About Ruth Blaikie

Ruth Blaikie, MA, LMFT, AT

Hello. My name is Ruth Blaikie. I am a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Art Therapist. My practice is located in Edmonds, Washington.

In 1996 I graduated from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. There I received a double Master's degree in Marriage & Family Therapy and Art Therapy. My Washington State Marriage & Family License # is LF-60134867.

In 2014, I received Level 1 & Level 2 training in EMDR from the EMDR Institute, and am working towards certification.

In addition to being a therapist, I am also an artist of over 35 years. Most recently, I've been drawn towards fiber arts, and am having a good time exploring this vast medium. Prior to that, finger-painting with water soluble oils was my passion; it is very freeing, challenging and a great source of expression. The previous 10 years were spent creating mosaics for private commission, for sale in nurseries, and for private home installation. Also, I've taught art classes in community, private and public school based settings. All of this experience has contributed well towards my work as an Art Therapist

I opened my private practice in 1998 and have worked with children, teens and adults experiencing a range of issues. Some of the issues include; stress, trauma, developmental trauma, grief & loss, depression, anger, family conflicts, abuse, violence, attachment issues, transition/adjustment issues, chaos, instability, relationship conflicts, safety issues, compassion fatigue, self-care, resource building, and personal growth.

Over the years, I've gained specialized training and experience in working with Dissociative Identity Disorder clients, and survivors of extreme trauma. Combining Art Therapy and The Core Integrity model of treatment has been very successful in terms of reducing symptoms, reducing chaos, reducing hospitalizations, and improving a sense of self-mastery for the client. These outcomes translate to improving the quality of one's life.

Some work history...

Prior to setting up private practice, I gained experience in many therapeutic settings. Such settings include:

1. Support Network for Battered Women in Palo Alto, California. Conducted a school-based violence prevention program in an elementary school setting. Worked with the at-risk children, their families, and ran violence prevention/social skills/conflict resolution groups for the kids in K-6. Heavily utilized art therapy and play therapy with the children's groups and individual sessions.

2. Menlo Park V.A. Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Unit. This was a men's inpatient recovery unit where I co-facilitated Art Therapy groups and conducted individual sessions. All interventions followed the 12-step recovery model. During the weekly AA/NA/CODA meetings, I established a weekly Art Therapy group for the men's young children which gave them a place to share their feelings, make connections, and learn coping skills.

3. Ryther Child Center. Facilitated Art Therapy groups in an open art studio setting for the teens who were in the residential recovery unit. These adolescents were often dually diagnosed with an addiction issue as well as another mental health diagnosis. Abuse, trauma, gang involvement, abandonment, addiction, violence and other high-risk issues were often a part of their histories. By providing a compassionate, accepting and non-threatening environment and approach to the art, the kids had the opportunity to express themselves non-verbally through creative art expressions. In discussing the art, they began to verbally express themselves. This fostered deeper therapeutic processes and healing.

4. Community Psychiatric Clinic. Worked with children, teens and families as a therapist on the Child and Family Team. Conducted individual and group sessions for teens who were high-risk youth, experiencing depression, suffering from attachment issues, or in need of social skills programs. Involved in the Jr. High and High School outreach program doing groups and individual work. Developed Art Therapy groups for depressed teens, and was a consultant for other clinicians regarding their client artwork. Was active with the Domestic Violence Network, and presented at their 1997 Conference: "Art Therapy and Children of Domestic Violence".

Professional Memberships and Affiliations.

Current member in good standing in several professional organizations:

American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy

http://www.aamft.org

Washington Association for Marriage & Family Therapy

http://www.wamft.org

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing International Association

www.emdria.org

American Art Therapy Association

http://www.arttherapy.org

Evergreen Art Therapy Association

http://www.evergreenata.org