Meaningful Connection Through Shared Creativity
Therapeutic-informed creative workshops delivered directly to your facility or group.
Why Us
Growth Grounded in Expertise
We offer a depth of support rarely found in creative workshops. Because our sessions are facilitated by a Licensed Professional Counselor and an Art Therapy Educator, everything we do is "therapeutic-informed." While this is not clinical counseling or group therapy, it is designed with the same commitment to emotional safety, ensuring you are supported by professionals who understand the principles of psychological well-being.
Connection Through Contribution
Our unique model combines creative expression with professional coaching and emotional guidance. We provide a structured environment where you can engage your mind and heart. By sharing your life wisdom and stories in a safe space, you aren't just attending a class—you are building resilience and helping the group grow.
Fully Mobile Program
We are a fully mobile program, bringing the studio experience to you. We bring this expert guidance—and all art supplies—directly to your facility or meeting place. We handle all logistics and setup, allowing you to focus entirely on the connection and the creative experience.
Enriching Mobile Art Programs for Senior Living
We bring the studio—and the support—to you. Our workshops are designed to be "therapeutic-informed," meaning every session is facilitated with emotional wellness in mind. We combine high-quality art education with gentle coaching to support cognitive engagement, emotional regulation, and social connection.
Tailored Programming for Every Level of Care
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A gentle, therapeutic approach for residents navigating dementia or Alzheimer's, prioritizing sensory integration and emotional regulation.
The Experience: Using safe, accessible, and high-quality tactile materials, we guide residents through art-making that triggers sensory engagement and reminiscence. We provide clear steps and rhythmic motions to establish an intuitive flow.
The Coaching Element: Our approach emphasizes emotional regulation and validation. We provide a calm, non-verbal outlet for emotion, meeting residents exactly where they are in the "now" to reduce agitation and foster peace.
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Designed for residents who crave creative expression and social interaction but may require some assistance, these sessions prioritize accessibility without sacrificing artistic quality.
The Experience: We utilize "success-oriented" materials and adaptive techniques to facilitate structured, meaningful hands-on experiences. The projects are designed to be visually stunning but structurally accessible, ensuring that dexterity issues do not stand in the way of creating something beautiful.
The Coaching Element: We focus on autonomy and dignity. By guiding residents through choices and adaptive strategies, we boost self-esteem and prove that creativity has no physical limits, combating feelings of isolation.
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Design for active residents who value autonomy, these sessions move beyond standard "crafts" to facilitate true artistic discovery.
The Experience: We provide Guided Creative Exploration, blending professional art education with emotional support. Residents engage in sophisticated projects—such as vision boards or interpretive painting—that encourage free-flow thinking. Individual creativity is explored rather than “do what I do”. We provide the artistic direction, but the residents choose their path.
The Coaching Element: Our facilitators use open-ended prompts to spark deep conversation and "life review," helping residents process their life experiences and build stronger social bonds.
Ready to schedule a session?
EmpowerHer Expressions: Healing Through Creativity, Thriving Through Change
EmpowerHer Expressions is a therapeutic art and discussion program designed for women embracing new chapters of life. Whether navigating motherhood, career stress, menopause, downsizing, or simply seeking connection, we provide a safe, inspiring space to explore your story.
Growth Grounded in Expertise
We offer a depth of support rarely found in creative workshops. Our sessions are co-facilitated by Kris Patterson, MA, LPC, and Maxine Milazzo, Art Therapy Life Coach.
Therapeutic-Informed: While this is not clinical group therapy, every session is designed with the same commitment to psychological safety.
The Coaching Difference: We utilize professional coaching prompts to guide you through "life review," helping you process emotions and build resilience.
Safety First: Because a Licensed Professional Counselor is present, we ensure a safe container for emotions that may rise during the creative process.
EmpowerHer Workshops
Perfect for Women’s Clubs, Church Groups, & Community Events.
Looking for a meaningful activity for your next meeting? We bring the studio—and the support—to you. Some of our EmpowerHer Workshops include…
Vision Forward: A coaching session on goal-setting followed by vision board creation to map out your next chapter.
Blossoms of Memory: A gentle session on processing grief or love, painting a planter as a living tribute.
Plaques of Place: Perfect for those facing downsizing. Decorate a plaque to celebrate "home" and identity.
