Creative Now Therapy Bio

Creative Now Therapy is for You.

My Certifications, Training, & Experience.

Check out the blood, sweat, & tears that went into my offerings for individual psychotherapy serving Women, Queer, & Trans folks in New York.

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Green pears and leaves filling the image.
Life before Creative Now Therapy

Your Journey to Healing Begins with Bold Moves: How My Own Transformation Fuels Yours.

I’m a psychotherapist with 17 years of experience helping people transform their inner worlds and reclaim their power. My journey into this work began with a bold leap of faith almost 20 years ago—one that reshaped my life. At the time, I was a struggling photographer in an industry that felt like it was draining my soul.

Facing daily sexual harassment from my boss, feeling like I had no way forward, I made a radical decision: I blew through all of my tax savings to fly to Italy for an art therapy course. That trip awakened in me a recognition that healing was my path.

When I returned, I quit my job, made an impassioned plea to the director of a creative arts therapy masters program, and applied just weeks before the program started. Against all odds, I was accepted into their final spot, someone had just dropped out. That confirmed what I already knew: this was my calling.

(SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM IF YOU WANT TO GET STRAIGHT OVER TO MY EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS, & TRAINING.)

Cris curled up in a rock
Cris, psychotherapist sitting on their couch
Life with Creative Now Therapy

From Bold Leaps to Sacred Healing: Guiding You to Reclaim Your Power.

Since then, I’ve worked with individuals navigating mental health crises, trauma, and systemic oppression—helping them uncover the strength within their stories. From facilitating groups for voice-hearers to supporting Spanish-speaking families in navigating complex New York social systems, my work honors the diversity of human experience and the structures that shape us.

My approach blends creativity, somatic practices, and mysticism—psychotherapy as art, ritual, initiation, and ceremony. Together, we’ll explore the infinite, mystical realms within you and rewrite the myths that no longer serve, so you can craft a life rooted in your truth and wild beauty.

See below for my specific training, certifications, & experience. Just click on the downward arrow sign to expand each section in the accordion.

‍Training & Certifications, Education, Experience

Cristina Maria Fort Garcés, LCAT, ATR-BC, CPC

Psychotherapy Trainings.
  • Hakomi Somatic Practitioner | Hakomi Institute. 2-year Post Graduate Training. North East, US. 2024

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  • Certified Professional Coach (CPC) | Year long Coaching Training, Leadership That Works, NY, NY. 2020

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  • Certified Developmental Somatic Psychotherapist | The Center For Somatic Studies, 4-year Post Graduate Training. NY, NY. 2017-2021

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  • Certified Gestalt Psychotherapist | Gestalt Associates For Psychotherapy, 4-year Clinical Fellowship Post Graduate Training. NY, NY. 2016

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  • Board Certified (ATR-BC) & Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT), #001500 | The Americal Art Therapy Association, US. 2011
Additional Therapy & Coaching Trainings.
  • Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Clinicians, MBSR Training, Online. 2022

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  • Tara Mohr, Playing Big for Women, Year-long Coaching Training, Online. 2022

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  • Hearing Voices Network, Group Facilitator Training, supporting people experiencing schizophrenia, Springfield, MA. 2015

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  • Parenting Journey, Group Facilitator Training, supporting parents in crisis, Manhattan, NY. 2011

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  • SVA Studio Art Therapy in Florence: Rejuvenating the creative spirit, Florence, Italy. 2008

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  • Hallmark Institute of Photography, Year Long Certificate Program in Commercial and Studio Photography, Turners Falls, MA. 2005
Education.
  • Bachelor's Degree, Tufts University, Medford, MA. 2004

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  • Master's Degree in Creative Arts Therapy, The School of Visual Arts, NY, NY. 2010
Professional Affiliations.
  • Member of the New York Art Therapy Association

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  • Member of the American Art Therapy Association

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  • Climate Aware Therapist Member of the Climate Psychology Alliance North America
Professional Experience.
  • Creative Now Therapy, Telehealth Private Practice, New York. 2020 - Present.

