Rachelle Walton

Rachelle has her Bachelors degree in studio art from UCSD and her Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling. She has a background in working in ministry at a local church in Children and youth ministry as well as helping run a Christian Non Profit (Youth With A Mission) alongside her husband. Rachelle has training in trauma care and was working as a therapist at a Private Practice before stepping down to focus on family. She is a mother to three young kids and always brings her passion for family restoration and health in everything she does.

Draw Near began in 2018. Megan was trying to find a job after receiving her Master’s in Art Therapy. While out in Oceanside one day handing out applications, she felt prompted to go to this small Art Studio. At the Art Studio she met a woman who was getting her Master’s in Counseling and said she was interested in Art Therapy. A couple days later they texted one another to meet up for coffee and low and behold they had already had a thread of text messages, but had never met! How could this be? 

Rachelle and Megan figured out their mutual friend connected them months ago and they never were able to meet, but we believe this was a divine connection. We met at a coffee shop in spring of 2019  and found out we had very similar backgrounds and stories. We met every week thereafter and Draw Near was born.

We started doing therapeutic art and anxiety workshops for women and teens and then taught a two day workshop for YWAM leaders in Japan. Our vision and hope for Draw Near is to be a safe place for all ages from all different backgrounds to come create alongside one another and to offer support and therapeutic art for people at all stages of life.