Karis

Salutations! My name is Karis and I am an art therapy student intern at CTC. I am a white, queer, disabled, non-binary, and neurodivergent art therapy student intern. All of these aspects (and more) inform my human experience as well as the work. Before changing careers I worked as a teacher, disabilities advocate, and sign language interpreter so flipping the script and creating a world that works for us is deeply part of my practice. This also means: that each of our paths will have similarities but be different. And this diversity should be celebrated ✨

I am set to graduate from my art therapy masters program in the spring of 2026 (woo!). I am a first generation college student and received a Bachelors of Arts from Western Oregon University in 2016 in American Sign Language linguistics with a focus on language acquisition and brain development. I worked in education for ten years in various settings and believe that learning about the world and ourselves are fundamental keys to building supportive and fulfilling lives.

I believe that mental health is dynamic and cannot be separated from our body, soul, or environments: they all play a role. A holistic approach is central to how I operate and my time in education taught me that most endeavors/journeys are not linear. Our world is beautiful and complex and sometimes you stretch your toe and feel it in your jaw. The best approach I have found to growth is joy and fun. This is reflected in some of my lived experiences, like running a live action role play (LARP) summer camp as well as training in gestalt play therapy. I enjoy learning from and working with a wide range of diverse clients. I have a specialty in working with neurodivergent humans and their unique struggles.

In therapy, I integrate strength based, trauma informed, neuroscience, polyvagal narrative, and gestalt approaches.