marianne huebner MS-ATR

When I look back over the events of my life, I can trace the impact of varying traumas, traumatic experiences, and losses and how they have fostered my values, understanding of the human condition, perspectives that make healing possible and jettisoned me into a career that is intended to help others with the same.

I grew up experiencing both sides of the fence and both sides of the tracks. My parents, who started having children in their teens, divorced when I was less than three, which led me in and around experiences that shaped my life but not always in ways that I had wanted or hoped. Dreams didn’t always feel possible.

My attempts to run away started young and landed me on couches of other families when I was a teenager, angry at what seemed like everything. In college, I had freedom. I did not use it wisely and feel lucky to have come out of the experience in such a way that did not repeat the patterns of the past or intentionally expose me to peril in a future I couldn’t control. Through it all, art was my Saving Grace.

Having studied fine art at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, as well as abroad in Florence, Italy, I earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and later went on to earn a master’s degree in art therapy from Mount Mary University in Wisconsin. I am a professional artist with over 30 years in the field, and I am a licensed art therapist with just under 20 years of work behind me.

Prior to joining Perry Counseling, I developed and enhanced art therapy programs in several settings both here in Charlotte and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, my area of focus was intentional trauma as I worked with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual abuse and then went on to help create programming for perpetrators of violence. This program is still utilized today and has seen remarkable reductions in rates of recidivism. My work in trauma led to the creation of a program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Originally created to help reconcile traumatic factors created by hospitalization or the events therein, the art therapy program expanded to all aspects of hospitalization for children and their families, from injury to illness to cancer and bereavement. Programming eventually expanded to reach families at Ronald McDonald House as well.

Since moving to Charlotte in 2014, I worked with developmentally delayed adults to better understand how art therapy impacts understanding and fosters behavior changes before starting a 5 year career in 2016 at HopeWay, facilitating groups and individual work with typically developed adults suffering from mental health issues.

It is my experience as both an artist and an art therapist that says that art gives everyone another means to express themselves. Art therapy isn’t about becoming a great artist as much as it is learning to use creativity as another tool for self-expression, to gain insight, and to move in the direction of a more meaningful existence.

I am passionate about my work guiding the creative process to foster the journey toward healing and offer both individual and group sessions for those wanting the same. Currently, my focus is on adult women ready to step into their peace, their power, and into what comes next.

No art experience is necessary. Limited supplies are provided during the session.