Kara Ashley-Gilmore

My name is Kara (pronounced car-uh). I am an Artist, Board-Certified Art Therapist, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. As we move through therapy, and increasingly reconnect to what feels life our most authentic selves–selves who are able to regulate their emotions, feel safe in relationships, maintain healthy boundaries with ourselves and others, and experience pleasure on a regular basis–we start to seek greater meaning in our lives. Sometimes this looks like exploring our creativity and our spirituality–things which got left behind in our struggle to simply survive our pasts and the day-to-day stressors of adulthood. We want to feel connected to something bigger than ourselves. Many find this connection in art-making, writing, being in nature, mindfulness meditation, yoga, spiritual communities, gratitude practices, service work, or other practices. Some people feel called to explore plant medicines or other psychedelics. During our integration sessions, my aim is to help you weave meaning from your psychedelic experiences. Using art materials, we will gently explore any difficult moments, unpack the insights you’ve gained, and discover practical ways to bring these learnings into your daily life. Integration is a bridge between before and after. The goal of a medicine journey is not just to have the experience, but to live with the wisdom gained from the experience. The beliefs developed during this “after” phase becomes the foundation for our actions and decision making moving forward. Visit www.mountaincreativearts.com to learn more.