Associate Art Therapist

Meet Pelkey! (they/them)

Specializing in LGBTQIA+ issues and gender affirming care, anxiety/depression, complex trauma, and neurodiversity.

Openings currently limited @ Pittsford. Please contact for availability. $125 self-pay rate.

As people, we often find ourselves feeling confined by the beliefs of friends, family, and society. It can be paralyzing trying to meet what are often conflicting expectations, leaving us with chronic feelings of anxiety, stress, and shame. It can feel as if you are compromising your true self to please other people, struggling to balance what you want for yourself and what others ask of you. Thinking about the person that you want to be can be stressful, but self-discovery is a crucial step towards leading a more fulfilled life.

Struggling with identity and self-confidence is a common issue for many LGBTQ+ people since stigma, discrimination, and trauma often accompany those who are a part of this community. As such, it can be difficult to find a safe, non-judgmental space to explore one’s identity. As a therapist, I employ aspects of Person Centered Art Therapy to create a space for uncensored self-exploration through the creation of artwork. Themes of approaching with curiosity, self-compassion, and self-worth are commonly explored. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) I help you address unhelpful and repetitive cycles of thoughts and actions that are hindering your ability to do the things you want to do. With trauma-informed and neurodivergent approaches I hope to help you identify barriers to taking action toward your values and life goals while learning to maximize on your own unique skill set. Overall I believe that my role as a therapist is to support you in your journey toward an authentic and fulfilling life, while gently challenging and helping you process experiences from your past that may be keeping you stuck.

  • Do you find yourself feeling disconnected from yourself or others?
  • Do you feel like you are stuck in cycles of negative thinking?
  • Are you often finding yourself dealing with feelings of anxiety, stress, sadness, or frustration?
  • Have you been questioning your gender or sexuality, and are in need of a supportive and safe place for exploration?
  • Do you struggle with your identity and finding acceptance from yourself and others?
  • Do you have difficulties with setting and achieving goals and finding motivation?
  • Do you suspect you have ADHD or autism?
  • Are you looking for a therapist who is personally part of the LGBTQPIA+ community?

If the answer to many of these is yes, please reach out to see how I can help. You can email me below or give me a call at 585-430-9877 x706.

E.S. Pelkey, LCAT-P is working under a limited permit for creative arts therapy in New York State and is under supervision by Sarah Beren, LCAT. Pelkey has an MS from Nazareth College in creative arts therapy and has been practicing art-based psychotherapy since 2022.

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” 

aristotle

Contact Pelkey