Lynne Margaret Brown
Art Counsellor
Integrative, psychological, and art counselor offering reflective, creative, and culturally attuned support for anxiety, grief, life transitions, isolation, intercultural stress, and emotional or creative blocks.
I specialise in:
About me
I am an integrative psychological counselor, expressive arts therapy practitioner, educator, and multidisciplinary artist. My work draws upon more than 25 years of experience spanning counseling, higher education, expressive arts, community mental health, and international educational settings in both the United States and Germany. I am currently completing an M.A. in General Psychology at Touro University Berlin and completed advanced training in Expressive Arts Therapy through the Step Ahead Institute in collaboration with the European Graduate School (EGS). I also hold an M.Phil. in Aesthetic Philosophy from the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA), with all doctoral study complete, as well as an M.A. in Art & Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, an M.A. in Studio Art from New York University, and a B.F.A. in Visual Arts from Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts. Together, these experiences have shaped an integrative approach that brings together psychology, expressive arts, philosophy, and education to support meaningful and lasting personal growth.
Throughout my career, I have worked as a university lecturer, educator, program manager, and practicing artist. In Berlin, I co-developed, wrote, secured funding for, and facilitated grant-funded expressive arts-based mental health programs supporting refugee adolescents and young adults. This work integrated counseling, psychoeducation, and creative, nonverbal approaches to strengthen resilience, agency, belonging, and emotional well-being. Working alongside people from diverse cultural, educational, and life backgrounds has continually reinforced my belief that every person’s story, strengths, and challenges deserve to be met with curiosity, respect, and compassion.
I believe therapy is most meaningful when people feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood. For me, therapy is not about someone telling you who you are or what you should do. Rather, it is about creating a supportive space where you can slow down, reflect, better understand yourself, and build on the strengths you already possess.
My work is informed by psychology, philosophy, expressive arts, mindfulness, and phenomenological inquiry, but I believe each person’s lived experience is our most important starting point. Together, we explore your thoughts, emotions, and life experiences in ways that best support your individual needs and goals. Our work may be entirely conversational or, when it feels helpful, may also include creative and expressive approaches. No artistic experience is required - creativity is simply one of many ways we can deepen insight, foster resilience, and discover new possibilities for growth.
I support people experiencing anxiety, stress, grief, life transitions, identity questions, relationship challenges, intercultural adjustment, burnout, and creative or emotional blocks. I work particularly well with people navigating change, including artists, educators, expats, and internationally mobile clients. Having lived and worked between New York and Berlin for many years, I understand many of the opportunities and challenges that accompany relocation, cultural transition, building a life between countries, and finding a sense of belonging in unfamiliar places. My aim is to offer a thoughtful, grounded, and culturally responsive space where we work together at a pace that feels right for you, supporting resilience, self-understanding, and meaningful, lasting change. Sessions are currently available online in English, and I also have an intermediate understanding of German.
I speak:
Location:
Approach
My approach is grounded in a thoughtful, collaborative, and non-judgmental space where we explore thoughts, emotions, and life experiences through conversation and when helpful, creative processes. I tailor each session to the individual, supporting emotional regulation, self-understanding, resilience, and meaningful change.
I integrate established psychological approaches with expressive arts, mindfulness, and body-based methods, combining reflective conversation with experiential and creative practice. My work is also informed by a phenomenological perspective, paying close attention to lived experience, perception, and the meanings that emerge in the present moment. Together, we explore not only how patterns are understood, but also how they are experienced and transformed.
Cultural sensitivity and inclusivity are central to my practice. I welcome people from diverse backgrounds and remain attentive to the ways culture, migration, language, identity, and personal history shape our experiences. I see each client as an active participant in their own process, offering a supportive framework that helps strengthen insight, resilience, and personal growth. Depending on your needs, sessions may be primarily conversational or may also include creative and expressive approaches. No artistic experience is required.
Experience
With 25+ years of experience across the US and Germany, I support adults, adolescents, children, families, and communities through counseling, expressive arts, education, and community mental health. My work integrates expressive arts, psychoeducation, mindfulness, and trauma-informed, person-centered approaches to foster resilience, creativity, self-awareness, and growth.
Expressive Arts Therapy Practitioner | Step Ahead Institute Berlin / European Graduate School (EGS), Switzerland (2019–Present)
Completed advanced training in Expressive Arts Therapy with direct client work, supervision, and experiential practice. Co-developed, secured funding for, and led the Unbreakable, Unbreakable 2.0, and EmpowerArts programs, providing expressive arts interventions for young refugee women, adolescent girls, and high school students in Berlin.
Coach, Educator & Teacher | SB Weismann PT & Private Practice (2017–Present) – Coaching and English-language instruction for adults, supporting communication and confidence, professional development, and well-being.
Program Manager | NYCTS, New York (2008–Present) – Design and manage community health, safety, youth development, and psychoeducational programs with schools, educators, and community partners in NYC and Long Island.
Additional experience: University Lecturer & Field Supervisor, Licensed K–12 Art Teacher, International Arts Leadership, Free Arts NYC, and Arman Studio, New York.
Education
2025–2027
Master of Arts (M.A.), General Psychology (in progress)
Touro University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Continuing advanced study in psychology alongside research and professional development in expressive arts therapy.
2022–2026
Advanced Practitioner Certificate, Expressive Arts Therapy
Step Ahead Institute, Berlin, Germany, in collaboration with the European Graduate School (EGS), Saas-Fee, Switzerland
2022
Certificate in Trauma Therapy – Expressive Arts in Transition (EXIT)
European Graduate School (EGS), Valletta, Malta
2019–2022
Certificate, Expressive Arts Therapy Practitioner
Step Ahead Institute, Berlin, Germany, in collaboration with the European Graduate School (EGS), Saas-Fee, Switzerland
2018
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.), Aesthetic Philosophy - Doctoral coursework completed
Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts (IDSVA), Portland, Maine, USA
Completed all doctoral study. International doctoral seminars and research in Tuscany, Venice, Rome, Istanbul, and Paris.
2013
Master of Arts (M.A.), Studio Art
New York University, New York, USA
Studies completed in New York, Venice, Italy, and Berlin, Germany.
2001
Master of Arts (M.A.), Art & Art Education
Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, USA
Permanent teaching certification in Art Education: New York (Pre-K–12) and New Jersey (K–5).
1993
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Visual Arts
Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Individual Session
Insurances
