By Nicole Sandler
Northside News
Willow Counseling and Therapeutic Arts Center is now established in its new and much larger space in the Northgate Shopping Center. What caught my attention was its sign advertising “Counseling + Yoga + Arts,” a combination of services not offered by many practices. I decided to schedule time to meet with Willow Counseling’s CEO and founder, Tammi Wolfe Zine, and its director of marketing and expressive arts, Megan Reed, to learn more.
A welcoming lobby area awaits when you first enter Willow Counseling, and adjacent to the lobby, the large, light-filled Yoga Studio provides a relaxing space for various kinds of movement classes. I was offered a cup of tea as Reed offered me a tour and pointed out individual therapists’ offices, a break room for staff members, and an area that Willow Counseling staff are especially excited about — the Community Tea Room, where clients can relax before and after their scheduled appointments or movement classes.
Another unique feature of Willow Counseling is its Art Studio, filled with a fun range of supplies, where art therapy and art-focused counseling sessions are held. Art and movement classes (Willow Sprouts) are available for kids as well.
“Choose your healing path” is Willow Counseling’s mantra, according to Wolfe Zine, and she has worked hard to provide different paths toward healing for her clients.
Beyond offering movement and art as treatment modalities, Willow Counseling offers traditional psychotherapy, grief groups, mindfulness courses, and TRE® (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises). “We’re living in such uncertain times,” acknowledged Wolfe Zine, “and so we hope to help people find different ways to heal under one roof.”
Wolfe Zine’s inspiration for growing her practice and moving to a larger space on the Northside was fueled by her goal of offering a wider range of therapies. “By offering both traditional and non-traditional expressive arts, we can get to deeper work and get to know ourselves better,” she said. She continues to pursue ways to make Willow Counseling more accessible to more people.
For example, Sunday’s community yoga classes (open to all) cost only a $5 suggested donation, and scholarships are available to eligible clients. Willow Counseling takes most insurance carriers and can offer a sliding-scale fee, if needed.
Reed pointed out that, despite their work being serious, Willow Counseling is also a joyful place. Willow staff welcome everyone in the community to learn more by visiting their Open House, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4. More information will be available on their website underneath the Events tab, but they are planning an event that includes free movement classes, art projects, community therapy discussions, and refreshments.
The desire to strengthen connections to the Northside and the larger community is something both Wolfe Zine and Reed share. They recently forged a partnership with the Vet Center, just across the Northgate Center parking lot, and are working on developing a retreat day for the Vet Center’s clients.
Given the current momentum building at Willow, and the goals of its staff, I would expect them to succeed in becoming a hub for counseling, movement and art therapy in Dane County. To learn more, please visit Willow Counseling’s website: willowcounselingandarts.com.
