensed Creative Arts Therapist: pronouns she/her/hers. I believe that to live a truly fulfilling life we must access our authentic selves. To do so we have to shed the selves we have obtained, by living a life to please others. Accessing your values and what story you want to have for yourself allows you to break free from toxic standards. When you work with me you have signed onto a team. We are working together in a therapeutic alliance and we are taking your life back from cookie cutter cliches and suffocating expectations that you didn’t place there!

I graduated with my masters from Seton Hill College in 2018, I took a year off to fulfill my childhood dream of being a museum custodian, before entering the field in 2019. Since then I have been honored to have been invited on my client’s therapeutic adventures. 

I am a Queer therapist and proudly serve my community by providing Gender Affirming care, tackling internalized homophobia, assistance with transitioning, assistance coming out to yourself, providing education, and a great sense of humor. Experiences in our community can often be stressful and other individuals may struggle to grasp the depth of gender or sexual orientation. I focus on education and reduction of internalized homophobia! Many of us grew up in areas where who we are wasn’t an option and we internalized it. Now we are struggling to accept that we can be ourselves. We deserve to be our true selves!

 We can learn to do that in ways that don’t assign blame for the thoughts and anxieties we have surrounding our orientation! I truly feel we do not need verbal language to communicate, we just need time to learn each other’s language and the patience to watch and listen. I value my work for client’s who aren nonverbal and deeply appreciate the time we spend making art together. 

I have had OCD since I was 10 years old and I use transparency about this experience in OCD sessions as a tool to help clients. Focusing on a psycho-education lens with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy we go straight to the heart of tackling intrusive thoughts and emotions. Instead of focusing on the compulsions we work on shame reduction and continual understanding of how intrusive thoughts impact us and why. This liberating experience aids folks in taking their lives back from OCD.

Experience:

• St. Vincent’s Hospital (under the direct supervision of a recreation and play therapist)
• Bell Vernon School District- Art Therapist 
• Spotted Rabbit Studios 
• Rochester Eating Disorder Organization 
• Art Connect Group for LGBTQ identifying adults

Approaches:

I weave sessions from an eclectic approach and firmly believe that knowledge of your experience is power. My main modem is Art Therapy, Family systems, Person Centered, and Psychoeducation. I blend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into enjoyable activities in session. Yes, CBT can be fun! I promise I wouldn’t do it otherwise!

 I always adapt my approach and techniques to my client’s needs. I do not mind breaking out puppets one day or playing music the next if it results in the therapeutic space they need to thrive.

Specialties: 

Autism
Anxiety
Depression
Developmental Disorders welcoming to nonverbal individuals.
Eating Disorders
Coping and experiencing Grief
LGBTQ Issues including gender affirmation assistance and addressing internalized
homophobia.
ADD/ADHD
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Trichtilomania
Dermatilomania
PTSD and acute trauma