Mershona Parshall

Ms.Mershona Parshall Family Therapy

PARENT COACHING AND CONSULTATION
Available to those who live at a distance and who may want to consult with an experienced attachment and neurofeedback therapist.

ABOUT / CONTACT US
Mershona Parshall is an Independently Licensed Social Worker- Supervisor and Board Certified Registered Art Therapist. Ms. Parshall is licensed through the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and LMFT Board. She has had a private practice since 2000 in Northeast Ohio, outside of Cleveland.

Ms. Parshall began working in the mental health field in the early 80's after a successful career as a theater and studio artist. Following a long time interest in art therapy, she received a Masters Degree in art therapy and expressive arts therapies in 1982. Ms. Parshall worked in youth at risk programs, group homes for Native American youth, a psychiatric hospital, and for non-profit mental health agencies until 2000. She developed and led outdoor personal growth experiential education workshops for youth and adults, wilderness trips, expressive arts workshops for adults, intensive mask making workshops, and Rites of Passage for adolescent girls and adults throughout the 1980's.

Ms.Mershona Parshall COUNSELING SERVICES :TREATMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA
Treatment of developmental trauma continues to evolve as neuroscience and treatment models mature. Not that long ago the public was unaware of interventions such as neurofeedback, EMDR or neuro-reorganization. These interventions are becoming more accepted as they prove to be effective tools for helping children heal. Additionally, the work of Bruce Perry, MD and his Neurosequential Developmental Model is gaining attention for treating childhood
trauma. Perry’s model contains many of the elements that have long been promoted by professionals working with developmental trauma, namely, a relational model of therapy that integrates attachment theory, somatic psychotherapies and expressive arts therapies. Some examples are nurturing touch, art therapy, movement, music, and even infant massage.
To address childhood developmental trauma in treatment, relational treatment models that include the primary caregivers are strongly recommended. Thus, the primary caregivers, who are the core attachment figures, are essential participants in the healing process. When therapist and parents work together to understand the whole child, i.e., somatic, neurological, emotional, psychological, behavioral, and social domains, then strategies can be applied to build and optimize the child’s systemic resources.

Mershona Parshall Training

The process of art making engages participants in the many positive aspects of the creative process. The creative process itself changes our brain state, promoting a greater sense of well being and inspiration for living. Any medium can be used to facilitate art making whether it is drawing, painting, clay, sculpture, collage, mixed media or crafts. Art making reveals our deeper truths or desires; often censored by the analytical mind that judges and inhibits spontaneous expression. Art therapy can also guide participants to gain insight into themselves and problem solve in novel ways.

Participating in creative process through art making has nothing to do with "talent" although "non-artists" are often amazed at what they are capable of producing once the self critic is subdued. Art therapy is a wonderful process of self-discovery and healing of the body, mind and spirit.

Expressive Arts Therapies

Expressive arts therapies include art making in all its forms; the visual arts, movement, drama, music, and writing (e.g., journaling, poetry, storymaking). When blending together multiple creative disciplines it is possible to engage the entire sensory system - i.e., touch, audio, visual, kinetic, and olfactory into a whole experience. The expressive arts also promote the benefits of creative process in a broader sense as applied to these expressive modalities.

Mershona Parshall Grief And Loss Issues : Many times, art making allows us to express feelings that are otherwise painful or difficult to verbalize. Here is a personal example of grief over the loss of a pet through painting.

Mershona Parshall Art Therapy Attachment and Bonding Basics
Developmental Trauma
Primary Trauma: Failures in Attachment
Secondary Trauma: Physical, sexual, emotional abuse
Loss, Separation, Grief and Attachment
Treatment of Developmental Trauma
The Cutting Edge
ATTACHMENT AND BONDING BASICS
John Bowlby, considered the father of attachment theory, defined attachment as the reciprocal process between two individuals who form an enduring affectual bond. He considered attachment and bonding to be an innate biological need of the infant. From Bowlbys original work to more recent leaders in the attachment field, the importance of attachment and bonding to healthy human functioning cannot be understated.
In the last decade, neuroscience has provided a deeper understanding of attachment and brain development. It is now possible to see the detrimental effects of neglect on the developing brains of children in comparison to nurtured children through imaging technologies. This has served to further demonstrate the importance of the attachment process for healthy brain development. Furthermore, many people believe that attachment and bonding actually begins in utero where the developing fetus somatically experiences the heartbeat, sounds, rhythms, and biopsychological states of the biological mother.
Bowlby identified the following as important elements to forming a secure attachment.

Ms.Mershona Parshall COUNSELING SERVICES The process of art making engages participants in the many positive aspects of the creative process. The creative process itself changes our brain state, promoting a greater sense of well being and inspiration for living. Any medium can be used to facilitate art making whether it is drawing, painting, clay, sculpture, collage, mixed media or crafts. Art making reveals our deeper truths or desires; often censored by the analytical mind that judges and inhibits spontaneous expression. Art therapy can also guide participants to gain insight into themselves and problem solve in novel ways.

Participating in creative process through art making has nothing to do with "talent" although "non-artists" are often amazed at what they are capable of producing once the self critic is subdued. Art therapy is a wonderful process of self-discovery and healing of the body, mind and spirit.

More results:
Mershona Parshall Supervision Mershona Parshall Neurofeedback Mershona Parshall Grief And Loss Issues