Alexa Perillo, LPAT, LPC, ATR-BC Psychotherapist & Creative Arts Therapist Alexa Perillo is a Licensed Psychotherapist and Licensed Professional Art Therapist specializing in working with children, adolescents, and young adults. Alexa has expertise in supporting siblings or children of individuals with serious medical diagnoses, anxiety, depression, and grief. Alexa strives to create a safe space for creative exploration, healing, and growth, tailoring each session to the client’s specific needs and interests. Alexa uses a client-centered approach, believing that each session is an opportunity for the client to develop a deeper awareness of the self, learn to build tolerance for uncomfortable emotions and strengthen self-compassion. Alexa uses evidenced-based, solution-focused, and strength-based modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and creative arts therapy. As one of the few Licensed Professional Art Therapists (LPAT) in New Jersey, Alexa incorporates art into the session to help individuals express and process emotions that may be difficult to communicate with words. Alexa believes that art is a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery, and incorporates it into treatment to strengthen the internal locus of control, process through metaphor, and help individuals gain a sense of mastery. Alexa engages children in the session in creative and playful ways, quickly building strong, trusting therapeutic relationships. Additionally, Alexa is a registered yoga instructor (RYT-200) certified in yoga for anxiety and depression and incorporates mindfulness techniques into her sessions. Alexa has spent years refining her skills working with individuals in outpatient, partial hospitalization, and hospital settings. She has provided individual and group therapy to infants and up with a wide variety of mental health and medical needs. Alexa has seen first-hand the benefits that therapy can have on a wide variety of populations, including children with a new medical diagnosis, children of divorce, young adults adjusting to big life changes, and individuals at the end of life. Alexa is an expert at supporting siblings and has presented in the community on how to support healthy siblings of children with Autism, cancer, and other complex needs. Alexa graduated with her B.A. from Rutgers University-New Brunswick, double majoring in Psychology and Visual Arts. Following, she continued her education at Caldwell University, where she received her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy.
