Alina Staicu Alexander, LCAT

It's Nice to Meet You

I am a licensed and Board Certified Creative Arts Therapist. For nearly two decades I have held space for people to show up exactly as they are, believing that everyone deserves to feel affirmed, seen and supported. This is the foundation of my work.I specialize in traditional talk therapy, Creative Arts Therapy, and Play Therapy from a relational perspective. That means I believe healing happens not just through the materials we use but also the safe and consistent relationship we build together. Art is certainly not a requirement, and all expression is welcome.I work with adults, teens, kids and their families, navigating the many feelings that arise from grief and loss, complex trauma, chronic illness, persistent worries, fears and anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, relationships, life role shifts, low self-esteem, family dynamics, self harm, substance abuse, prenatal and postpartum maternal mental health. I believe therapy should feel human and connected.

Meaningful Connection Matters

Self awareness is like turning on the light in a room you've been stumbling through in the dark. You see what’s there and can move through it with more clarity, choice and care.Our therapy relationship can be a tool for growth. Through reflection and prompting of the right questions, you can see your patterns more clearly, understand where they come from and choose new ways to move forward with intention. Creative expression gives form to what’s felt but unspoken. Insight becomes embodied healing, allowing you to make conscious choices that align with your values.Children communicate differently: They express feelings, needs and inner experiences through play, art, movement and story: This is their natural language. When we draw, build, act or play symbolically, we are creating space for feelings to emerge and be processed in a way that feels safe. Therapy becomes a place for a child to be accepted without pressure, listened to without interruption and supported without judgment.Safety, trust and connection are the foundation for change-at every age and stage.

My Background

I hold a Masters Degree in Creative Arts Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Insitute ('11). I have post graduate training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Parts Work, Trauma-Informed Therapy, sensory and nervous system regulation, grief and loss, complex PTSD, and maternal mental health.My professional journey has taken me into teen shelters, community and crisis outreach programs, neurodivergent classrooms, homeless shelters, psychiatric inpatient and outpatient programs, and substance abuse rehab settings, all the while cultivating a deep respect for the strength people carry and the capacity to grow and make meaning even in the hardest moments.