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Danielle Rifkin

Danielle Rifkin, LPC, ATR-BC is the owner of Rise Up Rooted LLC. She believes art allows us to access our natural intelligence and connect to our innate selves. She uses mindfulness, art making, and community building to strengthen and discover your deepest and truest knowing.

Danielle graduated from Naropa University with a degree in Transpersonal Psychology and Art Therapy in 2014. Since then she has been working as an art therapist in a variety of settings including medical hospitals, behavioral health facilities, community centers and more. She is passionate about the power of art as a tool for transformation and healing, and she loves sharing this gift with others. She has also been on her own health healing journey with PrimeHealth. She found so much profound and transformative physical healing with their support, which catapulted her ability to find her life’s purpose. She wishes to provide the space for communities to heal together.

MY JOURNEY

Art has been one of the most powerful tools I have discovered to access my deeper knowing. For those that know me, you would probably agree I can be an over-thinker. I am curious and have drive to understand myself and others. I grew up working to improve my mind and strive for all the answers. And my mind has served me well. And it has limitations. It likes things to be black and white and have clear answers. It wants order and control. Art has allowed me to go within and access a greater knowing. It lets me explore my world beneath my programming and safety protocols. It allows me to swim in the chaotic and beautiful waters of my soul. It can hold paradoxes. It teaches me about my true authentic self. It helps me trust myself more fully. It encourages me to surrender, take risks, and play. And I am grateful not only to have learned to do this for myself, but I am honored to also help others through this process of discovery. What is the power of art for you? Do you want to learn how to access your own natural intelligence through the creative process?

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ME

Many years ago I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. I had been dealing with chronic health issues for years and instead of feeling I was getting more control over them, I felt like new symptoms and challenges were popping up constantly. I made a promise to myself to invest in my health, to shift out of a state of survival, and to find the path to healing and thriving. So here I am, and I feel reborn. The version of myself that began this journey, feels like a past life. I am so proud of myself for taking the leap and believing I am capable of immeasurable changes. I am so proud of loving myself enough to believe I am worthy of a better life. It has not been an easy journey, but oh was it a rewarding one. I feel more alive than I can remember. I face my fears and challenges as teachers. I believe in my own power. I am so grateful I believed in myself enough to be an agent of change. I also have so much gratitude to all the support I had along the way. I definitely could not have done this alone. I think this is a big reason that I feel called to create community support for people that are on healing journeys. We are not meant to heal alone.

DISCOVER MORE

Favorite morning ritual?
Sitting at my alter, lighting a candle, setting intentions for the day, doing a card reading, and sitting with it all.

What activity instantly calms you?
Petting and snuggling with my dog

What’s your WHY that inspires you to teach?
I believe we are all capable of healing and I want to support people on that journey and help them believe.

What motivates and empowers you?
Curiosity and a deep knowing of potential

What is your superpower or spirit animal and why?
Currently I am honoring the lioness as my spirit animal. Learning to find my strength, power, voice and poise in life.

What is your favorite part of your profession?
Helping people find their creative voice and sharing it in community.

What advice would you give your younger self?
You are an agent of change and you can do anything you want! And you are loved!

Favorite quote/piece of advice?
"Art is important for it commemorates the seasons of the soul, or a special or tragic event in the soul's journey. Art is not just for oneself, not just a marker of one's own understanding. It is also a map for those who follow after us." -Clarissa Pinkola Estes, PhD

How do you define success?
To know and honor your truth

Top 3 favorite podcasts?
Unlocking Us with Brene Brown Astrology for the Soul with Kaypacha Huberman Lab

Top 3 favorite books?
The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller The Way to Integrity by Martha Beck Heal Your Body by Louise Hay