Art-based coaching · Toms River, NJ & online

When it's hard to put into words, let your hands speak first.

I'm Hodaya Sheps. I help women in life transitions, teens, and children build self-esteem and practical coping skills through conversation, clay, collage, and color. No art experience needed.

Book a free 15-minute call How it works
  • In person in Toms River
  • Online sessions
  • English & Hebrew
  • Accepting new clients
Portrait of Hodaya Sheps
First step A free 15-minute intro call to see if we're a good fit.

A note on my role

I am completing my training in art therapy and am not yet a licensed or board-certified art therapist. My sessions are art-based coaching and creative support. They are not psychotherapy, counseling, or medical treatment, and they do not replace care from a licensed mental health professional. If you need clinical care, I'm glad to help you think about next steps.

My approach

Conversation and creativity, side by side

Many people find that talking alone doesn't reach what they're carrying. In our sessions we talk, set goals, and make something with our hands. The artwork gives feelings a shape you can look at, move, and change.

I combine life-coaching tools such as goal setting and practical skill building with creative work. The space is warm, non-judgmental, and paced by you. You leave each session with something concrete: a new insight, a coping tool, or a small next step.

  • Person-centered
  • Strength-based
  • Narrative
  • Positive psychology
  • Compassion-focused
  • Experiential

What's on the table

Clay
Grounding and physical. Good for anger, worry, and anything that needs squeezing.
Collage
You choose images instead of drawing them, so there's no pressure to be "good at art."
Oil pastels
Rich color laid down fast. Useful for mood, memory, and imagined places.
Acrylic paint
Layers you can paint over, a quiet lesson in starting again.
Paper quilling
Slow, repetitive, and calming. Builds focus and patience.
Mixed media
Textures, found objects, and paper for building whole worlds.

Who I help

Support for the moments life changes shape

Blue and cream paper-quilling flowers and a bird on canvas

Women in transition

Divorce, rebuilding a family, single parenting, or a season of self-discovery. We work on self-worth, boundaries, and a clear picture of what comes next.

Oil pastel landscape of palm trees beside a lake

Teens & preteens

Emotional, social, or school difficulties, especially for teens who feel boxed in by traditional settings. Art gives them a way in that doesn't feel like another lecture.

Five small clay family figures with yarn hair

Children, ages 6–10

Play-based creative sessions that help kids name feelings, handle frustration, and feel proud of what they can make.

Clay and cardboard arch with a sea scene in shades of blue

Adults who are "talked out"

If talk-based support hasn't felt like enough, non-verbal tools can help you process experiences safely and at your own pace. Older adults are welcome too.

I also run small group workshops for schools, community organizations, and women's groups. I work comfortably within the Orthodox Jewish community and with single-parent families, in English or Hebrew.

Getting started

How we begin

  1. Free intro call

    15 minutes by phone. You share what's going on and ask anything. No commitment.

  2. First session

    We get to know each other, set goals together, and try a simple, low-pressure creative exercise.

  3. Regular sessions

    Talk and art-making, in person or online. Each session ends with one practical tool for the week.

  4. Look back together

    Every few weeks we review your artwork and progress and adjust the plan.

Hodaya leading a group art workshop

About Hodaya

Hi, I'm Hodaya

For years I've worked with people at turning points. Since 2018 I've mentored and supported at-risk youth through guidance programs. In 2020 I founded a non-profit for divorced women, to strengthen their self-esteem and give them tools to grow out of crisis.

I studied Education & Society, completed 500 hours of visual arts training, and am continuing my studies in art therapy. Everything I've learned points to the same thing: when people make something with their own hands, they begin to see themselves differently.

My practice is a safe, creative, and inclusive space. You don't have to face this alone, and you don't have to have the right words yet.

  1. 2018Began mentoring at-risk youth
  2. 2020Founded a non-profit supporting divorced women
  3. 2021Certificate, Beis Yaakov Seminary
  4. 2023Opened private art-based practice
  5. 2025B.A., Education & Society, plus continuing art therapy studies

The studio

Materials, made welcoming

Everything is set out and ready before you arrive. Here is a look at the workspace and at pieces made in sessions and workshops, shared with permission.

Studio table set with feathers, beads, tape, and tissue paper
The worktable, ready for a session
Two textured canvases with teddy bear scenes
Mixed media & texture paste
Tray of recycled crayon pieces sorted by color
Crayons sorted by color
A ring of clay coils wrapped around each other
Air-dry clay coils
Acrylic paint tubes and bottles with brushes and a palette
Acrylic paints & palette
Open box of oil pastels in many colors
Oil pastels
Table covered with yarn, felt shapes, and craft supplies
Collage & craft supplies
Soft pastels and markers lined up on a table
Soft pastels & markers
Close-up of paint tubes and a jar of brushes
Brushes for every hand

Video

Inside a group workshop

A short clip of Hodaya leading a creative session with a group of students. Workshops are available for schools, youth programs, and women's groups. (Audio in Hebrew.)

Ask about a workshop for your group

Sessions & fees

Practical details

Formats

  • Individual sessions
  • Small groups & workshops
  • In person in Toms River, NJ
  • Online by video, with a simple materials list

Ages

  • Children 6–10
  • Preteens & teens
  • Adults
  • Older adults (65+)

Fees & payment

  • Private pay, fee-for-service
  • Payment due at the time of the session
  • Insurance is not billed
  • Contact me for current rates

Questions

Frequently asked

Do I need to be good at art?

Not at all. We focus on the process, not the result. Many clients haven't picked up a paintbrush since grade school, and that's perfectly fine.

Is this therapy?

No. I am not yet a licensed or board-certified art therapist. My sessions are art-based coaching and creative support, which can help with self-esteem, stress, and coping skills. They are not a substitute for psychotherapy or medical care. If your needs call for clinical treatment, I'll encourage you to see a licensed professional.

How do online sessions work?

We meet by video. Before the first session I send a short list of simple materials, most of which you probably have at home: paper, pencils or crayons, glue, and old magazines.

What happens in a session with a child?

Sessions are playful and hands-on. Children build, draw, and model while we talk about what they're making. I check in with parents regularly about goals and progress.

Do you take insurance?

No. My practice is private pay, and payment is due at the time of each session. Reach out and I'll share current rates.

Which languages do you speak?

English and Hebrew.

What if I'm in crisis?

This practice does not provide crisis or emergency services. If you or someone you know is in danger, call 911. For mental health crisis support, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7.

Contact

Take the first step, at your own pace

Send a short message or call to schedule your free 15-minute intro call. I'd love to hear from you.

Please don't include detailed medical or personal health information here.