Samantha Hanson, LPC, ATR, Clini-Coach®

Category Art Therapy

person holding smartphone while sitting
What is Social Media to me?

Prompt: How do you use social media?

I use social media as a way to share what I do with others. Not only what, but why as I feel that is important to know to some extent. Transparency and being genuine are an important part of my foundation as a business owner, regardless of which set of services I am portraying,

pexels-photo-1092671.jpeg
Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

When connecting with any healthcare individual it’s important to feel comfortable, and by sharing a bit of my neurospicy self ahead of time I hope that helps with one’s process. One positive of the technology and social media is I can share videos about myself and my services, I just need to work on my anxiety of talking in front of others! (Always easier to help others then to help myself- at least I’m no longer in front of a class of peers).

Growing up I learned about being a business owner from my dad, he would go to continuing education conferences being in a different part of healthcare and meet others locally by referring in nearby towns. Every time we went to the store people knew him and because it’s a small town, knew me or my brothers and asked how things were going. Back then everything was by in person events, newspaper ads, phone calls and insurance referrals of course.

Today’s marketing is similar but different. I am in a different type of healthcare which provides me opportunities to share information and education with you. I also send out snail mail including yearly Christmas cards to referrals, “I am here!” Letters or post cards to ones I may not have connected with, as well as “new location!” Post cards due to moving, again, and boy am I tired of moving. I am feeling a good fit at 516 E Wisconsin Ave in Appleton and 404 N Main in Oshkosh and am in the process of making my space more functional and professional for clients- updated photos will come soon!

a vintage camera on brown paper
Photo by Eva Bronzini on Pexels.com

When I began, I sent out a paper packet including a letter, brochure, business cards and heat color changing pencils to other businesses. A card saying let’s get coffee! (virtually as it was the pandemic year), and this year I have started having those coffees (in person even!) and making new connections. Part of how I’m receiving this reach is because I update my social media and my online directories, a combination of past and present-day networking and advertising. The more I share, and you view the more people who may need what I offer will have the opportunity to see me.

We all work together even if its indirectly! Any support of clicking, liking, following, sharing or simply reading to the end is helpful and much appreciated. If you would like to have a coffee to talk more about how we can support each other, virtually or in person -please reach out!

3 Steps to Improving as a Neurospicy Person in a Neurotypical World

As you know being neurospicy means you interact with the world a little differently. The positive side of that is people with these unique traits have qualities and strengths that neurotypical individuals would not have. Someone with neurospicy traits sometimes needs help to navigate the world around them and help their unique perspective operate being a neurodivergent person in a world not built for them. 

I grew up as the weird kid who missed school due to health issues and struggled greatly due to undiagnosed ADD and I lacked the social skills to fit into my neurotypical surroundings. Don’t worry IT DOES GET BETTER!!! In college, I learned the skills to manage (and embrace) my neurospiciness and move on to graduate and OWN a successful art therapy business. Now I help many people function as a neurospicy individual as a life coach. My clients look to learn how to survive their quirks, build confidence, and embrace their unique individual traits as superpowers. 

It’s important to remember that it is out of your control how your quirks come to be, this is my focus with clients in my life coaching program. Your focus should be on what you CAN control, therefore here are 3 steps on how to simplify your life and help you survive this neurotypical world.

1.  Study your routine: Observe your day-to-day, grab a notebook, and write down your daily routine (yes I know, lists … remembering to write things down, it’ll be worth it, trust me). Keep this list simple, make check marks, smileys, doodles, stickers, stamps, etc., and make it fun. Whatever helps you to know what works (and what doesn’t) within your routine. Do this for several days, a week, or even two weeks. Make note of the people you interact with, the feelings that are influenced by various interactions or stimuli or tasks, and all barriers to accomplishing what you need to do. Just be certain to keep it detailed.

2. Adjust your routine: Try something new. See where you can trim things down and what can be simplified. It helps to ask yourself some of the following questions: What’s too much? What’s too stressful? What do you absolutely NEED in your schedule? Or what are some things that could change? Would parts of your routine work better in the morning rather than before bed? Set alarms to remind yourself of the changes that you make, including changes made to your job, however that may apply to your personal situation. Different choices made in your routine will influence how you respond to stress and manage to get through each day. 

