Join us for the AATA2024
Virtual Conference, Oct. 26 – 27!

Connect with presenters, meet new friends, and catch up with colleagues from around the globe—or augment your in-person experience in Pittsburgh.

AATA2024 in-person attendees will receive a 50% registration discount for the virtual conference!

Adolescents: Comparing 3D Virtual Reality and Traditional 2D Art-Making Experiences
Oct. 26, 11:45 am

Presenter reveals insights into adolescents’ artistic exploration through virtual reality (VR) art-making. Participants depicted safe spaces with traditional art materials, later recreated them in VR. Thematic analysis unveiled themes: diminished confidence, empowerment, multisensory engagement, and shared experiences of gender-switching. Virtual reality empowers non-traditional expression of thoughts, fostering participation and creativity. [PAPER]

Presenter: Lidice Cohen

Lidice Cohen is a registered art therapist with a Masters in Professional Studies (MPS) in art therapy and is currently a PhD candidate in Expressive Therapies. Additionally, she is a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist for Individuals. Lidice is a passionate advocate for art therapy, facilitating workshops and speaking at conferences on integrating spirituality and art therapy and the benefits of expressive therapies and trauma, both locally and internationally. Her diverse clientele includes hospice patients, individuals struggling with substance abuse, grief and loss, and youth within the correctional system. She offers both in-person and virtual sessions to meet diverse needs. As a published researcher, Lidice is actively involved in studying virtual reality as a medium for art therapy, contributing valuable insights to the field.

Building Capacity Back Home: Art Therapy Post-Graduate Certificate Program Based in Istanbul
Oct. 26, 11:45 am

This presentation describes the development of an art therapy training program in Turkey by six art therapists trained in the US during the 2000s. Returning in the 2010s, they crafted a curriculum bridging US and Turkish academic and social norms, showcasing capacity building by international therapists in their home country. [PAPER]

Presenters: Bihter Yasemin Adali, Asli Arslanbek Evci, Leyla Akca, Aslıhan Özcan Morey, Seyma Cavusoglu

Bihter Yasemin Adalı is an expressive arts therapist versed in the practice of Tamalpa Life/Arts Process. As a founding member of Arts Psychotherapies Association founded in Turkey in 2012, she continues to contribute to the growing field of Arts and Healthcare as the chair of the board of directors. Since 2013, she has been a lecturer/trainer at a pioneering graduate certificate program offered at Istanbul University, Istanbul School of Medicine’s Foundation of the Psychiatry Clinic. The certficate program originated by Nurhan Eren in 2011, trains artists and mental health specialists in the practice of expressive arts therapy with the psychiatric population along with individuals faced with chronic physical health conditions. Bihter Yasemin Adali’s research interests and therapy practices focus on expressive arts therapy with adults, adults with attachment difficulties and more recently with children going through chronic illness such as cancer, allergy and asthma and renal failure, as well as other atypical psychosomatic conditions.

Seyma Cavusoglu received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey in 2005. Later on, she received her Master of Arts degree from La Salle University, Philadelphia, PA, in Clinical Counseling Psychology, in 2007; and her Ph.D. degree from Lesley University, Cambridge, MA in Expressive Therapies, in 2020. Her dissertation topic is ‘‘The Experience of Equanimity Expressed Through Art: How Artmaking Facilitates the Practice of Equanimity.’’ Seyma started her career at Central Behavioral Health Center, Norristown, PA, as an individual and group psychological counselor. Ever since she returned to her home country Turkey, she has been working in private practice as a psychotherapist, instructor, and supervisor. She was in the translation committee of several books and published a poetry book. She co-authored a chapter on the basics of art therapy and is currently working on a book on art therapy and inner resources. 

Art therapist Aslıhan Özcan Morey got her Sociology and Psychology degree at Koç University in 2005. In 2008, she graduated from Lesley University with a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy. In 2009, she got licensed as Assistant Licensed Professional Psychological Counselor. She worked with adults suffering from chronic mental illnesses at Tewksbury State Hospital and Riverside Psychiatric Day Treatment Center between 2006 and 2008, and with pediatric patients suffering from physical trauma and chronic illnesses and their families at Kosair Children’s Hospital in 2009. In 2010-2011, she went back to Turkey and offered art therapy in three state hospitals for pediatric oncology-hematology services. Between 2011 and 2015, she worked in Psychiatry and Women’s Health Clinics at American Hospital in Istanbul. In 2015, she started working with pediatric patients with chronic illnesses and their families at Koç University Hospital and she is still employed in this position. She designed and supervised two arts based volunteer projects targeting pediatric oncology patients. In 2019, she started a child life and expressive therapies program at the hospital named as “Happy Child and Happy Family Program”.

