Hello!
I am a therapist, photographer and overall vibe curator, based in Los Angeles, CA. In all of my work (both creative and clinical) I integrate creativity, art making, somatic awareness and psychology to support individuals, groups and communities through personal and professional transitions, by providing a fresh outlook and out-of-the-box perspective to support your journey and actualize your creative visions.
My name is Amber Salik.
Since I was a young child, I’ve been in love with the world of stories.
They were more than mere words on a page; they were the containers that captured me, a vehicle that carried me from one day to the next as I sat lost in books or my imagination. Whether I was reading poetry or works of fiction, looking at art, listening to melodies, constructing scrapbooks and collages or snapping pictures - stories were all around me, leading me on an endless journey of self-discovery, enlightenment, and reflection.
As I got older, I began to realize how much stories, both real and imagined, have the ability to captivate, motivate, and connect us in profound ways.
Through my art, I found ways to weave stories into images and writing, embedding pictures with memory and sounds of culture and community. Just like the stories that shaped me, the camera became my tool to weave tales of resilience, passion and creative invention. Through therapy, I have the honor of witnessing stories beyond the lens, as I work with clients to understand and transform their own unique stories with clarity and compassion.
Here at Ambient Vibes, creativity and healing are interconnected threads, each complementing and reinforcing the other. The empathy and understanding fostered through my therapeutic work fuels my capacity to capture the depth and essence of human experiences with my camera. Likewise, my ability to capture the raw emotions and beauty of life through photography enriches my ability to communicate, connect, and inspire on a deeper level.
Story has always been my first love, though it has taken many forms.
As a therapist, I have the privilege of translating my passion for stories into a tangible form of support and connection
My clients and I work together to discern whose stories they have inherited and are living inside of, which stories they have outgrown and which ones they want to grow into, and what stories they want to weave for themselves and leave for the next generation.
As a Registered Associate Marital and Family Therapist (#AMFT135666), I use trauma-informed talk therapy & expressive arts therapy to help you navigate the intricate web of your experiences, emotions, and challenges, empowering you to edit, revise, draft and craft a mire-aligned narrative for your life.
I belong to a group practice (The Wellness Arts Collective) and am working under the supervision of Rhonda Waller-Dang (LMFT #108744). I am also a trained Expressive Arts Therapist, working towards full certification.
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I have Masters degree in Counseling Psychology & Expressive Arts Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. I also have a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative & Alternative Healing from New York University, with minors in Creative Writing and Child & Adolescent Mental Health Studies.
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I specialize in working with young (12-35), BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or neurodiverse individuals, as well as partners and families looking to improve communication and intimacy. Majority of my clients can be described as creative, ambitious, sensitive, engaged and driven and may be looking for a more flexible, creative approach to traditional talk psychotherapy.
As a creative, I help you share your stories with the world, by creating candid, authentic (and sometimes abstract) visual images.
Through the lens, I become the storyteller, not merely capturing scenes but crafting narratives that capture the essence of human life and distill its emotions, while also inviting viewers to reflect, question, and engage with the world around them. I use photography and narrative medicine to explore ideas around identity, community, loss, and (be)longing from a holistic, person-centered lens. My style of shooting is laidback and easy, to encourage an effortless flow for natural shots and weaves together the threads of storytelling, psychology, and authentic representation.
I take a holistic, laidback approach to shooting that centers the unique perspective of my subjects and weaves together the threads of storytelling, psychology, dreamwork and creative coping. My specialities are environmental, abstract/conceptual and documentary-style work and I have a particular interest in partnering with other artists to bring their creative visions to life. You can check out my portfolio here or take a look at my Artist CV if you’d like to learn more about my artistic journey.
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Most of my work typically revolves around the following themes:
Identity, Parts Work & Self-Expression
Home & (Be)longing
Grief, Loss and Loneliness
Nostalgia, Memory and Saudade
Community and Connection
The Healing Powers of Art & Creativity
Intersectionality, Nuance and Duality
Transitions and Liminality / Liminal Spaces (ie: the spaces in between)
Abstractions, Reflections & Shadows
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Skew Magazine (a Level Ground publication), 2023
SoLA Seed Program, 2023
Shoutout Atlanta, 2022
Grace Period x Treehouse Coliving, 2022
Gallatin Galleries - New York University, 2018
Red Cedar Review (Volume 53), 2018
Gallatin Arts Festival, 2017 and 2018
Confluence Magazine, 2017
Associations & Memberships
Get to Know Me A Bit:
﹅ I’m an East Coast girl at heart, living in Los Angeles for the past 3 years
﹅ My dog, Harley David, is my my favorite thing in this world
﹅ I love discovering new music and am always watching Tiny Desk concerts and Colors live performances on Youtube.
﹅ I’m a Taurus sun, Virgo Rising and Aquarius moon (you know, if you’re into that sort of thing…)
﹅ I’m a multidisciplinary artist, grounded in narrative photography and creative writing
﹅ I’ve spent the past 8 years studying psychology, mental health and creative wellness and currently work as an Associate Marriage & Family Therapist at The Wellness Arts Collective in Los Angeles, CA (working under the supervision of Rhonda Waller-Dang (LMFT #108744).
As someone that exists at the intersection of a myriad of marginalized identities…
Black, Women, Queer, Neurodivergent - it was only natural that I forged a life path that is as unique and intersectional as myself.
It was in the world of creative curation, ( whether that be facilitating arts-based workshops, providing trauma-informed expressive arts therapy, or photographing special occasions) that I found my position as a Vibe Curator - working with clients to clarify their intentions, connect with their intuition, cope with challenges and craft experiences (either personal or professional) that align with their goals.
Let’s work together
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and I’ll be in touch shortly. I can't wait to hear from you!
“At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source. When you are an artist, you are a healer; a wordless trust of the same mystery is the foundation of your work and its integrity.”
Rachel Naomi Remen, MD