May 7, 2024
The American Art Therapy Association represents a diversity of professionals, students, and organizations across the nation. We recognize and celebrate the work of our members at all levels through our Featured Member series.
We invite Featured Members to share their insights and experiences about their work, clients, and art therapy journey.
What inspires you most about your job right now?
Engaging in vibrant community of students, colleagues, and doing what I love.
Has working with a particular client group shaped your professional focus or specialty?
“Studying art therapy in the US and interacting with colleagues has been instrumental in my journey from a predominantly homogeneous and biased perspective towards becoming a more understanding and evolving individual and professional. I recognize my biases and actively challenge and learn from them, while also advocating for social justice within my practice and community.”
— Maria Kim
How did you get involved with AATA?
Initially, I just wanted to lend a helping hand to AATA when they announced the need of board member. I soon discovered that the process was much more complicated than I anticipated: Someone has to nominate me, there was a form that I needed to fill out outlining my plans, and then there was a voting process with competitors. It seemed to be a long way and I almost did not expect that I would be elected. When the president called me while I was visiting Korea informing that I was elected, I was exhilarated and felt very honored. I realized that AATA is much more ready for diversity and I felt a huge sense of responsibility. It took me 23 years to get involved at the board level, but I think you can do it sooner. Get involved and share your unique perspectives!
What are your hopes for the future of the art therapy profession?
Oh, what a great question! My hope for the future of the art therapy profession is for it to be widely perceived as a trustworthy profession in the public eye, and to receive broader recognition within the system and institutions. While I acknowledge the strides we’ve made and have witnessing such positive changes, I believe that continued efforts can further elevate our profession’s visibility and impact.
< My Source, The Wellspring, The Origin
Oil Pastel on Craft Paper
Maria Kim
Artist Statement: This is my everlasting source of life, purpose, meaning, and the origin of all of this and future. For a very long time, this was living in me, and in 2023, it decided to show its presence to me visually. So much of meaning, memory, my flesh, and my people I have been cherishing. I welcome your appearance, the source!
How have issues of race, diversity, and social justice impacted your work as an art therapist?
It allowed me an immense growth as a person and professional. I perceive myself as an individual in continuous evolution, consistently learning and broadening my personal and professional perspectives on race, diversity, and social justice.
Studying art therapy in the US and interacting with colleagues has been instrumental in my journey from a predominantly homogeneous and biased perspective towards becoming a more understanding and evolving individual and professional. I recognize my biases and actively challenge and learn from them, while also advocating for social justice within my practice and community.
I think it is important to allowing ourselves to progress at own pace and extending forgiveness to both self and others for mistakes made along the way. These ongoing efforts not only contribute to my personal growth but also greatly enhance my ability to understand and support my clients from diverse background and meet them where they are in their own journeys.
What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a career in art therapy?
I have a sense of pact or commitment to myself since my high school days and 20’s, not to anybody else, and that has kept me on track and driven me to renew my efforts in pursuing this path. I frequently cherish and reflect on my commitment, and it has been a guiding light for me. Recently, I have been able to bring those inner images from my heart onto paper. These moments have been both exciting and affirming.
I suggest you reflect on how and why you started this journey of art therapy, and deeply cherish those commitments and images in your heart. They can be the fuel, driving source, means of resilience, and guiding light for your life path, helping you make sense of your own unique journey on earth.
Open Studio Process
About Maria Kim, PhD, ATR-BC, LMFT, LMHC
I was born and raised in South Korea. I worked as an art teacher in middle schools for about 10 years, where I felt the need to help students in my unique way. That led me to study abroad in the US to advance my study in art therapy at Loyola Marymount University. Due to some unfortunate family events, I stayed in the US after completing my masters study. I continued my work as an art therapist in Los Angeles for about 10 years.
Feeling that something was missing, I learned Open Studio Process (OSP) after moving to Indiana. To deepen my knowledge and validate the aspects of OSP that can be useful for students, I pursued a PhD study at Lesly University. Since then, I have been teaching OSP internationally and am currently a full-time faculty member in the Creative Arts Therapy at Antioch University Seattle.
My commitment to my initial goal has remained strong, and I continue to pursue it passionately. What began as a pact to help students has become a guiding light for me as well. The journey of transformation through study and practice has been invaluable, and I am forever grateful to be on this path.