Member Spotlight — Gina Balit, LMFT, ATR

For each month’s Member Spotlight, we reach out to our members to write about their connection to our chapter. 

This month I’d like to introduce Gina Balit, who's not only a member but has been the LA-CAMFT Expressive Arts Group Co-Chair and is the LA-CAMFT Co-Administrator. Enjoy reading more about Gina in her own words.

I recently celebrated a year of licensure, but it feels like yesterday. It still brings tears to my eyes nearly every day knowing I actually passed that darn exam but also because I can finally work with my little kiddos in peace and with so much gratitude.

Many who know me know that my licensure journey took longer than expected. I watched all my colleagues pass their exams and reach their goals and dreams, while I had to take a break from practicing and kept wondering “Why me? Am I supposed to learn a lesson?”

Patience and timing were big factors, but above all, I had to understand what failure meant to me. I had to fully surrender to the test and not give in to the negative thoughts I began to believe, such as “I’m not good enough” and “I’m not meant to be a therapist.” I had to accept that I was still strong and a great therapist, despite how weak I felt from going through this traumatic testing cycle. I had to learn how to bounce back from repetitive setbacks and failure. I was being tested to see if I was going to give up—boy, was I tempted.

I set a strong goal to not let this exam define me and to not throw in the towel no matter how many years it took me to pass. Well, I survived the beast—I persevered, opened my own private practice in January (my silver lining of the pandemic—my home away from home) and now see kiddos as a licensed therapist both in-person and also by providing teletherapy. It’s not easy sharing my journey, but it’s made me a stronger therapist and is now exactly why I want to promote hope and resilience in children.

I’ve known since I was a little girl that I want to help other children in need. I started my undergraduate studies with a major in Art because it was a big part of my childhood. While I’ve always known how much I love children and art, it took me a while to have an “AHA!” moment and realize that I can work with both together. I knew something was missing in my first year of studies.

The “little me” knew she wanted to help other children in need because she was a child of divorce. I grew up doodling in my room, but mostly drew and traced Disney characters, especially Mickey Mouse. I always say that he is the reason I became an Art Therapist. Yes, it might be cliché to say that Disneyland is truly the “happiest place on earth,” but for me, Mickey Mouse and Disneyland taught me so much—that it’s possible to feel happy and be free of sadness, that I’m strong enough and good enough, that I have a forever place to feel safe at, and to never stop believing and having hope.

I had no idea that at that time, I was expressing myself through art. I was just doing something I loved. It wasn’t until adulthood I began to look back and understand just how powerful having art as a form of expression was in my life. I knew that I wanted to give that feeling and knowledge back to the world, especially to other children. They no longer have to hold feelings inside; there are ways to explain their ache inside when words are not enough. Once I heard the words “art therapy” from a classmate during my second year, I knew I had to look it up and do some research. I quickly changed my major to Child and Adolescent Development and kept Art (graphic design) as my minor. The rest was history.

From that moment on, I’ve been personally and professionally grateful for so many things. I’ve had the privilege to help many children and families. I’ve worked in school-based settings, in-home settings, agencies, transitional homes, shelters, as well as private and group practices. I’ve supported and treated mood issues, behavioral challenges—not only with psychotherapy clients but also with Autistic clients using Applied Behavioral Analysis, relationship matters, and traumatic experiences. 

I believe there is an art to the therapeutic process and how we work with our clients. My goal is to be warm, creative, compassionately listen and, at times, even utilize humor to aid in building rapport and trust with my clients as a solid foundation to begin work from. My dream is to inspire and instill hope in children so that they can lead healthier and more resilient lives. My mission is helping children look up and into their future with less worry and fear and more confidence and happiness.

Gina Balit, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Art Therapist, and SoulCollage© Facilitator, is in private practice in Woodland Hills. She specializes in working with children of divorce, abuse, and domestic violence, helping them heal from fear of abandonment in particular. Gina is bilingual in Armenian (western and eastern dialects) and is passionate about helping her community. She is a forever coffee, blue, and Disney lover. To learn more, visit www.theartofmft.com.

If you would like LA-CAMFT’s Member Spotlight to feature you and why you’re a member of our chapter, just email Lynne Azpeitia, Voices Editor at newsletter@LACAMFT.org.