Today we’d like to introduce you to LaShaunn Bold.
Hi LaShaunn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
There wasn’t a clear, linear beginning to my work—it started in a moment when I was simply trying to find a sense of safety within myself.
My first real experience of healing didn’t happen in a classroom or a formal setting. It happened during a time in my life when I was in an unhealthy and unsafe relationship that limited my ability to move freely. I was waiting on a protective order, and for a while, my world felt very small—confined to my apartment, work, and only the most necessary outings.
One day, I went to a local art store and picked up a paint-by-numbers kit, thinking I just needed something to pass the time. But when I sat down to work on it, I realized something almost immediately: I didn’t want to stay within the lines. That structure, that restriction, felt too familiar.
So I put it aside.
Instead, I pulled out large sheets of old newsprint I had from a recent move—the kind used to wrap dishes and fragile items. It was oversized, unstructured, and blank. I began painting freely, without a plan, without rules. And in that moment, something shifted. It wasn’t about creating something beautiful or polished—it was about release. It was about reclaiming space, expression, and a sense of autonomy I hadn’t felt in a while.
Looking back, that experience planted the seed for everything I do today.
Art had always been present in my life in different ways, but that moment gave it a new meaning. It became more than creativity—it became a pathway to healing. Over time, that understanding deepened as I continued my professional journey, including my work as a faculty member at the University of Texas at Arlington. While my academic background gave me valuable tools and insight, it never replaced what I had learned through lived experience. Instead, it helped me expand and ground the work I felt called to do.
As my vision became clearer, I began building my practice through Bold Minds Therapy, centered on the idea that healing is not one-dimensional. It involves the mind, the body, and the spirit. Traditional approaches can be valuable, but I found myself drawn to more integrative and experiential ways of supporting people.
In my work, I often incorporate art as a way to give people a voice—especially for those who may not feel safe or ready to express their emotions verbally. Creative expression allows space for honesty without pressure, and I’ve seen how powerful that can be in the healing process.
I also guide outdoor experiences designed to support mindfulness and nervous system regulation. Through what I call The Reset Experience, I invite people to slow down and reconnect using their five senses—engaging with the natural world in a way that brings clarity, calm, and a deeper sense of presence. These guided forest bathing experiences are intentionally small and reflective, creating space for quiet observation, gentle movement, and grounding. Participants often leave feeling more centered, more aware, and more connected—to themselves and to the world around them.
Alongside this work, I’ve created community-centered art experiences that allow people to engage with creativity in a more relaxed and accessible way. One recent event, a guided paint experience called Waterfalls, captured exactly why this work matters to me. At the beginning, many participants arrived with questioning expressions—unsure of their abilities or what to expect. By the end, that hesitation had shifted into smiles, laughter, and excitement for what they had created.
Moments like that are a reminder of how powerful it can be to give people space to explore without judgment. In many ways, it reflects my own first experience with art—learning that it’s not about getting it “right,” but about allowing yourself to step outside the lines. Because of this, I’ve begun offering these paint experiences on a monthly basis, creating ongoing opportunities for people to return, reconnect, and continue their creative journey.
Over time, my work has grown into a blend of therapeutic practice, creative facilitation, and community building. I’ve had the opportunity to host art shows, lead workshops, and develop experiences that bring people together in meaningful ways. Each offering is rooted in the same belief that began during that quiet moment with a sheet of newsprint: that healing doesn’t have to be confined to rigid structures. It can be expansive, intuitive, and deeply personal.
Building something that doesn’t fit neatly into a single category hasn’t always been easy. Balancing roles, navigating uncertainty, and stepping outside of traditional expectations has required both resilience and trust. But it has also been incredibly rewarding to see how people respond when they are given space to simply be—without judgment, without pressure, and without needing to stay within the lines.
Today, my work continues to evolve, but the foundation remains the same. Whether I’m working with individuals through Bold Minds Therapy, guiding a Reset Experience in nature, or hosting a community art event, my intention is to create environments where people can reconnect with themselves in a genuine and embodied way.
