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River Chew, MSW, LMSW, REAT-IT (they/them)

Hey, I'm River

LMSW, they/them

I'm a social worker and expressive arts therapist, and I’m passionate about helping others discover the healing power of creative expression. I specialize in working with folks dealing with trauma and disordered eating, and I bring this expertise into all my therapeutic work by helping my clients connect to their bodies and relate to themselves with kindness and respect.

 

Expressive therapy can be an incredible tool to grow from painful life experiences. Unlearning shame or self-criticism that we feel towards our creative abilities can be an important step towards viewing ourselves with compassion. I believe that cultivating self-compassion is at the root of building healthy relationships with others, and a fulfilling life for ourselves. Read more...

Areas of Interest

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  • Developmental trauma

  • complex PTSD

  • eating disorders

  • lgbtqia+ identity exploration, child sexual abuse

  • body image concerns

  • gender dysphoria

  • vicarious trauma

  • self-harm and suicidality

  • substance use and addiction

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Approaches

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  • Expressive Arts Therapy

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)

  • Psychodrama

  • Drama Therapy

  • Sand Tray Therapy

  • Relational Cultural Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

  • Group Therapy​

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My Practice

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I approach therapy from a harm-reduction-focused, relational, and trauma-informed perspective. I strongly believe in affirming and respecting my clients’ autonomy and choice, and that includes approaching our work together collaboratively. I’m not here to tell you what your goals should be, or how you should work towards them. Instead, my role is to help create a space where you feel safe enough to bring your whole self, to guide you in exploring what you want and need to build a fulfilling life, and to walk alongside you on your journey. 

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Rates

Individual therapy - $200

We might be a good fit if...

  • You’re looking for support to work towards a healthier relationship with food, substances, and/or your body. 

  • You struggle with perfectionism, self-criticism, or low self-esteem, and you want to cultivate more space for self-compassion in your life. 

  • You are worried that the strategies you use to cope with distress might also be hurting you, but you’re not sure how to move forward.

  • You have been trying to find recovery from addictive processes, such as self-harm, substance use, or disordered eating, but you haven’t seen progress with approaches that focus on abstinence.

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