Meet Ardy: Play Therapy, Expressive Arts, and Showing Up for Kids in St. Louis
We are so excited to introduce Ardy as the newest member of the Bud to Bloom Play Therapy team in St. Louis. Ardy brings a warm, creative, and deeply human approach to working with children and teens, weaving together play therapy and expressive arts to meet each child exactly where they are. If your child loves to make art, you two are going to get along wonderfully.
What draws Ardy to working with children and teens?
For Ardy, this work has always felt like a calling more than a career choice.
Growing up surrounded by social work mentors who modeled what it looks like to genuinely show up for people, Ardy developed a deep appreciation for the many different ways humans need to connect and express themselves. Working with children felt like a natural fit, not only because it is genuinely fun (and it really is), but because childhood and adolescence are such formative seasons.
So much is happening in a child's brain and body as they grow and develop. The experiences they have, the support they receive, and the ways they learn to understand themselves during those years carry forward. Ardy is drawn to that. The chance to be part of a child's story in a meaningful way during a time when it can make a real difference.
As Ardy puts it: "I am honored to find out what works for a kid or family to increase their ease so they can have more choice in how they go about life."
What does Ardy's approach to play therapy actually look like?
At the heart of Ardy's work is a belief that relationships and genuine acceptance are what heal people, not techniques alone.
In the playroom, Ardy prioritizes helping a child feel safe and truly accepted before anything else. That means communicating unconditional positive regard (warmth and acceptance with absolutely no strings attached) and giving children real control over how they play and what they choose to explore. Ardy does not rush the process or push children toward particular topics. The pace is the child's pace.
This is rooted in something Ardy believes deeply: behavior is always communication, and children innately know what they need to heal. When given a safe space and a consistent, caring presence, children will move toward what they need. Ardy's job is to create that space and stay right there with them.
You can learn more about the child-centered play therapy approach behind this on our pediatric therapy page.
Why does expressive arts work so well alongside play therapy?
Here is something Ardy and the whole Bud to Bloom team have seen again and again: when you give a child another avenue of expression, something opens up.
Play therapy is powerful on its own. But when you weave in expressive arts, painting, drawing, collage, making things with their hands, you are giving children yet another language to use. Art is playful and expressive by nature. It allows for metaphor, for distance, for communicating something that might be too hard to say directly. For children who love to create, it can feel less like therapy and more like doing something they already enjoy, which is exactly the point.
This is especially true for older children and teenagers, who can sometimes feel hesitant about traditional therapy. Ardy has found that a human-centered, activity-based approach is one of the most effective ways to engage teens, because it puts the work in their hands and on their terms. When a teen is making something, choosing something, expressing something through a medium they feel comfortable with, the therapeutic relationship deepens naturally. Engagement goes up because the work feels approachable and genuinely theirs.
If your teenager has been hesitant about therapy or insists they "do not want to talk about it," Ardy's blend of play, creativity, and relationship might be exactly the right fit. Learn more about how we support teens on our teen therapy page.
What kinds of concerns does Ardy specialize in?
Ardy has a particular love for working with children who have experienced grief and trauma. She also works with children and teens experiencing depression, including those who are navigating suicidal ideation or self-harm. These are areas that require a clinician who is steady, warm, and genuinely comfortable sitting with a child in a hard place. Ardy brings all of that.
While Ardy works with children of all ages, she has primarily worked with elementary and middle school-aged children and brings a lot of experience with that developmental range. She knows how to communicate with a ten-year-old who shuts down in conversation but comes alive with a paintbrush in their hand. She knows how to be with a child who is carrying something heavy without making them feel like a problem to be solved.
If your child is going through something hard and you are not sure where to start, our free consultation call is the best first step. Our client care team will talk through your family's needs and help you figure out whether Ardy or another member of our team is the right fit.
Ready to connect?
If Ardy's approach resonates with you and you think she might be a good fit for your child, we would love to hear from you. Our free consultation call is 15 to 20 minutes with our client care team, no commitment and no paperwork, just a real conversation about your family.
Schedule your free consultation here.
How does Ardy work with parents as part of the process?
Parents are not an afterthought at Bud to Bloom and they are certainly not one for Ardy.
Ardy sees parents as the most important team members for a child who is going through something hard. You know your child better than anyone. You are the person in their life who is best positioned to communicate love, acceptance, and steady presence through difficult times. Ardy believes in involving parents throughout the process, not just at the beginning and not just when there is a problem.
At Bud to Bloom, that looks like a 60-minute parent-only intake before your child's first session, so Ardy can hear the full picture from you directly without your child in the room. It looks like a parent check-in form you fill out each session so you can share how things are going at home. It looks like regular parent sessions where Ardy shares themes and patterns she is noticing in the work, so you stay genuinely connected to your child's progress without us breaking the privacy of the playroom.
Your child's healing happens in partnership with you. That is how we do it here.
A little more about Ardy
Ardy studied at Goshen College in northern Indiana for her undergraduate degree and went on to complete her graduate work at Saint Louis University. Originally from Kansas, she has made St. Louis her home and loves being part of this community.
Outside of the therapy room, Ardy plays soccer, makes art, and enjoys being outside when it is not unbearably hot (a very relatable stance). She is also a karaoke enthusiast, which she describes as "a great way to let loose," and she has a dog named Ruby who is, by her own admission, a little wild on walks. Ruby does not love strangers, which Ardy notes with the kind of self-aware humor that tells you a lot about who she is.
We are so glad to have her on the team.
FAQ
What age range does Ardy work with?
Ardy works with children and teens of all ages, though she has the most experience with children aged 4-16. She brings a warm, activity-based approach that works especially well with this developmental range.
What is expressive arts therapy and how is it different from play therapy?
Expressive arts therapy uses creative modalities like drawing, painting, collage, and other art-making as a means of expression and healing. Play therapy uses play as the primary language of therapeutic work. Ardy weaves these together, which gives children and teens multiple ways to express and process their experiences. For children who love art, this combination can feel especially natural and engaging.
Does Ardy work with teenagers?
Yes. Ardy has found that a human-centered, activity-based approach works really well with teens who feel hesitant about traditional talk therapy. When therapy involves making something, choosing something, or expressing through a creative medium, it tends to feel much more approachable for older kids.
What concerns does Ardy specialize in?
Ardy has a particular focus on grief, trauma, and depression in children and teens, including supporting young people navigating suicidal ideation and self-harm. She brings a calm, grounded presence to work that requires a clinician who can sit steadily with a child in a difficult place.
How do I get started with Ardy?
The first step is our free consultation call, just 15 to 20 minutes with our client care team. They will get to know your family's needs and help match you with the right therapist. Fill out our consultation form here and someone will be in touch.
