Taya Jefferson’s journey is a powerful reminder that healing and personal growth often come from embracing change. After experiencing burnout in the corporate world, she bravely stepped away to prioritize her mental health and pursue a passion for art therapy and spiritual healing. Now, through her creation of The Creative Healing Space, she integrates her diverse skills, offering a unique blend of therapy and spiritual guidance. Taya’s story is an inspiring testament to the power of following one’s intuition, taking risks, and crafting a life centered on well-being and authentic connection
Can you share the story behind your decision to leave the corporate world and pursue a path in art therapy and spiritual healing?
-Burnout, extreme burnout is why I left my corporate job. On top of the usual capitalistic annoyances, being an art therapist in organizations run by non-mental health workers (who also don’t seem to truly understand your work) is extremely draining and not ideal if you want to provide quality care to your clients. I was working at what I thought was my “dream job”; I was a therapist at a middle school and I really enjoyed the work I was doing (the kids were the best part). Unfortunately, all good things eventually come to an end, and though it was a tough decision, I had to put my mental health first.
What inspired you to create The Creative Healing Space, and how does it integrate your diverse skills and passions?
-I’ve been in the therapy field for over six years, and I’ve been active in my spirituality for about nine. I wanted to find a way to bring my two worlds together. The name is still in the works, but for now “The Creative Healing Space” is what I am building. I have worked with clients from the therapy side, and I have worked with clients on the spiritual side—I wanted to this two together under one, because I believe healing is not linear, its creative and can be done in so many ways. I have been blessed with these two tools that help people, and I want to share with anyone that is open to it.
How has your background as an Art Therapist and spiritualist influenced your approach to healing and personal growth?
-I dove into these two different modalities around the same time in my life, grad school. I was just learning what self-care and self-love was, and since then those two things have been pretty important staples in my life, as well as in the work that I do with clients. I didn’t realize art and spirituality were so connected, until I started studying and reading tarot. My education in Art Therapy really helped me to become a better tarot reader because the art on the cards are so symbolic and vivid, plus my thesis had a lot to do with image analysis. The person I was in my early to mid twenties had a lot of healing and growing to do, after educating myself, I was able to work on these things and incorporate both art and spirituality into my own healing journey, successfully.
What were some of the most significant challenges you faced when transitioning from a corporate job to running your own business?
-Well, when I left my job it was much sooner than I had planned, so I would say the most challenging thing would be going from being financially stable BUT burnout, to being not financially stable BUT my mental health improved. Years ago, I ran a pretty successful online metaphysical shop, as well as offering tarot readings, but I stumbled into that business, so that transition was completely different compared to now. I had already planned to leave my job eventually and go into private practice as an Art Therapist, but I didn’t have a plan yet. Leaving my job sooner than expected really set me back financially, and when you’re starting a business from the bottom up, without the proper finances, it can be tough.
How did you overcome the doubts and fears you had about leaving your 9-5 job, and what advice would you give to others in a similar situation?
-Unfortunately, the circumstances I was facing at this workplace, I had to get out of there as soon as possible for the sake of my mental health. Fear and doubt is what kept me there much longer than I should have been. I was there for two years, the burnout began six months before I left (and my plan was to stay even longer than I did). I admit I made a hasty decision to exit, however, I believe this decision partially saved my life, as well as my career, that I really love doing—I couldn’t let anyone take that from me. I made the brave choice to put myself first, I did not think for a second what my employer, family, friends or colleagues would think, because none of them were in my shoes. My advice to anyone in a similar situation, ALWAYS put yourself first! I could not show up for my clients because I was not okay, in making my decision I stuck to my values, integrity and ethics. You can’t take care of anyone if you don’t take care of yourself.
Can you describe a moment when you felt particularly proud or fulfilled in your work at The Creative Healing Space?
-I started on this new journey a few months ago, offering spiritual counsel services, as well as tarot advisements, giving myself a much needed break from clinical work. However, now that I am a fully Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT), I am very proud to soon be offering therapy services via my own private practice. I’m excited to bring my two worlds together and show people that change, growth and healing, even though scary, is possible. What fulfills me most is helping people, but being able to do it my way (finally) is even more fulfilling, and I am so happy for this next chapter!
How do you incorporate your personal experiences and journey into the healing practices you offer?
-I always say even though I’m not that young, I’m also not too old, but I feel I have so much wisdom within me to share with the world (or those willing to listen). Any one that chooses to become a therapist, most likely have been though something tough, and therapy was helpful to them. I’ve had some instances with clients where I didn’t learn the solution from school, the solution came from my own experience, whether it happened to me or someone close to me. I have an agreement with myself that I don’t give advice, tips, or feedback on things that I have not learned, studied or been through, as I strive to always be genuine and authentic with my work.
In what ways has your work helped you address and manage your own mental health?