      Creator & Psychotherapist, Individual Sessions, Serving Women, Queer, & Trans adults.

  • Creative Now Therapy, Telehealth Group Practice, New York. 2020 - 2025.

     Creator & Clinical Supervisor: Psychotherapy with children, adolescents, adults,       couples, and families. Clinical Supervision for therapists at the practice

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  • CristinaMaria Psychotherapy, Private Practice, NY, NY. 2013 - 2020.- Psychotherapist and Owner, outpatient setting, individual sessions with adults

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  • Gestalt Associates for Psychotherapy Clinic, NY, NY. 2013-2016.- Psychotherapist, outpatient setting, individual sessions with adults

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  • Kings County Hospital Center, Health Plus Hospitals, Brooklyn, NY. 2012 - 2019.

     Group psychotherapist, inpatient setting, group therapy with adults and adolescents

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  • New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center, East New York, Brooklyn, NY. 2011 - 2012. Psychotherapist, outpatient setting, individual sessions with children, adolescents, adults, and families

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  • HeartShare Human Services, Coney Island, NY. 2010 - 2012.

     Case Planner, Family Art Therapist, and Child & Adolescent Art Therapist for Spanish-     speaking families at risk of foster care placement. Group Facilitator supporting Parents      in the Parenting Journey Group Model

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  • SVA Counseling Team, Creative Arts Therapy Department, NY, NY. 2009-2010. Individual Creative Arts Therapy sessions for undergraduate students at SVA.

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  • St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, The Child and Family Institute, NY, NY. 2009 - 2010. Individual Creative Arts Therapy sessions for Children (4 - 12 yrs) and families.

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  • Interfaith Hospital Continuing Day Treatment Center, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY. 2008 - 2009. Group Co-Leader and individual Creative Arts Therapy, partial hospitalization setting, sessions for Adults with Major Mental Health Experiences
Alternative Healing Practices.
  • Ongoing study with Joan Parisi Wilcox in Q'ero/Andean Energy & Earth Based Practices. Online. 2024 - Present

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  • Cyndi Dale, Apprenticeship Program, Chakras, Subtle Body, & Energy Practices Training, Online. 2023

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  • BioField Tuning, Foundations Training in Sound Therapy, Online. 2022

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  • Energy Medicine Coach, The Four Winds Society, 400-hour training in Andean and Q'ero Energy & Earth based practices. Olmue, Chile. 2021

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  • I've completed various trainings in Astrology and the Tarot over the past two decades. My teachers are Steven Forrest, Sarah L'Hrar, Renee Sills, Tylor Penor, Tara Vogel, Debra Silverman, Lindsay Mack, Bess Matassa, Brigit Esselmont, and many more incredible individuals.
Peri & Menopause Training.
  • GGS Menopause Coaching Certification 2024, Dr. Wendy MyMenopause Foundation Course 2024, Dr. Stacy Sims Menopause 2.0 Certification.

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LGTBQIA2SP+ Identifying & Affirming Psychotherapy Practice.
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Creative Now Therapy is dedicated to providing multicultural sensitive services that affirm the dignity, worth, and value of all. I am committed to creating an environment of appreciation and respect for race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical/mental ability, sexual orientation, marital or relationship/s status, care giver/parental status, and socioeconomic status.

Contact details
The Hudson Valley, New York
Phone: 518-291-8750
Email: cris@creativenowtherapy.com
Soma Creative Arts Therapy, PLLC
(Creative Now Therapy)
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Services & Specialties
Services - Somatic PsychotherapyServices - Gestalt PsychotherapyServices - Eco Art PsychotherapyServices - Spiritual PsychotherapySpecialties - Negative Self-TalkSpecialties - Professional Burnout Specialties - The Mother WoundSpecialties - Latinx ExperiencesSpecialties - Perimenopause Informed Therapy
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