Sushi Frausto, M.A., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #101031)
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in Expressive Art Therapy. My practice entails using both talk therapy and the expressive arts to help strengthen the emotional well-being of my clients. I love working with children, teens and their families to help them grow in personal strengths, resiliency, emotional wellness and positive connection. I believe we are all a product of the systems we are connected to. Therefore I am passionate about strengthening and educating those systems so they can better understand, provide for and support our girls.
Specialties
My training is based in using the expressive arts combined with therapeutic approaches such as Narrative, Cognitive Behavioral, Dialectical and Developmental. My expressive arts training includes the use of art materials, drama, music, poetry, writing, play and all forms of creative expression to help clients engage and process at the deepest level. This is especially useful when working with children and teens.
Our youth need a safe place to explore and process all the myriad of challenges they face every day. I use our relationship, the therapy space and the arts to create that safe place for them. Furthermore, I work with parents, schools, doctors and other people in the young person’s life, to create a safe circle of care. I work with clients one on one, in groups and in the family unit.
My practice includes helping youth and their families:
• Manage worries, anxiety and stress
• Talk about difficult family situations, including divorce, illness or death
• Gain skills to navigate overwhelming feelings
• Learn and practice social skills
• Build self-esteem, self-awareness & self-acceptance
• Explore challenging situations
• Communicate more effectively
• Overcome emotional challenges such as depression, anxiety and emotional blocks
• Process trauma
Education:
Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Expressive Art therapy: California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco. Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology & Minor in Art History: Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. Drama Therapy Training from Living Arts Counseling Center, Oakland.
Other Experience:
Therapist and Clinical Care Coordinator with the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, Therapist for the Child Therapy Institute. Founder of Creative Aging which provides consulting on Expressive Arts and Person Centered Engagement for adults with Dementia and various other processing disorders. Currently a member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.
Mission:
My mission is to grow individual and community mental health and wellbeing by offering safe spaces, professional support, education and tools for self-exploration and growth.