Integrative Creative Therapy

Creative Arts & Music Therapy for Teens

In Austin, TX | In-person Sessions with Wen Chang-Lit, MA, LCAT, MTBC, C-EMDR

When words aren’t enough, we make space for what can’t be said.

Being a teenager is hard enough.

Being a sensitive teen—a deep feeler, a creative spirit, someone who notices everything—is even harder.

You might see your teen shutting down, lashing out, or withdrawing into their own world.

Maybe they’re overwhelmed by school, friendships, family expectations… maybe they’re anxious, lost, or carrying more than they can say.

And maybe traditional talk therapy just isn’t cutting it.
That’s where creative arts and music therapy can open a different door.

For the teen who feels “too much”… or nothing at all.

I work with teens who don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling—but they know something’s off.

They may struggle with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, identity, grief, or trauma.

Many are highly creative and emotionally intuitive, but they’ve learned to hide their sensitivity just to get through the day.

In our sessions, we go at their pace.

We start by creating a space that feels safe enough to exhale. No pressure to talk or perform. Just a room where music, images, rhythm, and movement can do the speaking when words fall short.

What does creative arts therapy look like?

Every session is different, because every teen is different.
Some might be drawn to playing instruments, others to songwriting, singing, drawing, drumming, or simply listening to music together.

We might:

Write a song to express a feeling that’s been stuck
Improvise with instruments to explore emotions in a nonverbal way
Use art or imagery to explore and express their inner worlds and parts of self
Move or breathe together to release built-up tension in the body

It’s not about being “good” at music or art. It’s about discovering new ways to connect—with yourself, your body, your emotions, and your story.

A gentle, relational approach to deeper healing

As a music therapist and trauma-informed clinician, I meet each teen exactly where they are. Whether they’re quiet and guarded or bursting at the seams, I welcome all of it.

Together, we build trust and emotional safety—so that over time, they can explore what’s underneath the anxiety, the overwhelm, the pressure to hold it all together.

Many of the teens I work with are:

Highly sensitive or creatively inclined
Struggling with cultural identity or family dynamics
Coping with grief, divorce, trauma, or burnout
Struggling at school academically, emotionally, and socially
Experienced bullying or other kinds of trauma
Feeling lost, unmotivated, or like they don’t belong anywhere

For parents: You don’t have to do this alone.

If you’re reading this as a parent, you may be feeling helpless, worried, or unsure of how to support your child.

You love them deeply—and yet it feels like nothing you say or do gets through.

I want you to know: it’s not your fault.

And there is a path forward.

Creative therapy offers a bridge. A way for your teen to feel seen and supported, without pressure or judgment.

A way to reconnect them with their own voice, resilience, and capacity to heal.

Let’s create a new rhythm together.

If your teen is struggling—and you sense they might respond to something different—I’d be honored to connect.

You can reach out for a free phone consultation to see if this is the right fit.