At its core, this isn’t just about art or therapy—it’s about creating opportunities for people to experience freedom within themselves. And in many ways, it all traces back to that first moment when I chose to step outside the lines and into something that felt more like my own.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. For over 30 years, my career has been rooted in social work, primarily supporting children and families who have experienced abuse. I spent nine years as a Center Coordinator at a children’s advocacy center and later worked within a domestic violence shelter before transitioning into my role as a full-time faculty member and building my private therapy practice.
That work is deeply meaningful, but it also comes with weight. Holding space for others who are navigating trauma requires not only professional skill, but a level of emotional awareness and resilience that you can’t learn from a textbook alone. Over time, I realized that in order to continue showing up fully for others, I also had to be willing to face and process my own experiences.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to care for myself while caring for others—understanding that healing is not something I facilitate for others from a distance, but something I must actively engage in myself. That realization shaped the way I approach my work today. It’s what led me to integrate more holistic, mind-body-spirit practices, including art and nature-based experiences, not only as tools for others, but as essential parts of my own journey as well.
Building a practice that reflects that philosophy hasn’t always been straightforward. Stepping outside of traditional models, creating something more integrative, and trusting that there is space for this kind of work has required both courage and patience. But those challenges have also been the foundation for growth—personally and professionally—and continue to guide the work I do today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work sits at the intersection of therapy, creativity, and holistic healing. Through my practice, Bold Minds Therapy, I support individuals in navigating life experiences, trauma, and personal growth using an approach that integrates mind, body, and spirit.
While traditional talk therapy is an important foundation, I specialize in creating spaces where healing can happen in more experiential ways. I incorporate art as a therapeutic tool, allowing clients to express emotions and experiences that may be difficult to put into words. For many, that process creates a sense of safety and release that they haven’t been able to access otherwise.
In addition to my clinical work, I also offer nature-based experiences, including guided forest bathing through what I call The Reset Experience. These sessions invite individuals to slow down, engage their senses, and reconnect with themselves in a grounded and intentional way. It’s a gentle but powerful practice that supports nervous system regulation, clarity, and overall well-being.
I’m also known for creating community-centered art experiences, including guided paint events that make creativity accessible and welcoming to everyone, regardless of experience. These spaces often become more than just an activity—they become opportunities for connection, confidence-building, and personal reflection.
What sets my work apart is the way these elements come together. Rather than separating therapy, creativity, and mindfulness, I create experiences that allow them to work in harmony. I believe healing doesn’t have to happen in rigid or clinical spaces alone—it can be expressive, embodied, and even restorative in nature.
What I’m most proud of is the environment I’ve been able to create for others—spaces where people feel safe enough to show up as they are, explore without judgment, and reconnect with themselves in meaningful ways. Seeing someone move from hesitation to openness, from disconnection to presence, is what continues to inspire and ground the work I do.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as a sense of wholeness and joy—when a person feels grounded in who they are and no longer separated from their past, but able to see it as part of what shaped them into who they are today.
To me, success is waking up with a sense of purpose—looking forward to where you’re going and the experiences that fill your days. It’s being surrounded by people who bring positivity, curiosity, and a shared appreciation for growth and life.
I also see success as having the courage to explore—to try something you feel called to do, even if you’re unsure of the outcome. In that process, you learn what aligns with you and what doesn’t, and that clarity is its own form of success.
Ultimately, success is deeply connected to impact. It’s the feeling that what you do matters—that your work, your presence, and your contributions are helping others move closer to becoming their best, most authentic selves.
Pricing:
- Individual therapy sessions: Please inquire for current rates and availability
- Guided paint experiences: $35–$55 per person
- The Reset Experience (guided forest bathing): $25–$45 per session
- Private group sessions, workshops, and events: Custom pricing based on group size and needs
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lashaunnbold.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lashaunnboldartwork/
- Other: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/lashaunn-bold