For example, you have a certain medication that you must take daily to just exist as a human being. If it isn’t being taken as prescribed by keeping the medication in your bathroom cabinet, what about moving it to your nightstand? That way it’s one of the first things you see when you wake up and helps you to remember to take the medication, add a post-it note to it to grab your attention. Do this for a few days and evaluate if it makes a difference in your routine. If it doesn’t work then try another solution for a few days.  

3. Change your mindset: To be consistent throughout the first two steps, you need to change how you view things, i.e. your perspective. In college, I always thought that I was a bad communicator but a counselor asked me if this was how people made me feel or if that was how I truly felt about my communication strategies. I realized that this was how people made me feel, how they responded and talked to me that I thought that I was doing something wrong. Since then, I have done a lot of my own research on the topic, and depending on what is internally going on with that person’s day will change how they perceive what I am saying. This may not be the case in all situations, maybe you will have to learn new strategies to function in the world better or have better interactions with other people. It’s always good to have feedback on yourself, but if it’s not valid, if it’s truly a “them” problem, then it’s better to make a note of it, accept that you can’t control it, and try not to personalize it. BUT if it is a “you” problem, what can you observe and adjust to improve this mindset. 

So how does this help you build confidence and embrace your quirks? By building consistency in your routine, you will feel confident that YOU CAN get things done, or get that medication taken. By changing the mindset you are finding the triggers that may be causing additional stress and learn to recognize this and adjust your viewpoint. All of this will allow your brain to have a break from trying to keep up with all the tasks that need to be accomplished because it is now a habit in your routine, eliminating some stressors under your control. Ultimately helping you feel better about yourself. This alone will begin to help you feel better both physically and mentally. This is exactly what I do to help my clients as a life coach, one step at a time, you can find out more about my program HERE.

How has technology changed your job?

“Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.”
– Forest Gump

Technology provided me a way to open and grow my business. During the COVID-19 pandemic I came to the realization that I needed to take better care of me. Being a therapist and having undiagnosed (at the time) ADD, and chronic fatigue among other health issues, I gave my all to my clients, and part of being there for others meant not always having time or energy for myself at times.

silver laptop and white cup on table
Photo by Life Of Pix on Pexels.com

Through opening my own office and being in charge of my schedule and intake I was able to build in breaks or work in the comfort of my own home on days I might be too tired or experiencing my own physical discomfort. Having a hybrid schedule has its positives and negatives, but my back sure appreciates being able to sit on my recliner on those work from home periods.

With telehealth and virtual options, I was able to start offering virtual consults to determine if we both felt right for each other prior to starting and provide referrals right away if necessary to avoid later frustration if not a right fit.

I was able to see clients all over the state virtually, and briefly my local clients got to meet my dogs during walk and talk sessions (and continue seeing them other days during virtual- along with meeting their pets!).

people on a video call
Photo by Anna Shvets on Pexels.com

Having flexibility with virtual option also meant it took away barriers for clients who had transportation issues or chronic illness flareups who normally wouldn’t be able make it to appointments. With Wisconsin weather, it also became an option during blizzards or downpours that made driving to session unsafe.

Technology may have been available prior to covid; however, it was mainly known for use in larger clinics. I am very appreciative that it has been available, and I found the right connections to mentor me and help me discover it along the way in navigating not only my health journey, but also my growth in offering counseling and coaching services.

pain brushes inside clear plastic cups
Mindfulness, Art Therapy Virtual Conference!

I needed this today! Started out stressful but eventually smoothed out. Yes, art therapy can be done virtual! I attended this conference with other art therapists around the world, (not just professionals, a few followers as well). We had mindfulness, art making, breakout rooms with assigned buddies to individually process and then group process at the end. The conductor was kind enough to stay after for a small group of us to finish processing as we hit the end time before everyone was able to speak. (We had about 55 attendees).

a person drawing on brown paper
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

Led by Dr. Isis, who also hosts weekly drop-in sessions if you would like to experience this yourself. She is the author of “mindful doodle book” which I love and suggest to everyone! Has approximately 75 doodle directives for self-care. Her website is www.miamiarttherapy.com, her book can be found on Pesi amazon or her website.

It was amazing to hear from her and go through our guided directive. It was four parts- those who know me know I love “part one and part two and sometimes part three” in our sessions (please don’t comment here for your confidentiality if you are reading this). I will show you my work and a few from the conference to show and yes this can be done virtual!  For confidentiality of the attendees, I have blacked out faces and names. My image and Dr. Isis’ are the only ones viewable, top left!  check facebook for more close up views of the process and let me know in the comments if you’d be interested in joining a mindful art therapy directive group.