Asli Arslanbek is a board-certified art therapist and an assistant professor of art therapy at The University of Tampa. Her research interests and clinical experiences revolve around art therapy with forcibly displaced persons. She is also interested in indigenous and traditional art forms and the implications of such practices in art therapy. She has published in several peer-reviewed journals including Frontiers in Psychology, The Arts in Psychotherapy, Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association and Canadian Journal of Art Therapy.

Leyla Akca, a creative art therapist specializing in trauma, emergencies, and disaster, graduated from the School of Visual Arts Art Therapy Master’s program in 2012. Her extensive experience includes creating and implementing transformative projects in the aftermath of disasters. Leyla’s journey began with the Van Art Project in 2012, responding to the Van earthquake in Turkey. She later coordinated a FEMA project post-Hurricane Sandy in New York, USA, and upon relocating to Turkey, she initiated Project Lift, working with Syrian refugee children, which evolved into the Maya Foundation. Recognized for her dedication, Leyla was awarded the Blossom Hill Foundation Fellow for three consecutive years, supporting her work with Syrian refugee children in Turkey. Responding to the southwest Turkey wildfires, she supervised the Maya Foundation team and joined Akyaka Afet Gönüllüleri, focusing on wildfire prevention. Since February 2023, Leyla has trained, supervised, and provided wellbeing sessions to first responders and humanitarian workers. Recently appointed interim MHPSS Coordinator for Maya Vakfı’s emergency program, Leyla now collaborates with like-minded professionals as a core team member of SAHA in Hatay, dedicated to community support. Leyla believes passionately in passing on the knowledge she has gathered over the last decade in post-disaster and trauma-informed art therapy practices. She is proud to be a part of Istanbul Sanatla Yaşam (Istanbul Art with Life) faculty, where she contributes to nurturing future generations of art therapists committed to community resilience and healing.

Art Therapy Efficacy Study For Indian Women With Chronic Mental Health Conditions
Oct. 26, 2 pm

The presentation will discuss an original pilot research using clay-pottery based art therapy intervention with residents of an assisted-living community facility for women with chronic mental health conditions in India. A structured Art therapy intervention module developed for the research will be discussed in detail. [PAPER]

Presenter: Saoni Banerjee is a qualified art therapist and psychologist. She comes with 15 years of work experience in mental health field and over a decade as an art therapist in India. Concurrently she has been an academic in various higher degree institutions across India with 10 years of experience in teaching psychology at an undergraduate level and supervising student research at undergraduate and postgraduate level. She uses eclectic art therapy approaches in her clinical and community work. Her expertise is in working with adults with psychosocial adjustment issues and clinical diagnoses and children with trauma experience. She has collaborated with organizations nationally and internationally to conduct art therapy workshops, training & seminars with mental health professionals, educators and students. A professional level member of ANZACATA, Saoni is currently a lecturer in Masters Arts Therapy course in La Trobe University, Melbourne and focusing on expanding her postdoctoral research work using arts-based practices and mixed method research.

Sensory-based Relational Art Therapy Approach: Supporting the Emotional Needs of Autistic Children

Oct. 26, 2 pm

I will outline the Sensory-based Relational Art Therapy Approach and explain the rationale behind its seven themes. The exploration of these themes will be done through case vignettes, illustrating their practical implications. [PAPER]

Presenter: Huma Durrani has published her doctoral research on autism and art therapy in academic journals and presented her work internationally. In her memoir, “Wrapped in Blue,” she documents her journey of raising her 26-year-old son with autism. Her most recent book, “Sensory-Based Relational Art Therapy (S-BRATA): Supporting Psycho-Emotional Needs in Children with Autism,” was published in December 2020. Additionally, her paper “Art Therapy’s Scope to Address Impaired Attachment in Children With ASD and Comorbid SID” was awarded the “Best Paper Award” for the year 2020 by the American Art Therapy Association.

