Today we’d like to introduce you to Marien.
Hi Marien, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been drawn to the arts and their power to heal. That belief became deeply personal after I survived a stroke. I turned to eco-art therapy and creative expression to support my recovery and reconnect with myself through nature. Although my professional path led me into education, the desire to use the arts for healing never left me. Today, I work as an ecopsychologist and registered expressive arts consultant educator, integrating creativity and nature to support healing, resilience, and emotional well-being in others.
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 hasn’t been a smooth road. Like many people, my journey has been shaped by pain, grief, and loss. After my stroke, I faced the challenge of regaining skills I once took for granted, physically, emotionally, and creatively. These struggles deepened my empathy and reinforced my belief in healing as a nonlinear process, one that requires patience, compassion, and meaningful support.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work centers on integrating ecopsychology and expressive arts (meditation, art making, creative writing, storytelling, movement and music) to support healing, emotional regulation, and personal growth. I specialize in eco-art therapy–informed practices, expressive arts facilitation, and educational settings where creativity and nature become accessible tools for well-being. I’m known for creating gentle, inclusive spaces that honor the body’s wisdom, lived experience, and the healing power of creative expression, especially for individuals navigating recovery, grief, and life transitions.
What I’m most proud of is building a strong family and programs that meet people where they are, regardless of artistic ability, and helping them reconnect with themselves through art and nature. What sets me apart is that my work is both professionally grounded and deeply lived. I don’t just teach these practices; I’ve relied on them for my own healing. That lived experience brings depth, humility, and authenticity to everything I offer.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m deeply inspired by resources that sit at the intersection of creativity, healing, and science. One of the most influential voices in my work has been Natalie Rogers, especially The Creative Connection, which continues to ground me in the heart of expressive arts as a healing practice. I’m also deeply influenced by Shaun McNiff’s work, particularly his writing on art as a way of knowing and healing, which reinforces my belief in trusting the creative process itself.
I’m drawn as well to books like Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, which bridges neuroscience and creativity and affirms what many of us experience intuitively through art. Alongside these texts, I rely on nature-based reflection, mindfulness practices, and creative rituals to stay grounded, regulated, and connected both in my personal life and in the work I offer others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heartcentered.us