-I’ve been on my own mental health journey since I was in middle school, so its kind of ironic that I eventually was a therapist at a middle school, helping teens go through some of the same exact things that I’ve experienced. To show up for your clients 100% means showing up for yourself 100%, first. Working with actual people that have actual feelings and stressors reminds you that you need to be in a good headspace to do the work with them, which is why I am always striving to better myself, especially mentally. Also, once you share with a client that therapists also go to therapists, they see that you are an actual person with actual feelings and stressors, that is just here to help.
How do you balance the demands of running your business with taking care of your own well-being?
-Taking breaks! This goes for any kind of work, breaks and rest are so important in life. In the past I would overwork and take on too much, not realizing this was a direct response to some things and people in my childhood. I just thought I was a “hard-worker”, but I learned the hard way that is not the case. At my corporate job, I would skip breaks, work extra hours, work extra days, was told I was one of the “best”, only to be basically disposed of when I was burning out—in the end, my “hard-work” did not matter, and that was a very harsh reality check for me. Now I rest, take breaks and do self-care no matter what, because I can still get the work done, it just doesn’t have to be hustling and bustling all the time. I remind myself it’s okay to slow down and life is not intended to be rushed though, or to be overworked and exhausted.
What are some common misconceptions about art therapy and spiritual healing that you’ve encountered, and how do you address them?
-Engaging in anything that isn’t practical comes with tons of misconceptions. A lot of people will assume and treat me like I’m not a “real” therapist because its “Art” Therapy, but a quick google search will let you know that Art Therapy requires years of educational and work experience, it’s a master’s level career, just as any other mental health field. I’ve been in workplaces where they think I’m just drawing and having a good time with my clients, when in actuality I am doing exactly what other therapists do, talk therapy, I’m just trained in using art as a form of communication, healing and connection, too. I do my best to educate people, as Art Therapists have been around for over fifty years, and the field is just continuing to grow. I’ve even had kids tell me they want to be one when they grow up, after they have worked with me and now understand. With spiritual healing, you always get pushback because people fear what they do not understand, especially on social media. People think spirituality is new, but it has been here longer than religion, this is not as easy to educate people on, so I try to stay away from spaces that are not as welcoming and open to learning new things.
How do you stay motivated and inspired in your work, especially during challenging times?
-This is where spiritual healing and my own spirituality come into play. This year I’ve been realizing that the world is so much more than the challenging times that we face. I pray and journal a lot. I do a lot of spiritual work within myself in order to stay grounded and hopeful of the present and future. Faith is what keeps me afloat during tough times, and don’t get me wrong, it can waver sometimes, but I always go back to having faith and hope in my spiritual abilities and the Creator of the Universe. I am learning that life is not that serious, and it helps me a ton to not lose motivation or inspiration.
Can you share a success story from your clients that highlights the impact of The Creative Healing Space?
-Since 2019, I have been spiritually advising others. I was able to create a pretty big online presence and I was basically booked and busy. In 2022, I set this business aside to pursue my Art Therapy career more in depth, as the two required a lot of my attention and I just wasn’t able to do that. When I relaunched this year, with a whole rebrand, I had clients return, mentioning they were just as excited and have been patiently waiting for me to come back. It felt good to be welcomed with open arms by the people that truly supported me and took my services seriously since day one.
What role does community play in your work, and how do you foster a supportive environment for your clients?
-Currently, all of my work is virtual, which is something I wish to change in the future. With my social media presence, my goal was always to create a community, where I can share my own experiences in hopes of creating connections and helping others. I want someone to click on my page and think, “wow, this is what I needed”, whether its motivation, education or just some kind words that day. I do hope to be able to create a physical sense of community one day, but for now, I will keep showing up as my authentic self, sharing what I know, being an active listener and just seeing people for who they really are, or who we all are—spiritual beings having the human experience.
What are some practical tips or practices you would recommend to women who are looking to explore their own paths to healing?
-Be open and follow your intuition. Healing is not just done one way, and healing is an ongoing process—there is no finish line. Make sure that you are doing this for you, and that you are ready. Trust what your intuition/gut instinct is telling you, and shut out any outside noise (advice) because only you know what is best for you. If you’re new to your healing journey, start slow, get to know yourself again and also do your own research! Not everyone on social media spreads accurate information—self-care is pretty simple and can look like drinking water, eating food, dancing around your room, or taking a nap, self-care and healing is not glamorous at all. There’s no rush and no comparisons. Also, its okay to ask for help and to go to therapy! Mental health is important!
How do you envision the future of The Creative Healing Space, and what are your goals for its growth and impact?
-I just want to keep growing organically and getting my name out there. I’ll be taking on therapy clients on top of my spiritual counsel clients and I’m excited to be doing the things that I love. In the future, I would love to create an actual creative and safe healing space for people to connect at and have a place to go be themselves while navigating their healing journey. This could look like a physical location or even retreats. My goal is to do what I love, and be happy and secure in doing so, and if I can help others achieve the same on top of that, I am more than glad to.
IG and Threads:
W: www.creativehealingwithtayaj.com
