Chelsea Bradburn, MA, LAPC, ATR®

Whether you've never picked up a paintbrush or you consider yourself a seasoned creative, Chelsea believes art therapy has something powerful to offer you, and she's spent years proving it.

Chelsea is a multifaceted art therapist with a rich and varied background, having worked with people of all ages and walks of life: neurodivergent children and teens, adolescents and adults in substance abuse recovery, older adults, cancer patients, incarcerated youth, and individuals and groups virtually. For the past two and a half years, her work has centered on facilitating art therapy in residential rehabilitation settings; holding space for some of the most courageous healing journeys imaginable.

Her experience spans so many corners of the human experience from grief, to life transitions, co-occurring disorders, low self-esteem, neurodivergency, and more. Chelsea understands that struggle doesn't come in just one shape. Neither does healing.

Chelsea's approach is integrative, intentional, and deeply human. She weaves together expressive arts therapy, somatic techniques, and mindful meditation to create a space where creativity and emotional expression can coexist safely and authentically. For Chelsea, art therapy isn't just a clinical tool, it's a form of embodiment and a way of life.

She is also certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Usui Reiki, bringing even more depth and nuance to her practice.

If you've ever wondered whether art therapy is for you… Chelsea's answer is a resounding yes. She can't wait to create with you!

My Story

Chelsea has always had a love for creating. Growing up, art making was a natural part of who she was, though as a teenager, she never quite saw herself as an artist. Like so many of us, she carried the limiting belief that she simply wasn't "good enough." So she skipped the art classes and kept that creative part of herself quietly tucked away. That all changed in college, when curiosity won out and she signed up for a painting class.

In 2015, Chelsea experienced a period of profound grief: nine unexpected losses in just eight months. She was in the middle of that first painting class, and without fully realizing it, she began using the canvas to process what words couldn't hold. Her paintings became a window into her inner world, reflecting her emotions and experiences in ways she hadn't yet found language for. It was her professor who gently pointed out what was already happening: Chelsea wasn't just making art, she was healing through it. That conversation changed everything. When her professor asked if she'd ever heard of art therapy, Chelsea had no idea what it was. But the moment she started researching it, something clicked. This was her calling.

She went on to earn her associate degree in Fine and Liberal Arts from CCBC, then transferred to Carlow University to pursue her Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy preparation. Her passion for the field only deepened from there. In 2020, she enrolled in Seton Hill University's master's program in Art Therapy with a specialization in Counseling and she never looked back. Chelsea's story is one of transformation through creativity, and it's exactly what drives her to walk alongside others in theirs.