Papermaking as Art Therapy to Address Trauma and Loss

Oct. 26, 3:15 pm

This panel will explore hand papermaking as a form of art therapy from the experiences, practice, and reflections of four art therapists. Attendees will learn about papermaking materials, methods, and applications to implement this media to specifically address trauma, grief, and loss, as well as empower resilience and recovery. [PANEL]

Presenters: Gretchen Miller, Meredith McMackin, Annie McFarland

Gretchen M. Miller, ATR-BC, ACTP is a Northeast Ohio Registered Board Certified Art Therapist and Advanced Certified Trauma Practitioner. Her art therapy clinical work has included serving youth and adults impacted by trauma and loss. Gretchen is also an art therapy educator, regional, national, and international speaker, author, supervisor, and community organizer. Recently, Gretchen co-edited The Art and Art Therapy of Papermaking: Material, Methods, and Applications published by Routledge in 2023.

Meredith McMackin is a Registered Art Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Washington. She received an MFA in Studio Art, MS in Art Therapy, and PhD in Art Education from Florida State University, where she researched the therapeutic process of hand papermaking with student veterans. Her art therapy clinical work has included serving adults impacted by trauma and loss. Meredith currently works as a creative arts therapist with the Vancouver VA Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington.

Annie McFarland is an artist, art therapist, and educator currently working as Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Art Therapy program at West Virginia University. She obtained her MS in art therapy in 2013 and her PhD in art education with emphasis in art therapy in 2020. She has clinical experience working in inpatient psychiatric facilities, hospice and bereavement, memory care, developmental disabilities, and community arts settings. Her doctoral research focused on using papermaking for narrative storytelling and trauma recovery with older veterans. She has also expanded her artistic and therapeutic practice in papermaking to work with community loss, bereavement, mental health recovery, and social activism. She is also a collaborator with Peace Paper Project, an international community-arts initiative that utilizes traditional papermaking as a form of trauma therapy, social engagement, and community activism.

Charting the Future of Art Therapy Research: Implementation for Advancement and Sustainability

Oct. 26, 3:15 pm

This presentation describes the outcome and implementation of multi-phasic research project the goal of which was to create an art therapy research strategic plan. Projects such as Teaching Research and The Metaphor Project are discussed as exemplars of the implementation of the five broad art therapy research strategic goals. [PANEL]

Presenters: Nancy Gerber, Theresa Van Lith, Madeline Centracchio

Nancy Gerber, Ph.D., ATR-BC is Teaching Faculty in the Art Therapy Program at Florida State University. She is also an Associate Clinical Professor Emerita and founding/former director of the Ph.D. Program in Creative Arts Therapies at Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Gerber’s scholarship focuses on doctoral education, art therapy research strategic planning, and arts-based research. Dr. Gerber co-created the Arts-Based Research Global Consortium to advance socially responsible arts-based research. She is co-researcher and developer of the Art Therapy Research Community Network. She has recently published a book entitled Imagination and Arts-Based Practices for Integration in Research. Dr Gerber has received the American Art Therapy Associations Award for Distinguished Educator and the Florida State University’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching.

Theresa Van Lith is currently the Course Coordinator for the Master and Graduate Diploma of Art Therapy programs at La Trobe University. Previously, she joined Florida State University’s faculty, focusing on coordinating clinical placements and engaging in practical research in art therapy and mental health. Her research primarily centers on developing and implementing art therapy studies aimed at practical improvements in quality of life, assessing intervention effectiveness, and determining best practices. A significant part of her work includes the ongoing development and implementation of a practical art therapy research strategy, with a future focus on practical techniques for reducing anxiety, stress, and improving overall mental outlook through mindfulness and art-based practices. She actively contributes to the American Art Therapy Association, serving as Associate Editor for its academic journal. She is also a Board Member of the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA). 

Madeline Centracchio is an outpatient art therapist within the Medical University of South Carolina’s Arts in Healing program. She works with clients across the lifespan with a focus on children and adolescents in the school setting experiencing behavioral or emotional diagnoses or difficulties. Madeline is from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina where she found passions for art, the beach, and developing community. Madeline graduated from the College of Charleston and completed her Master of Science in Art Therapy from Florida State University. She also works on research teams exploring arts-based research and implementing a strategic plan for art therapy research.

