Creative arts psychotherapy for adults and couples to help them find a way forward

WHAT WE’RE ALL ABOUT

The Messy Truth is a psychotherapy practice that uses creative arts therapy to help clients better understand themselves and deal with life’s challenges.

So often in difficult situations, it can be hard to find the words for what you’re going through. If you’re feeling stuck in your current ways of managing stress, trauma, anxiety, grief, or something else, Maggie Lines, a licensed therapist, can help you get the thoughts out of your head and onto the paper – using tools such as paint, collage, weaving, and more. We can’t promise perfection or an instant fix, but we can give you the space, tools, and new perspectives to move forward and live a fuller life.

MEET YOUR THERAPIST

Maggie Lines, founder of The Messy Truth, is licensed as a creative arts therapist in the state of New York.

Maggie began her career as a graphic designer. An unexpected by-product of art school was that Maggie first learned about the power of processing emotions and past experiences through art. Deeply moved by the practice, she began to dream of combining her passions for art-making and mental health, and eventually went on to earn her Master of Professional Studies in Creative Arts Therapy and Creativity Development from the Pratt Institute.

Before founding The Messy Truth, Maggie trained in addiction recovery and worked in several in-patient psychiatric facilities, where she was privileged to embrace the full rawness and vulnerability of people’s heaviest moments. When Maggie isn’t helping clients embrace the mess, she enjoys beachcombing with her dogs, riding her bike through Brooklyn, and finding hidden spots of creativity throughout the city.

FAQ

There’s no such thing as a dumb question.

I thought art therapy was for kids...

That’s a common misconception, and our culture tends to perpetuate the myth that art isn’t for adults. We love using art at The Messy Truth because it can help us move out of the more logic-driven rooms in our brain and re-experience the brave play and honesty of childhood.

What will we do in a session? What will our time together look like?

In sessions where art-making is used, we might paint, draw, weave, or make collages together. Your therapist will draw from their training to ask questions about what you made and use it to help guide the discussion.

What if I’m a terrible artist?

Even better! Using art in therapy isn’t about creating something perfect. It’s about letting go of control and getting curious about what comes out.

Do we have to use art?

You are the captain of our ship, and you’ll decide where we’ll go – meaning that if you’d prefer to approach our work together through traditional talk therapy, we can do that! Or, if you’d like to dive into art as a way of processing what you’re going through, we can do that, too. Some days may be a blend of both. The bottom line? Our sessions will be what we make them together.

Will my art reveal things about myself that I haven't disclosed to you yet?

Part of the beauty of art therapy is that only you get to decide what you made. Your therapist is in the room to provide you with guidance and questions for understanding your work. Consent is very important to us at The Messy Truth. We will never pressure you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with.

Are you going to give me a Rorschach test?

No, but don’t worry – there are plenty of other tools we can play with!

Do you take insurance?

We are out of network for all insurance plans; however, we partner with a service called Reimbursify, which allows you to maximize those out of network benefits.

We know what a pain it can be to call your insurance and find out your benefits. Reimbursify allows us to cut out the middleman and look those details up in real time. During your free consultation call, we can tell you if you have out of network benefits, what your deductible is, how much you’ve paid towards your deductible so far, and what percentage you will be reimbursed once you have met your deductible.

Once you become a client, following your sessions, we will submit your out of network claim for you. No need to lift a finger.

Can I afford you?

We work on a sliding scale. Pricing is $175 for each 45-minute session, but we can discuss cost options if you need help affording your therapy.

Is The Messy Truth right for me?

Only you can answer that, of course. But if you’re feeling stuck in your current ways of managing stress, trauma, anxiety, grief, or something else, we’d love to help.

Let’s Talk!

We would be honored to come alongside you and help you do the work of unpacking life’s experiences. To get started, please sign up for a free 20-minute teletherapy consultation using the link below.