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Alisa Courtney enjoys two successful careers as an artist and a therapist.

When your accountant isn’t crunching numbers, she might be writing her next bestseller. The crew keeping your yard in tip-top shape could be selling out indie-music clubs on the weekend. Are you a lawyer who sings, or a singer who practices law? Few of us fit nicely in a box. And the boundary between vocation and avocation, between profession and pastime, can be mighty porous.

When it comes to wearing two hats, longtime Highland Park resident Alisa Courtney has her head on straight. A fine artist and therapist, she operates comfortably in the realms of creativity and caring. Her interest in art began early. From the age of 4, she was keen on drawing. At age 7, her parents bought her a set of oil paints. “My mother, a professional opera singer, was immensely talented and became my first supporter and cheerleader,” relates Courtney. “Our home was always filled with music and various forms of art, which fostered my creative spirit.”

Her passion for self-expression continued through high school and into college at Cal State Los Angeles. While in Los Angeles, she worked with a professional artist who introduced her to the work of painter Georgia O’Keeffe. “She believed that my style was reminiscent of O’Keeffe’s, and her encouragement, combined with her teaching methods, deepened my passion and enhanced my ability to express my unique artistic voice. This is where my love for painting flowers truly began—each flower’s uniqueness and organic connection to nature inspired me. I became fascinated with focusing on petals, enlarging them to create artwork that felt alive and dynamic.”

As time went on and the rough realities of the artist’s life became more apparent, Courtney took a practical step and set about mastering a profession that would make it easier for her and her husband to support a family of three children. “Throughout my life, I have supported friends through their challenges, and several encouraged me to channel this gift into a professional career,” shares Courtney. “I earned my master’s degree from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. I enjoyed applying my intellect to master this new field, which has enriched my relationships with friends, family, and myself.”

Courtney works with clients from age 10 to 90, using hypnotherapy to help reduce anxiety and depression. “In addition,” says Courtney, “I use cognitive behavioral models, compassionate listening, and insight therapy. My primary goal is to empower clients to help themselves. Through various techniques such as self-hypnosis, increasing self-awareness, and fostering greater insight into beliefs and behaviors, clients can grow and shape the lives they desire.”

Courtney is not an art therapist, so her two worlds do not directly intersect. Yet, she sees a connection between her work in the studio and her work with clients. “I believe that my intuition and emotional connection with myself and others are expressed through my art. When I start a new painting, I face a blank canvas. As I work, the image gradually emerges. This creative process requires patience and trust that I will produce something meaningful. Similarly, in therapy, each new client is like a blank slate. Through the process of getting to know them, their personal story unfolds, and together we find understanding. The therapeutic relationship becomes greater than the sum of its parts.”

In her painting studio, Courtney focuses on flowers and portraits, producing tightly cropped closeups of brilliant blooms and insightful images of people—a smiling bride, a father comforting a tearful son. In addition to pursuing her own personal visual interests on canvas, she works regularly with interior designers and their clients. “When collaborating with interior designers, I am typically asked to create something based on the designer’s and client’s vision. The final piece is a blend of their desires and my interpretation. Some clients are very specific in their requests, and I enjoy working together to realize their vision, as it challenges me to step outside my comfort zone and grow as an artist. Producing work based on a client’s strong vision can sometimes feel restrictive. Even so, I appreciate the opportunity to challenge myself through commissions, as it encourages my growth as an artist.”

For more information, visit alisajcourtney.com.