Cult Recovery, Complex Trauma, and Art Therapy: A Comprehensive Approach

Oct. 27, 10 am

This presentation delves into the intersection of cult recovery, complex trauma, and the innovative application of art therapy as a transformative modality for survivors. Coercive control, a subtle yet insidious form of abuse, often leaves survivors grappling with complex trauma, a multifaceted and enduring aftermath that challenges traditional therapeutic approaches. [PANEL]

Presenters: Natalee Bigger Stockdale, Ashlen Hilliard, Erin Falconer

Natalee Bigger Stockdale completed her master’s degree from Adler Graduate School in 2020. She is a Board-Certified Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of Minnesota, and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She currently works in private practice and specializes in working with clients who have experienced complex trauma. She understands the complex nature of exiting a high demand/cultic group and the labor that recovery entails. She works to bring attuning sensitivity, along with evidence based multimodal therapeutic models, to her clients with gentleness. Natalee is passionate about sharing her knowledge and skills with other survivors and the professionals working with them. Natalee aims to promote awareness of the unique struggles in recovery from complex trauma, coercive control, and self-alienation through ways art therapy can foster healing.

Ashlen Hilliard is a Cult Intervention Specialist and the founder of People Leave Cults. Most days, you’ll find her helping families with loved ones in cultic or high-control groups or relationships. She also offers psychoeducation services for survivors of coercion, and recently started support groups for cult survivors. She holds an MSc in the Psychology of Coercive Control and conducted the first exploratory quantitative research on the relationship between reproductive coercion, psychologically abusive environments, and the extent of group identity in a sample of those who have left cultic groups. Ashlen’s experience in the cult recovery field started on the front lines — helping individuals leave various polygamist communities in the Western US. Currently, in addition to offerings through People Leave Cults, she volunteers as a co-organizer of the Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education (SAFE) Meetup in Portland, Oregon. In May of 2024, she just completed organizing her second conference for survivors and helping professionals in the PNW, bringing people together from all across the country. As a member of the queer community, Ashlen is thrilled to be part of the new wave of helping professionals in the cult recovery field.

Dr. Erin Falconer provides psychotherapy and consultation for individuals and their families who are dealing with the effects of coercive control, cultic abuse, and complex trauma. Dr. Falconer completed her MSW at Columbia University in New York, and her PhD in Psychology, which focused on the neuroscience of trauma, at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. She also completed post-graduate study in the psychology of coercive control at the University of Salford (UK). She also has advanced training in trauma-focused therapies at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy in New York. She provides psychotherapy as a part of Refuge Psychotherapy, LCSW, PLLC.

HeART in India: Indian Perspectives on Art and Healing (Through Art)

Oct. 27, 10 am

The HeART in India panel will explore: cultural aspects of art therapy, art, and healing in India, the ongoing shifts in awareness and acceptance of art therapy as a mental health profession/field, and a few accessible therapeutic art techniques that might help increase accessibility of art therapy in India. [PANEL]

Presenters: Alison Kearley, Vishakha Rao, Megha Ananth, Manjari Srikanth

Alison Kearley is an Registered, Board-Certified Art Therapist and LMHC/LPC and has worked as an art therapist for eight years across schools, communities, and juvenile justice facilities. Most recently, Alison traveled to India to facilitate arts-based social emotional learning workshops for children and a workshop on trauma and the arts in counseling. Alison also served as a Guide for a Master’s Student Thesis at MIT Pune, India in 2023. She expects to complete her doctoral degree at the University of Alabama in Educational Research in Spring 2025. Alison’s expertise is in using art therapy with trauma, multicultural populations, and in the public school system.

Vishakha Rao has a Master’s of Arts in Yogic Science and a Bachelor’s of Design in Fashion Communication. Her interests include teaching Communication, Graphics, Illustration, Yogic Science, Art Therapy, & Holistic Healing. Vishakha teaches at Woxsen University in Hyderabad, Telangana, India, where she facilitates courses and international workshops in: Fashion Illustration, Fashion Merchandising, Fashion Styling & Photography, and Publication Design. Vishakha’s recent publications include “Women behind wheels exploring the clay pottery from Thiruchigadi, Nilgiris, Tamil Nādu women behind wheels exploring the clay pottery from Thiruchigadi, Nilgiris, Tamil nādu,” in the Journal of Visual and Performing Arts and in the International Journal Of Novel Research And Development on therapeutic yogic techniques for improving sleep of youth populations.

Megha Ananth is currently a Bachelors of Design in Fashion Design Student at Woxsen University Hyderabad, Telangana. Her field of interests include Fashion Design, Illustrations, Graphic Design, Film making, Communications and works of Art and Dance. Megha is a leader both in class and outside of class. She believes that art is a medium that can be explored in many different ways, and this is her life motto.

