About Us
Lauren Amigo (she / her)
MA, ATR-BC, LCAT (NY), LMHC (FL)
CEO, Creative Arts Therapist, Mental Health Counselor
lauren@amigoarttherapy.com
No matter what brought you to our website, welcome!
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I am a board-certified registered art therapist (ATR-BC) and licensed creative arts therapist (LCAT) in New York, as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida. My journey in art therapy began at a young age when, as a client at about 10 years old, I discovered the transformative and healing power of creative expression. This profound experience ignited my lifelong passion for helping others through art therapy.
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I pursued my academic studies at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, where I earned a degree in Applied Psychology, Studio Art, and Anthropology, along with a Master of Arts in Art Therapy.
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My approach to therapy is warm, humanistic, and client-centered. I focus on encouraging agency, empowering individual goals, and fostering a supportive environment for healing. I believe that through a thoughtful and psychodynamic process, therapy can create a safe space for both emotional and creative exploration. I am here to support you on your journey toward self-discovery and well-being.
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Tarita Byas-Harris (she / her)
LMHC (FL)
Mental Health Counselor
tarita@amigoarttherapy.com
It is a pleasure to meet you!
I have 20 years of experience in family advocacy, with a focus on international contexts. As a military spouse for 25 years, I facilitated international adoptions and supported soldiers and their families, including leading in-processing coordination in South Korea.
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In the past five years, I’ve specialized in mental health counseling, earning a postgraduate certificate from Troy University. My work includes serving on a Crisis Mental Health Mobile Response Team, providing outpatient counseling at Lakeview, and working at an inpatient rehab center. I also support adults with autism and educational disabilities and have experience with addiction co-occurring mental health care facilities.
I hold a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Counseling from Tuskegee University, along with a Certificate of Clinical Mental Health from Troy University. My specialties include counseling for behavioral and mood disorders, addiction, crisis intervention, and trauma management.
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I am now happily married, with five adult children and in my free time, you can find me swimming, coaching, gardening, and volunteering. I’m passionate about helping others overcome challenges to fulfill their life’s purpose!
Hi there!
I'm Gianna, the office administrator here at Amigo Art Therapy, PLLC. I handle a variety of tasks, from conducting interviews to managing technical aspects and ensuring everything runs smoothly.
I'm passionate about therapy and mental wellness, and I love supporting our team in providing the best care possible. Helping our practice thrive so we can make a positive impact on our clients' lives is a rewarding experience!
Gianna Salmas (she/her)
BA, New York University
Office Administrator
gianna@amigoarttherapy.com
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Hi friends!
My role here is to bring joy and calm to our sessions. I love saying hi to clients with a friendly paw wave and being a soothing presence in the background of Lauren's sessions.
I'm here to help make your therapy experience as comforting and positive as possible. Don't like dogs? Say no more, friend. I'll happily take a nap on the couch during your session!