March 15, 2018
Miki Goerdt, LCSW, ATR-P grew up in Japan and moved to the U.S. 20 years ago. She specializes in working with older adults with mental illness and individuals with chronic medical illness/disabilities. After working in Arlington County’s mental health teams for nine years, she recently transitioned to a group practice setting. Goerdt has worked at a dialysis center, in hospice, a nursing home, an assisted living facility, and an inpatient psychiatric unit. This year, she was excited to start volunteering with the AATA and hopes to focus her effort on increasing the number of art therapists with various ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds.
Ms. Goerdt most values her AATA membership for the journal subscription and the conference discount. She adds, “I have also consulted them with an ethical concern related to a clinical situation in the past, and they have provided me with a very thorough guidance.”
When asked how art therapy is effective, she says, “Art speaks for us when we can’t use words. Sometimes we don’t know what’s inside of us. Through art, we are able to look inside of ourselves – and we learn more about ourselves.” For the future of the profession, Goerdt hopes to see more diversity among art therapists and that “the art therapy field will deepen the understanding of “cultural humility” instead of “cultural competence.”
“Light of Hope” by Miki Goerdt. Colored pencils. 2016.