Meet Ashley Padgett | Therapeutic Art Life Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Padgett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I honestly just wanted to do something that I was passionate about and made me feel good, and do on my own terms with my own availability and ideas. In high school, I wanted to be an Art Therapist. I was in art classes, and did art as a hobby and passion. I fell in love wit pinging and creating. But after learning all that goes into becoming a Master’s level art therapist, I gave up. It was not until after high school that I fell in love with working with children with developmental disabilities and pursued a career path with that. But I wanted to really do something that set my soul on fire since I was tired of just the 9am-5pm mundane. One day I just had this idea – of helping children (and even adults) work through their emotions through art and other creative processes. I feel like this concept is not encouraged or easily accessible for people. Providing social-emotional learning through art for children, and scheduling pop-up paint parties for the East Valley, was an idea I just had and ran with, and I am already seeing a lot of interest after a month of launching my business. I enjoy helping people feel good about themselves through art and creative processes, because that’s what helped me growing up. My main focus for my business is to encourage recognizing your feelings, expressing yourself constructively, and promote healing through art.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is Ashley’s Peaceful Palette LLC. I’m a creative wellness facilitator & therapeutic art life coach that encompasses alternative & holistic healing through art! I can work with all ages, and provide a virtual consultation first to go over what our session will encompass. All work shops are designed specifically with the client in mind!
I am also a direct pay ESA vendor. My therapeutic art wellness workshops for children are designed to support social-emotional learning & development by promoting self expression through creative art processes. I have experience working with children & teens with developmental disabilities, and truly believe that promoting self expression and creativity is SO important! With a degree in early childhood development and differentiated instruction, I understand the importance of working with children at their current level.
My goal for this business is to promote overall wellness through creative process – allowing children to get messy and explore through art while incorporating emotions and feelings, and helping people achieve mindfulness and inner peace.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Let’s go walk the Riparian Preserve! There is so much wildlife and easy trails to get your steps in. Then we can head over to Coffee Rush and grab some delicious cups of coffee as we chat and relax. Those are my two favorite hang out spots in Mesa! I am always up for a paddle out at Butcher Jones or the Salt River!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shout out to my husband for being so supportive and involved in my ideas and plans. I appreciate the encouragement and love as I dove head first into this venture. He has been by my side every step of the way. I also want to give a shout out to my sister, for assisting with creating cute designs and logos for my business ads, and for being available to help take pictures and promote my business on social media. Her support and love means so much to me.
I also want to thank my dad for building me a cute art table for my sessions, and for always being there whenever I need anything.
Lastly, I would like to give a shout out to all of my family and friends who have helped promote my business by either word of mouth or sharing my information and posts on social media, and for the continuous uplifting comments and support received! Thank you all so much!

Website: https://ashleyspeacefulpalette.simplybook.me/v2/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyspeacefulpalette/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090871700408

Image Credits
All photos taken by me!