My Voice, My Art: A bold session using poster art and affirmations to help you reclaim your visibility and amplify your unique voice.
Seasons of Womanhood: Use mixed-media art to capture the cycles of your life, honoring past wisdom and welcoming future growth.
Ready to enhance your journey?
Flourish Through Change: A 6-Week Creative Empowerment Curriculum
Menopause is more than a transition—it’s a transformation.
This 6-week series blends guided reflection with hands-on art projects, creating a space to explore identity, release emotions, and build resilience.
The 6-Week Journey:
Week 1: Redefining Self: Explore identity beyond roles through collage and storytelling.
Week 2: Body & Balance: A compassionate session using abstract painting to honor physical changes.
Week 3: Circle of Renewal: Create a wire-and-ribbon wreath symbolizing resilience and continuity.
Week 4: Vision Forward: A coaching session on goal-setting and vision board creation.
Week 5: Shared Journeys: A powerful session on community, resulting in a collaborative mural.
Week 6: Celebration & Legacy: Create a personal "legacy piece" to celebrate your transformation.
Bring this Series to your group.
We travel to your facility or meeting place in Central Virginia. We provide all high-quality art supplies, setup, cleanup, and expert facilitation.
Creativity, Coaching and Connection
Uniting clinical expertise with creative freedom to help your community grow closer.
Heart & Mind
The Team Behind the Mission
We are Maxine and Kris. What started as a shared love for creativity has grown into a partnership dedicated to emotional wellness. We believe that art isn't just about the final product—it is a safe container to explore thoughts, process emotions, and connect with the people around you.
By combining Kris’s clinical background in counseling with Maxine’s expertise in therapeutic art coaching, we bridge the gap between traditional therapy and creative expression. We provide a fully insured, professionally guided environment where you don't need to be an 'artist' to find healing.
Kris Patterson, MA, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor | Life Development & Wellness Coach
Kris Patterson brings deep clinical expertise to the creative process. As the founder of New Horizons Counseling and Wellness and a Licensed Professional Counselor, she serves here as a Life Development & Wellness Coach. Kris bridges the gap between therapy and creativity, ensuring every workshop is "therapeutic-informed." She provides the emotional scaffolding needed to explore vulnerable topics safely. While these are not clinical sessions, Kris creates a professional container where you can navigate grief, change, and personal growth with absolute security.
Maxine Milazzo
Certified Therapeutic Art, Life, and Menopause Coach
Maxine Milazzo believes everyone has a creative voice. As the founder of Color Outside The Lines Academy, she combines over 25 years of leadership experience with specialized training to help you bypass your inner critic. Her "strategic and soulful" approach blends evidence-based wellness strategies with watercolor, collage, and mixed media. You don’t need to be an "artist" to work with Maxine; she simply guides you to turn abstract feelings into tangible resilience, offering a pathway to healing and renewed confidence.
More Than Just an Art Class
We believe that healing doesn't happen in isolation. One of the most powerful aspects of our program is the bond that forms when people create side-by-side.
A Shared Language: Art gives your group a new way to communicate feelings that words often miss.
Deepening Bonds: Witnessing the creativity of peers builds empathy and breaks down social barriers, turning a group of individuals into a supportive community.
Safe Exploration: We foster a 'no-judgment' zone where participants feel supported not just by us, but by each other.
Professional Standards You Can Trust
We know that bringing an external program into your facility or group requires trust.
Fully Insured: Art From The Heart LLC is a fully insured business, giving facility directors and private groups total peace of mind.
Mobile & Turn-Key: We bring the studio to you. We handle all materials, setup, and cleanup, so you can focus on the experience.
Clinically Informed: Unlike a standard paint-and-sip, our curriculum is informed by therapeutic principles to ensure emotional safety for vulnerable populations.
Ready to Create with Us?
Let’s bring creativity and connection to your community.
Contact Us
Let’s Bring Art to Your Community!
Ready to schedule a session? Whether you need a one-time workshop or a recurring monthly program, we make it easy. We bring the supplies, the instruction, and the fun—you just provide the participants!
Please fill out the form, and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
In your typed message, please let us know:
Type of Facility (Senior Living, Individual or Group)
Estimated number of participants