Teneshia La’Rae D. is an African American Mixed Media Artist, Trained Professional Life Coach/ Art Recovery Life Coach, and Entrepreneur, living with CPTSD and Bipolar Disorder. She owns and operates two businesses, ArtMindtld LLC and Art N’ SHOPtld. In networking with community-based organizations, she is expanding clientele to provide more accessible and flexible options built around the needs and experiences within the community.
Photo Credit: Stephanie Reeves (Mental Health Association In DE) Photo taken October 9th, 2025 during a CEU taught about the importance of alternative/ hybrid groups with a sample workshop.
The Beginning
Her story begins in grief and trying to move forward from that all-consuming grief. She felt as though I had been in a deep sleep. Not only was she grieving another loss; she was also grieving herself. As she started to wake up a bit, she went looking for help, answers, solutions, community, anything that would get me through the nightmare she was living. She was so used to just surviving and in her search she quickly realized that the area in which she live is limited in resources.
The Process
It started with one image a lot of thoughts, feelings, and memories with no direction. She wasn’t sure where it was headed or where she was going until she started writing down the clutter in my sketch pad and processing it through imagery. She started sorting her illustrations into stages.
Seeing the images laid across the floor she recognized a familiarity. They were the stages of her life. She didn’t break her but she had to fix herself. Though her art she felt vulnerable, shame, guilt, and many other things. She wanted to just keep it hidden away. It didn’t feel good at first but, it became a way for her to convey the things she couldn’t say and helped her to connect with others.
The Mission
She has had to create stability, structure, and build community in her life. She has started to do outreach and build it locally where there are barely any resources. She has taken what she has learned through her experiences to create products and services that inspire, empower, and promote self-care and mental wellness.
Business
ArtMindtld LLC- Own’s and operates a business that teaches Art Recovery & Life Skill Workshops offering alternative methods in processing feelings, emotions, ect.to parts of the community limited in resources and programs. Providing alternative options that focus on building support and promoting mental wellness.
Art N’ SHOPtld- Own’s and operates a business creating products and services that inspire, empower, and promote self-care, and mental wellness.
Personal Projects & Other
Bipolar Daily- Own’s and designs multiple websites. Bipolar Daily showcases her art and personal projects. Art and Art Prints are available for sale at Art N’ SHOPtld.
DE Artist Roster- Recently approved to be listed on DelawareScene as an Artist.
Certificates/ Trainings
Professional Life Coach- Acquired certificates in Professional Life Coaching, Therapeutic Art Life Coaching, Self-Healing Coaching, and Somatic Healing Coaching from Transformation Academy.
Ordained Minister- Ordained through the Universal Life Church Ministries to officiate non-denominational and non-traditional wedding ceremonies.
Mental Health First Aid- Received a certificate for Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) an evidence-based training program that teaches everyday people how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges.
Phone: (302)538-4013/ Email: info@artmindtld.com
Workshops: www.artmindtld.com/ Shop: www.artnshoptld.com/ Art Gallery & More: www.bipolardaily.com