Today we’d like to introduce you to Veronica Bannon.
Hi Veronica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Connecticut and have been dancing since I was nine years old. Dancing with The Young People’s Creative Dance Theater in Weston, CT was a great source of therapy for me during my childhood and early adulthood. I ended up double majoring in dance and psychology at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. While working at a psychiatric hospital in Westport, CT during summertime and holiday breaks from college, I was introduced to Dance/Movement Therapy and quickly recognized how beneficial it was to the patients. I went on to earn my Masters in Dance Therapy at Goucher College in Maryland. I interned at schools and hospitals for emotionally disturbed children and ended up working as a Dance Therapist for the State of Maryland at the Residential Institute for Children and Adolescents in Baltimore. While at RICA, I took additional graduate courses in Clinical Counseling and earned my LCPC (licensed clinical professional counselor). I worked for a small private practice in Rockville, MD for ten years, and then decided to open my own practice, Creative Therapeutic Connections, LLC (originally in New Market, MD now in Frederick, MD). Since then, I’ve supervised several graduate students and hired an independent contractor to join my practice. We have been providing individual, group and family therapy services to children, adolescents and adults in the community since January of 2011. We specialize in Therapeutic Social Skills Groups and Friendship Clubs for children and adolescents to connect with others, increase their self-esteem and self-expression, find coping mechanisms for their anxiety and/or low mood and improve their interpersonal relating skills. We also offer Women’s Support Groups for adult females seeking connection and social support for the challenges they face as mothers, wives, family members and/or employed workers in the community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the greatest challenges I faced was after earning a 60 credit Masters in Dance Therapy I realized that I really needed a clinical license, if I were to pursue my dream of working in private practice. I had a newborn son and had to take eight additional masters level courses (in order to apply for a license as a clinical counselor in the state of Maryland) in the evenings after work. Furthermore, I had to travel to Philadelphia, PA to take the National Counseling Exam. Those were difficult times, but ultimately well worth the effort. Balancing home life as a business owner, wife and mother of three (now grown) boys also presented its own set of challenges over the years.
In addition, I faced some challenges with finding the best space for my practice. I ended up moving the office three different times, which was always a bit stressful. But ultimately, I was able to build out the perfect office suite to fit our needs as a practice (with a large waiting room, expansive movement/group room and a smaller, cozy office space).
Covid clearly caused added stress as both a business owner and a mental health clinician. It also allowed for the opportunity to provide virtual services, which has been a benefit for those clients who have difficulty making it to the office (for a variety of reasons).
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a dance/movement therapist and a licensed clinical counselor, I have a unique set of skills that allow me to offer a variety of interventions to my clients. I am very body and movement oriented, and I find that people can guard with their words, but can’t hide their emotions in their facial expressions, posturing and movement. I also recognize that emotions, and memories, are held in the body. By expanding one’s range of motion, they ultimately expand their range of emotional expression. Incorporating creative activities, musical expression, dance, art and movement games provides lots of opportunities for clients to increase their self-expression, connection to others, and even improve their body image and self-confidence. This, combined with traditional verbal psychotherapy allows even more avenues for healing. The group work lends itself to even greater self/other awareness and feelings of connection (which are often lacking). In addition, in both the individual and group therapy sessions I occasionally invite my therapy dog who provides lots of affection and emotional support to those clients in need. I am proud of providing a safe place for clients of all ages to gain a greater sense of self, and to find coping mechanisms for addressing low mood, anxiety, isolation, low self-esteem and poor interpersonal relating skills.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Most of my mentors came from my academic and internship experiences. I also made great connections while serving on the board for the MD/DC/VA Chapter of the American Dance Therapy Association and while earning CEU’s to maintain my license as a clinical counselor. I spent many of my early years presenting workshops and conferences within the Frederick County Public School system, as well as at a variety of other national and local conferences. In addition, I try to remain connected to my community of mental health workers, teachers, school counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists and other therapists. I pride myself in having a team approach, as it often takes many perspectives and interventions to reach the therapeutic goals for each specific client.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/veronica-bannon-creative-therapeutic-connections-frederick-md/55631
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativetherapeuticconnections
