April 18, 2019
Colleen Ferguson Kahn, MA, MFT, ATR-BC, works at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto, CA where she and Dr. Jo Wallace founded the Art Therapy program. “I am very proud to be an AATA member,” says Kahn. “The research, publications, events and the annual conference have been invaluable assets to my practice. The Annual Conference is the perfect place to feel instantly connected to our inspiring community.”
Kahn holds a BA in Communications from Sonoma State University and an MA in Art Therapy and Marriage and Family Therapy from Notre Dame de Namur University. She works with pediatric oncology, hematology, and stem cell transplant patients and families and describes her job as, “a dream come true – it’s genuinely an honor and privilege to work alongside these remarkable children.” She describes the goals of her practice:
“Through art therapy interventions, I help cultivate wellbeing by identifying and reframing maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors. Art therapy in the pediatric hospital setting can help alleviate symptoms such as stress, anxiety, depression and loss pf control associated with hospitalization. Providing patient with a safe, trusting space to creatively express themselves while genuinely treating the patient with unconditional regard is paramount.”
Passionate about research in the field, Kahn coauthored the article, “Psychosocial Changes Associated with Participation in Art Therapy Interventions for Siblings of Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients” published in the AATA Journal. In addition to further research, in the future, Kahn looks forward to seeing increased public awareness of art therapy and parity in pay for art therapists.
“Serenity” by Colleen Ferguson Kahn. 2014.