Hello and Welcome!
Amy Bainton
Personal Statement…
No matter our age, we all have a life story. But where do these stories come from? What experiences do we hold on to that help shape how we see ourselves? Are we being kind with our self-perception? Although our feelings are valid, they are often driven by fear, not of fact. In therapy, I enjoy helping children, teens, families and adults redefine their inner story, moving beyond stuck feelings to a narrative of victory in the face of human challenges.
A major component of my work is going beyond just talk therapy and weaving in art therapy techniques. We experience the world through all five senses, and art therapy invites all of our senses to participate in the therapeutic process, allowing us to have a more expanded experience of who we are. Finding the right words or symbols for self-expression allows us to deepen our self-understanding and explore ourselves in new ways. This ultimately supports the client in reaching their goals and creating lasting change.
In my career, I have been amazed at witnessing the powerful transformation and reauthorization that can happen in the right safe and brave therapy space. I have found it rewarding to work with children and adolescents, both neurotypical and neurodivergent (or someone whose brain operates differently than the “typical” thinker). Through my clinical experience in school-based settings, I have developed a passion for serving youths who often do not check the “typical learner” box, empowering them to develop needed self-advocacy skills and a foundational belief in their ability to achieve milestones despite learning challenges. Providing a means of alternative expression through open-ended art making, where there is no wrong answer, gives permission for play, exploration, and agency around the creative process. This gives clients the chance to thrive in strengthening their gifts that they may not feel recognized for in other settings.
Another core interest of mine is serving youths experiencing anxiety. Children of all ages, teens, and their families are faced with the need to develop a toolkit of strategies and techniques to combat growing anxieties, especially in today’s world. The ultimate aim of therapy is to support a sense of self-agency over a client’s mental well-being, develop the mental flexibility to handle what is in the present moment, and strengthen resilience for any challenges that may come their way.
I am not here to be the expert of my client’s stories; they are the expert of their lives and where they want to see themselves. I am looking forward to being a collaborative person to help my clients live the authentic life they want to live. I create a welcoming therapy space to focus on the here-and-now, to develop confidence and self-advocacy skills, and to re-define negative self-talk. I would serve as a consultant for growth, acting as a co-author to the client’s evolving narrative of resilience. Change starts when we learn to quiet the “I can’t” and instead say “I can’t, yet, but I will.”
About Me…
I am an artist based in the Bay Area of California. I work primarily in drawing, painting, and needlework. I enjoy exploring the meditative routes of various mediums towards contending with physical tensions, finding joy, and creating time to pause and reflect.
In May 2021, I completed my B.A. with a concentration in Visual Arts and a minor in Psychology from the University of San Diego. In the Fall of 2021, I began my Master’s of Marriage and Family Therapy (Art Therapy) at Dominican University of California’s Art Therapy Psychology program in San Rafael, CA.
In December 2023, I completed my Practicum Experience after working as a Therapist Trainee at a Bay Area-based Children’s Hospital and at two elementary schools. I also gained experience as a Social Emotional Learning Therapist Trainee in a school-based setting. I enjoyed the opportunities to develop my therapeutic skills while learning to create assessments, treatment plans, and art-based interventions for the patients and K-5th grade student populations I served. I am honored to have supported my community through these academic opportunities, earning over one thousand experience hours.
In May 2025, I completed my master’s thesis research project titled “A Quantitative Study Comparing the Effects of Physical and Digital Mandala Coloring on Anxiety in High School Students,” available through Dominican Archbishop Alemany Library.
Also in May 2025, I completed my Master’s of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy (Art Therapy) degree.
In July 2025, I began my associate work in a private practice setting to support the mental health needs of my Bay Area community.
I am also excited to announce that since the Fall of 2025, I have been in Dominican University of California’s PhD in Art Therapy Psychology program! Over the three years of the PhD coursework, I will continue my art therapy studies, participate in community outreach projects, and complete a doctoral dissertation.
For my current resume and/or thesis paper, please email me at amybainton@gmail.com.