About Krista Harrison, MA
I’m a mother, writer, collage artist and tarot student who is also trained as an expressive arts facilitator and educator, postpartum doula, depth hypnotherapist and psychotherapist. I serve on the Board of Directors for Institute for Poetic Medicine. You can view my professional experience here.
In 2015, I gave birth to my son. Childbirth was intense, challenging and otherworldly. In the minutes and hours following my son's birth, I felt empowered, exhausted and thankful for the support I received throughout pregnancy and birth.
Then we came home. Supportive visits from family and friends slowed, my husband went back to work and the money we designated for a postpartum doula went towards paying our hospital bill. Without local family and a 30-minute drive to my nearest friend, I felt alone, overwhelmed and conflicted about my new life as a mother.
For two years, I clumsily navigated postpartum depression. It was a grueling journey – and all the while I knew I was in the midst of something powerful. I’m blown away by the simultaneous beauty and intensity of the motherhood threshold. For those of us who feel like we’ve landed on the dark side of the moon, I want to affirm that, with support and resources, this trek through the underworld can be healing and transformative.
Looking back, what I needed as a new mother was:
Expressive art is a trusted ally, mirror, container and resource for such a journey. So, this is what I'm working on these days: visioning up creative ways to bring this nurturing and illuminating resource to mothers, fathers, parents and caretakers. I've made a conscious decision to hang up my psychotherapist hat for the time being so that I can explore this work with fresh eyes and a spirit of re-invention.
Being that much of my energy is tied up in toddler wrangling (toddlers...just, wow!), my visioning and ideas take longer to come into fruition. I will update this site with blog entries and resources (as I'm able) and service offerings (as they become available).
In the meantime, feel free to drop me an email if you'd like to connect!
In 2015, I gave birth to my son. Childbirth was intense, challenging and otherworldly. In the minutes and hours following my son's birth, I felt empowered, exhausted and thankful for the support I received throughout pregnancy and birth.
Then we came home. Supportive visits from family and friends slowed, my husband went back to work and the money we designated for a postpartum doula went towards paying our hospital bill. Without local family and a 30-minute drive to my nearest friend, I felt alone, overwhelmed and conflicted about my new life as a mother.
For two years, I clumsily navigated postpartum depression. It was a grueling journey – and all the while I knew I was in the midst of something powerful. I’m blown away by the simultaneous beauty and intensity of the motherhood threshold. For those of us who feel like we’ve landed on the dark side of the moon, I want to affirm that, with support and resources, this trek through the underworld can be healing and transformative.
Looking back, what I needed as a new mother was:
- practical support, time and space to replenish my reserves
- to feel understood and validated
- unflappable space holders
- connection to something bigger than myself
- a container to hold the inner alchemy initiated by birth and postpartum
Expressive art is a trusted ally, mirror, container and resource for such a journey. So, this is what I'm working on these days: visioning up creative ways to bring this nurturing and illuminating resource to mothers, fathers, parents and caretakers. I've made a conscious decision to hang up my psychotherapist hat for the time being so that I can explore this work with fresh eyes and a spirit of re-invention.
Being that much of my energy is tied up in toddler wrangling (toddlers...just, wow!), my visioning and ideas take longer to come into fruition. I will update this site with blog entries and resources (as I'm able) and service offerings (as they become available).
In the meantime, feel free to drop me an email if you'd like to connect!
Licenses, Certifications and Trainings
Degrees
- From Trauma to Triumph: When Survivors Give Birth, Selena Shelly, MA, CD, LCCE, CHBE
- Certified Postpartum Doula, Cornerstone Doula Trainings,
- Mothering Arts Group Leader Training, Mothering Arts
- Psychosynthesis Coaching, Level 1 (60 hr training), The Synthesis Center
- Certified Hypnotist in the Spiritual Counseling Practice of Depth Hypnosis, Foundation of the Sacred Stream
- Advanced Applied Shamanism and Shamanic Counseling, Foundation of the Sacred Stream
- California Marriage and Family Therapist, license #50679
Degrees
- Masters in Counseling Psychology, Concentration in Expressive Arts Therapy, California Institute of Integral Studies
- BA Communications, minor Psychology, Rutgers University