Introducing Essence,
a space beyond words
A place where creativity, connection, and compassion come together to help you live a more authentic and fulfilling life through creative expression.
Why Creative Arts Therapy?
Creative expression allows us to access emotions, memories, and ways of knowing that can be difficult to reach through conversation alone. Whether through music, movement, visual art, drama, or storytelling, creative arts therapy offers new pathways for self-understanding, connection, and growth.
No artistic experience is required.
Our approach
At Essence, we believe growth and change can happen in many ways, not only through words, but also through creativity, connection, embodiment, and shared human experience.
We create a space beyond words where people can reconnect with themselves, strengthen their relationships, and engage more meaningfully with the world.
Our collective of creative arts therapists and psychotherapists provides compassionate, evidence-informed care through music, art, dance-movement, drama, and psychotherapy. We have particular expertise in supporting individuals and couples who have lived across cultures, recognizing the richness and complexity of multicultural identities and life experiences.
Beyond individual therapy, we offer workshops and community programs that make creative expression more accessible, including our Pay What You Wish groups.
Services are available in English and Mandarin, online and in person.
Our services
-
Individual Therapy
-
Couple Therapy
-
Arts and Health Consultation
-
Workshops
Over the course of our sessions, my anxiety has improved, and I feel much more aware of my emotions and thought patterns.
Music therapy gave me another way to express and work through feelings that were difficult to put into words.
— Yu Y. ESSENCE CLIENT
Meet Our Therapists
-
Jingwen Zhang, PhD, LCAT, MT-BC
Founder, Music Therapist,
Austin Vocal Psychotherapist
-
Jessie Yaxuan Yi, MA, LCAT-P
Drama Therapist
In-person and remote options
Our office is conveniently located in Court Square, Long Island City. Can’t make it into the office? No worries – we’ve got you covered with teletherapy.
