Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Maly.
Rachael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Some of the most important drawings of my life began as symbols from my dreams. At the time, I was a single mother of three, working during the day and going to school at night. The images felt important, almost like messages I didn’t want to lose, and drawing them became a way of understanding what was happening inside of me.
But my relationship with art began long before that. Even as a child, I loved drawing as a way to understand and “see” the world around me. During a difficult period in high school, art became a refuge where I could express emotions that didn’t yet have words.
I went on to study art and design and eventually became an art teacher. Working with children, I saw how deeply people need creative expression. Our culture tends to emphasize analytical thinking and productivity, but art offers something different. It can soothe the nervous system, give voice to feelings that are hard to verbalize, and allow imagination and images to communicate what logic alone cannot.
I also saw how quickly people learn to censor themselves creatively. Many children—and adults—develop a strong inner critic that tells them their work is good or bad, right or wrong. There is often an invisible hierarchy of authority about what is “correct.” But art is one of the few places where you can step outside of that system. In art, you are the authority of your own experience. Unfortunately, many people lose the freedom to express themselves because of fear of judgment—from others and from themselves.
During a particularly demanding chapter of my life, when I was a single mother of three working during the day and going to school at night, creativity once again became a lifeline. I began drawing the symbols that appeared in my dreams because they felt meaningful and I wanted to remember them. Creating those drawings became a way of honoring and decoding the messages within them.
Those experiences eventually led me to pursue training as a therapist and art therapist. Today, as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board-Certified Art Therapist, I integrate expressive arts with relational and trauma-informed approaches in my work with individuals and couples.
In many ways, my work today is an extension of those early drawings. What once helped me make sense of my own inner world is now something I get to share with others. Creativity has a way of revealing truths we didn’t know we were carrying, and I feel honored to create spaces where people can listen to those deeper messages within themselves.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Earlier in my journey I was raising three children while working and continuing my education, which required a lot of persistence and trust in the path I was on.
Another challenge has been building work that blends creativity and therapy in a culture that often prioritizes logic, productivity, and quick solutions. I’ve seen how many people lose their natural ability to express themselves because of fear of judgment or the pressure to “do things the right way.”
Part of my journey has been learning to trust the deeper value of creative expression as a pathway to healing. Today, in addition to therapy, I offer workshops and creative healing experiences where people can reconnect with themselves through art, reflection, and relationship.
When people approach creativity with curiosity instead of judgment, it becomes a powerful doorway to healing and self-understanding.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Art & Soul Counseling and Psychotherapy?
My practice, Art & Soul Counseling and Psychotherapy, is rooted in the belief that healing happens not only through talking, but also through creativity, connection, and deeper self-understanding. I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board-Certified Art Therapist, and I work with individuals and couples who want to build greater emotional awareness, connection, and intimacy in their lives and relationships.
At the heart of my work is helping people build intimacy—with themselves, with their creativity, and with the people they love.
What sets my work apart is the integration of expressive arts with relational therapy. As both an art therapist and relationship therapist, I help people explore their inner world through images, creativity, and reflection while also strengthening how they communicate and connect with others. I specialize in working with couples using approaches such as Imago relationship therapy, helping partners move from cycles of conflict or disconnection toward deeper empathy and intimacy.
Alongside therapy, I also offer creative workshops and healing experiences where people can explore art as a practice for reflection, nervous system regulation, and personal growth. Many people are surprised to discover they don’t need to be “an artist” to benefit from the creative process.
Based in the Texas Hill Country, I’m most proud of creating spaces where people can slow down, reconnect with themselves, and share their inner experience with someone they care about. When that happens, intimacy and healing often begin to grow naturally.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is relationships. Our relationships with the people we love—and our relationship with ourselves—shape so much of our experience in life. When those relationships feel safe, supportive, and authentic, people tend to thrive. When they feel disconnected or strained, it can affect every part of our well-being.
Much of my work is about helping people build greater understanding and intimacy, both within themselves and with others. When people slow down enough to listen to their own inner world and share that with someone they care about, something meaningful begins to shift.
I also believe creativity can support that process in powerful ways. Art and imagination give people another way to explore their experiences and express things that are sometimes difficult to put into words.
At the end of the day, what matters most to me is helping people experience more connection, understanding, and intimacy in their lives and relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://artansoulcounseling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachaelartmaly/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artansoulcounseling/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RachaelMaly-x4b
