MEET TEKLA
TEKLA
BENSON (SHE/HER)
MPS,
LCAT,
ATR-BC.
My Mission
Psychodynamic creative arts therapy with Tekla Benson LCAT, ATR-BC aims to offer a supportive, compassionate space where you can explore your thoughts, express your creativity, and gain a deeper understanding of yourself. I work with individuals to help them embrace their distinct ways of thinking, feeling, and perceiving the world. Whether you're seeking psychotherapy, creative arts therapy, life coaching, or couples counseling, I provide a space where your individuality is honored.
Through psychodynamic creative arts therapy, we explore not only your current challenges but also the deeper, unconscious forces that may influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This approach invites you to uncover past experiences, unresolved conflicts, and underlying patterns that shape how you relate to yourself and others. The creative arts offer a powerful tool to access and express these hidden parts of the psyche, providing a nonverbal way to process and integrate these insights.
For those who are neurodivergent, psychodynamic therapy can be especially transformative, as it helps illuminate how your unique neurobiological wiring affects your emotional world and relationships. We’ll work together to create a therapeutic experience tailored to your needs, helping you gain deeper self-awareness, understand the roots of your challenges, and develop healthier, more adaptive ways of navigating life.
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Services include:
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Psychotherapy
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Creative Arts Therapy
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Life Coaching
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Couples Counseling
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I create a safe, judgment-free space for individuals and couples to explore their emotions and relationships, focusing on improving communication and fostering deeper emotional connections. By integrating creativity, neurodivergence awareness, cultural sensitivity, and continuous learning, I empower clients to grow, heal, and navigate life's challenges with resilience and humor.
EXPERIENCE
Exhibited artwork in group shows at the Pictor Gallery in Chelsea with the LCAT Coalition and at the Van Der Plas Gallery in the LES.
Currently working remotely as Psychodynamic Creative Arts Therapist through Alma.
Psychodynamic Therapist with Therapy24x7 in New York (2023 - 2025).
Creative Arts Therapist & Yoga-Movement Instructor
The Patient Palette (2021 – 2023).
Art Therapist & School Crisis Counselor with Counseling in Schools/Project Hope NY in Brooklyn (2021 - 2022).
Founded "Art for the Heart" program at The Village Preschool Center in the West Village, Manhattan. Taught preschool classes and led Yoga groups (2016 - 2021).
Led art therapy groups and individual sessions with preschool children on the Autism Spectrum at The League in Brooklyn. (2020)
MPS in Creative Arts Therapy with Honors from Pratt Institute (Graduated: 2020).
Freelance artist and graphic designer (2011-2018).
BFA in Illustration from Parsons The New School for Design (Graduated: 2011).
My Philosophy
Relationship-Based Approach
Creating a safe, supportive space is essential for effective therapy, where clients can freely express their emotions and thoughts without fear of judgment. Through exploring relationship dynamics, we uncover underlying patterns, unresolved conflicts, and past experiences that shape current interactions. By focusing on improving communication, individuals and couples learn to express their needs clearly and listen actively, fostering deeper emotional connections. This collaborative process helps clients appreciate their differences, resolve issues, and ultimately build a more fulfilling life.
Holistic Healing through Creativity
Creativity is a powerful tool for self-exploration and healing. By combining art-based interventions and somatic therapies with psychodynamic practices, I create a judgment-free space for individuals and couples to freely express themselves and explore their emotions. This approach is especially beneficial for neurodivergent individuals, as I place emphasis on respecting diverse ways of processing and communicating emotions.
Understanding Neurodivergence
When working with neurodivergent individuals and couples, it’s crucial to consider how traits associated with Autism, ADHD, and other neurodiverse characteristics impact emotional expression and behavior. Exploring these differences fosters greater empathy and helps minimize misunderstandings.
Culturally Competent Care
My therapeutic practice is intentionally inclusive, trauma-informed, and rooted in an intersectional framework that affirms the full complexity of who my clients are. I hold space for those who identify within the LGBTQIA2S+ spectrum; for gender-expansive, transgender, nonbinary, agender, genderfluid, and gender-nonconforming folks; and for individuals whose identities, relationships, and life paths fall outside of mainstream norms. This includes people navigating polyamory, consensual non-monogamy, kink dynamics, sex work, and unconventional careers or family structures. I remain committed to anti-racism, while acknowledging the ongoing learning and unlearning that is part of practicing accountability. I also work with individuals from a wide range of spiritual or religious backgrounds—as well as those who identify as secular or non-religious—without imposing any belief system. You are welcome here in your full self, without judgment or the need to explain your existence.
Ongoing Learning
I’m dedicated to continuous learning to stay connected to new insights and best practices in my field, ensuring I provide the most relevant and effective support. As part of this, I offer psychoeducation during sessions to help clients better understand the therapeutic process and its impact on their mental health and overall well-being—empowering them to grow and gain deeper insights into their own journey.
The Power of Humor
Humor can be a profound tool for connection and healing. When appropriate, laughter helps lighten heavy moments, offering new perspectives and fostering a sense of ease during the therapeutic process.
Empowerment and Growth
My goal is to empower clients to actively engage in their healing journey. I provide tools and strategies to foster personal growth and resilience, helping individuals confidently navigate their challenges.
I look forward to meeting you!
