About
Kim Gibson, MS, LPCC, ATR
Hi! Welcome to my private practice website! I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and a registered Art Therapist (ATR) & have been working with clients since 2001.
In my private practice, I work with individuals, ages 10 to adult. Clients have described me as creative, kind, resourceful and effective. I’m a strengths based therapist and have training in art therapy, trauma, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), ACT (acceptance & commitment therapy ) DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) skills and mindfulness. Using my training and experience, I enjoy helping clients overcome challenges, build healthier relationships, and learn coping tools for anxiety, depression, substance abuse, chronic pain and/or everyday stress. At the end of our time together, I want my clients to feel empowered and capable of making positive changes.
In addition to my private practice, prior to Covid, I also worked part time at Reflections, which was an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) at Olympia Medical Center. (It closed in April 2020). All of the clients I worked with at Olympia had a mental health diagnosis, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar or schizophrenia. Most of them also had a history of trauma and/or a high ACE (adverse childhood events) score. I really enjoyed being part of the Reflections team. Whether in IOP or in private practice, it is an honor & privilege to be part of someone's journey.
Please have a look around at my website and reach out; let me know if you have any questions or if you’d like more information. Thank you! -Kim
Additional Info
Licenses
Registered Art Therapist (ATR) #03-054
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) #605
Education
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Studio Art & Psychology
University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, Indiana)
Masters of Science in Art Therapy
Nazareth College of Rochester (Rochester, New York)
Research & thesis: "A Visual Investigation: Artwork by Children & Adolescents Receiving Chronic Blood Transfusions for Sickle Cell Anemia or Thalassemia." Using 5 different art therapy assessments and 3 psychosocial questionnaires, I explored coping mechanisms, feelings about illness and expectations for the future in children and teens.
Masters of Counseling
Cal State Long Beach (Long Beach, California)
Clinical Experiences & Internships
I began practicing as a clinician in 2001. Since then, I have provided art therapy & counseling in several settings including a children’s medical hospital, a domestic violence shelter, a group private practice and in group homes for adolescents. I also worked for many years at Southern California Hospital. There, I provided group and individual therapy to clients in their inpatient and outpatient mental health, detox and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs.
Professional Memberships
- American Counseling Association (ACA),
- American Art Therapy Association (AATA)
- Southern California Art Therapy Association (SoCalATA).
- Member of EMDRIA (professional association for EMDR practitioners)
- Member of ACBS (Association of Contextual Behavioral Science)
