Meet Rumi
Hello visitor, and welcome! I'm Rumi (they/them), previously known as Nina. I am a board-certified and licensed creative arts psychotherapist (ATR-BC, LCAT) practicing virtually in New York State. I received my BA in Psychology and Studio Art from Lawrence University and my Master's degree in Art Therapy and Creative Development from Pratt Institute in 2019.
I've had a powerful relationship with the creative arts since childhood—I LOVED clay, chalk, paint, and anything messy. Whenever I felt angry, sad, excited, restless, or frustrated, I remember how satisfying it was to put my body into the art materials. In high school, I studied abroad and volunteered in hospitals and nursing homes, bringing creative modalities of enjoyment to patients and residents. I could see the power that nonverbal ways of connecting had on people's hearts and knew this was an area I needed to pursue.
In college, I studied music performance and art. While I enjoyed it, I found the technical focus and "right or wrong" way to express limiting. I realized I wanted to pursue a creative path where there was no right or wrong way to create—and this is what eventually led me to a career as a creative art therapist.
My therapy work has included supporting a wide range of vulnerable populations in need of mental health support, community services, and inner healing. I have worked with children below the poverty line who had just immigrated to the United States, adults with co-occurring disorders of substance use and severe and persistent mental illness, and currently work with LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults who have a wide range of developmental, neurodivergent, and mental health needs.
For more personal facts about me: I am a non-binary, queer, neurodivergent (AuDHD), leftist, anti-Zionist Ashkenazi Jew living on the ancestral land of the Lënapehòkink Lenape people in Philadelphia, PA. I am the proud owner of two adorable sibling cats and many houseplants. I enjoy everything about nature and being outdoors, Japanese cuisine and culture ( I was an exchange student there multiple times), and I'm also a big nerd—I love anime, sci-fi, LOTR, Star Wars, and old school Nintendo video games.
“You do not just wake up and become the butterfly
-growth is a process”
— Rupi Kaur
My Approach
I value the fact that the therapeutic relationship is a collaborative one and building the kind of relationship where you feel safe, connected, seen, and heard is my top priority. Our emotions, our stories, and life experiences are the best teachers when it comes to understanding ourselves. In my work, I am committed to supporting you with making sense of those experiences so that you can be more in alignment with every part of your authentic being. I value clients who are curious, creative, motivated, and dedicated to their healing process.
As a board-certified and licensed Creative Art Psychotherapist, I can offer you both art and talk therapy to support you with whatever is bringing you to the therapeutic space. We can work creatively together towards your goals whether that is discovering/rediscovering your creative self, life blocks and how to navigate them, strengthening and uncovering personal qualities, and how you can incorporate a therapeutic art practice into your day-to-day routine/life.
Click the button below to learn more about what services I offer and what services are right for your needs.
This space is inclusive and welcoming to clients of all genders, races, ethnic identities, countries of origin, sexual orientations, faiths, abilities, and bodies.
Cultural Acknowledgments
As a white Creative Art Psychotherapist, it is my responsibility to acknowledge the marginalized cultures and communities from which my Westernized training in Creative Arts Therapy is rooted, including but not limited to Indigenous, African, and Eastern practices. I recognize that I have benefited from these traditions, often without proper attribution or reciprocity to the communities who developed them.
I recognize that as a white therapist, I benefit from systems of privilege and have a responsibility to actively work against racism in my practice and beyond. This commitment includes:
Making annual financial contributions to BIPOC-led organizations as a form of reparations when able such as Asian Mental Health Collective, WeRNative, Therapy for Latinx, National Queer and Trans People of Color Network, and War child
Ongoing self-education on racism, white supremacy, and their impacts on mental health
Regular participation in cultural competency and anti-racism trainings
Deepening my understanding of racial trauma and its intergenerational effects
Centering non-carceral, community-based approaches to healing and accountability
While I am a mandated reporter, I am committed to using carceral interventions (involving law enforcement or institutional systems) only as a last resort. I prioritize working collaboratively with clients to explore community-based supports and resources whenever possible, recognizing the harm these systems have caused—and continue to cause—particularly to BIPOC communities.
I understand that as a white person, my journey towards ethical allyship is lifelong, and that despite my best intentions, I am still capable of making mistakes and causing harm. I strive to create a practice where clients from all backgrounds feel safe, seen, and understood. I view cultural humility as an ongoing practice, not a destination, and I remain open to feedback, accountability, and continued growth.
Affliations
Certification in Levels 1, 2, & 3 Integrative Parts Work, The Embody Lab
Board Certified, ATR-BC (#21-340) and Licensed Creative Arts Therapist, LCAT (#002598) from the ATCB, Art Therapy Credentials Board and NYS Department of Education.
Pratt Institute, MPS in Creative Arts Therapy and Creative Development, 2019
