Natalie Small, LMFT

Natalie has a masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Bethel Seminary. She studied Expressive Arts Therapy under Graciela Bottoni in Buenos Aires and trained in Berkeley with the IEATA. She has found the Expressive Arts, including surfing and outdoor therapy, to be transformative for individuals and communities overcoming trauma and abuse. Her therapy career has included: working as a culture shock therapist for young expats in Buenos Aires, running expressive art therapy intensives for survivors of trafficking in Peru, using yoga and art therapy in schools with middle and high school students and their teachers, working in therapy and social work with the homeless and hospitalized population in San Diego, and her favorite: facilitating surf therapy for women and girls overcoming abuse, addiction, and trauma. As a therapist, Natalie focuses on adolescent development and helping her clients overcome anxiety and trauma and she has found the First Aid Arts' Healing Arts Toolkit Program a fundamental tool in her San Diego-based individual and group therapy practice. She is excited to continue training those working in the field of "heart" care on how to apply the arts to the healing process.