Meet Lei Rhyne a 2023 graduate of our Certificate Training Program. We are excited to feature her as our monthly Alumni Spotlight! We think you will be inspired by her work as a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Certified Hypnotherapist and Sound Healer! |
Lei is a Licensed Professional Expressive Art/Hypnotherapist Therapist in Peachtree City, Georgia, who specializes in addressing trauma, anxiety, grief, and depression, providing support to both women and men with a focus on fostering empowerment. However,
she is also a wounded healer, a foodie, an artist, a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a former educator, a former psychometrist, a hiker, a traveler, and a barefoot counselor. Lei helps her clients overcome their struggles by diving into their subconscious and guiding them to release what they are carrying through, meditation, exploring emotions and feelings, and expressing them through art, movement, music, poetry, and writing.
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Lei, what drew you to the field of Expressive Arts, or motivated you to get Expressive Arts training? |
As an artist, I have always found ways to incorporate art into my work. Before transitioning to counseling, I utilized art therapy in my role as a psychometrist for assessments. Upon completing my second Master’s in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling, I aspired to become a holistic therapist and
initially pursued Art Therapy. However, after attending classes and supervision sessions for Art Therapy, I realized it was too clinical for my liking. A friend introduced me to expressive art therapy. I attended a workshop at EAFI and immediately felt a connection – it was exactly what I had been searching for. |
As you began to immerse yourself in this work, were there any unexpected gifts or surprises? |
As a survivor of trauma, I have been in and out of therapy since I was 12 years old. I believed I had resolved all my trauma and was doing well. However, my experience in the Dive-In class proved me wrong. I encountered something deeply buried, which took me several days to process. When I finally addressed that last unresolved part of my past, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I hadn't even realized I was still carrying that
burden within me. The opportunity to release and allow myself to breathe again was truly a precious gift. |
How are you currently implementing expressive arts in your personal and/or professional life?
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I implement EXAT with 95% of my clients, tailoring my approach based on their current needs and circumstances. I pair it with hypnotherapy which is a wonderful combination. I use it in the community at speaking engagements and workshops and group therapy. This technique is also integrated into
my personal life. Whether between sessions or at the end of a long day, I engage in movement, painting, or drumming. Each method allows me to acknowledge and release the energy I am carrying. Sound Bath open to the community on Thursday nights |
What are your goals in this work, or how do you envision your involvement with EXA unfolding in the future? |
My goals include continuous learning, sharing this technique with others, and introducing the people of West Georgia to the world of expressive arts. I do this through speaking engagements, workshops, and conferences. I recently started a non-profit organization with a team of creative individuals and sound healers who will provide sound baths, drum circles, and expressive art projects for our community. Our goal is to reach the individuals in our community who
cannot reach us.
Speaking engagement at the ArtPreneur Conference How has EXA enriched or expanded your career path (if applicable)? |
Expressive Arts has allowed me to combine things that I love which is art, mental wellness, sound healing and service to the community. It has helped me create a technique that is unique for each of my clients. |
What is your current personal practice and how does it enrich your life? |
My
morning routine involves starting with movement and grounding outside, followed by journaling. I prefer waking up early to practice yoga on my porch and meditating before anyone else is up. This helps me calm my mind and avoid feeling rushed, and I hate feeling rushed. Afterward, I have my morning coffee outdoors, where I journal and sometimes paint in my art journals. |
Workshop open to the community What do you wish you could tell the world about Expressive Arts? I am currently
enrolled in the doctoral program at UC. My aim is to present research supported by evidence that demonstrates how expressive arts can be a more effective therapy technique compared to traditional talk therapy. What are you currently offering, and what are the ways that people can work with you? I offer my EXAT and hypnotherapy services to individual clients through my practice, but I also offer Sound Baths on Thursday nights at 7 pm and drum circles Sunday afternoons at 4 pm. Every six weeks I hold a wellness workshop and next year I am working on holding a retreat in North Georgia. |
Drumming open to the community on Sunday afternoons |
Anything else you would like to say?
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The word that comes up for me is Gratitude.
I am so grateful for this program and what it has done for me personally and professionally. I am grateful for Kathleen and the knowledge she is sharing and to Tamara and her support through this program and I am grateful for my supervisor Dr. Kossak who is challenging me to become a
better therapist, writer and an overall stronger healer.
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Professional links - Learn more about Lei
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Watch for our Alumni Spotlight on the 15th of each month. We feature graduates of our Certificate Training Program - Expressive Arts Facilitators, Therapists, and Educators. We hope this series will inspire you, help spread the work of our alumni, and demonstrate the scope of
practice of the expressive arts field. To see past Alumni Spotlight features & our Alumni Directory visit the link below. www.expressiveartsflorida.com/art-professional-links For more information about our Certificate Training Program, Professional Development, and Workshops - both online and in-person,
visit us at www.expressiveartsflorida.com Tamara Teeter Knapp MA, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, REACE® Kathleen Horne MA, LMHC(S), REACE®, REAT® |
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