URSULA MESSINA, CT

Ursula Messina (pronouns: she/her) is an experienced clinical intern with CT status who works with children, adolescents, adults, and families. She is studying to become a licensed professional counselor and art therapist. Her specialty interests include: children and adolescents’ issues, trauma, grief, blended families, spiritual or existential crises, personality assessments, and somatic and medical issues. In her work with clients, she utilizes art therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) from an eclectic foundation that incorporates Jungian psychotherapy and individual psychology.

Ursula completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a fine arts minor at The University of Akron. Currently, she is completing her master’s degree in counseling and art therapy at Ursuline College. Ursula has a strong love of lifetime learning and for bringing opportunities for artistic expression to communities. She is passionate about social justice, gender equality, and mental health and addiction de-stigmatization. Ursula has conducted research involving the integration of Eastern and Western treatment approaches and is interested in furthering research on posttraumatic growth. She also loves helping clients actualize their unique creative voices.

Prior to joining Wellness Grove, Ursula has worked in a variety of settings, including K-8 schools, community mental health organizations, and conducting art therapy in recovery centers. Some of her ten years of experience in the creative and healing arts includes the facilitation of support groups for women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), conducting school-based art therapy with diverse populations such as children with autism, and working with teens struggling with anxiety and smartphone addiction. Ursula holds certifications as an art educator and Reiki practitioner and has been trained in emotional freedom technique (EFT).

Ursula’s approach to counseling begins with the relationship. This is because she believes that within the safe space of an authentic connection with a trained helper, profound personal growth is possible. In addition to being an empathetic listener able to collaborate with clients to reach targeted goals, Ursula brings strategies for helping clients enhance empowerment, insight, and self-love. She is known for using art and metaphor, holding sacred space, and introducing mindfulness tools and psychoeducation into sessions.

Her strengths include: kindness, creativity, adaptability, and gratitude.