Manjari Srikanth is a junior at Woxsen University (Hyderabad, Telangana, India) in the Bachelor’s of Design program studying Fashion Design. She is an enthusiastic and innovative student, and always eager to learn more from her fellow students, professors, and international visitors. Manjari has had the privilege of serving as the former Vice President of the Fashion Club at Woxsen University, and is a leader amongst her peers.

Decolonizing Art Therapy from Within: Disarming with Your Inner Colonizer

Oct. 27, 11:45 am 

This presentation will discuss the universal nature of art therapy, the need for constant self-reflexivity, and the benefits of cultural adaptation in practice and research. It will emphasize the importance of a decolonized and socially just stance, including all voices from different locations. The role of reflexivity and self-reflexivity in art therapy is highlighted, along with the significance of understanding the inter-relationality present in all aspects of life. We will also explore how creativity can be used as a form of resistance towards meaningful social change. Finally, it calls for acknowledging our contribution to sustaining inequalities and working towards liberation and social justice in exploring our inner colonizer. [PANEL]

Presenter: Natalia Gómez-Carlier received a master’s in art therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) in May 2005. She is a Registered Board-Certified Art Therapist with the American Association of Art Therapy. Natalia is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). She was a co-founder and President of the Colombian Art Therapy Association, taught at universities, frequently presents at International Mental Health Conferences, and is a published author. She has practiced as an art psychotherapist for more than 20 years in Bogota, Chicago, New York, Muscat, and now Dubai. Natalia is trained in psychodynamics and uses and adapts different techniques and modalities according to the needs of each person.

Natalia has focused on issues related to immigration, acculturation, decolonizing art therapy, including indigenous aspects, and developing a culturally sensitive art therapy approach. Natalia enjoys working with people from all over the world. She speaks English and Spanish fluently and is a 300HR Jivamukti Yoga Teacher.

Silhouettes That Unveil: A Revealing Insight Into Sexual Abuse Survivors In Singapore

Oct. 27, 11:45 am 

This session will highlight the consistent patterns observed in female sexual abuse survivors’ artwork during art therapy sessions in Singapore. Some sexual abuse survivors tend to create similar metaphors that aid in identification and tailored interventions. This presentation will be especially useful for clinicians working with clients with complex trauma. [PAPER]

Presenter: Buvenasvari Pragasam, MA, AThS, is an art therapist based in Singapore who holds a Master of Arts in Art Therapy from Goldsmiths, University of London (delivered by LASALLE College of the Arts). With over seven years of clinical experience, including extensive clinical placements, Buvenasvari has honed her expertise in working with individuals facing complex trauma. Since 2018, she has been at the helm of Solace Art Psychotherapy, a private practice and social enterprise dedicated to providing art psychotherapy. Her practice serves both youth and adults in various settings, including private and public sectors. Buvenasvari has also been an arts-based clinical supervisor, trained by ANZACATA since 2021. Additionally, Buvenasvari Pragasam is the author of “Increase Self Awareness: A 30 Day Practice,” a resource book designed to enhance self-awareness through art.

Psychedelics and Art Therapy: Bridging Two Worlds

Oct. 27, 2 pm 

This panel will explore the historical use of psychedelics in traditional and Western practices, including the use of psychedelics in mental health treatment. Panelists will review ethical and legal implications of incorporating this work into clinical practice and present their experience using art therapy at different stages of psychedelics therapy. [PANEL]

Presenters: Rebecca Wilkinson, Amelia Laver, Charmaine Husum

Rebecca Wilkinson is co-founder of Creative Wellbeing Workshops which provides therapy, supervision, consultation, and training to help individuals and organizations manage stress, reduce burnout, and improve wellbeing. Creative Wellbeing Workshops is a National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) approved continuing education provider in Positive Ethics, Creativity, Art Therapy and Positive Psychology. CWW has offices in DC and Tucson, AZ. Rebecca is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed, Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist, and a Certified Trauma Therapist in the Instinctual Trauma Response ®. She completed the 250 hr training as a Certified Psychedelic Therapist with Integrative Psychiatric Institute (IPI) and Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS/Lykos). Rebecca serves as adjunct faculty at the George Washington University Graduate Art Therapy Program, teaching Positive Psychology and Art Therapy, Art Therapy and Mental Illness, and Supervision. Rebecca also served as a Wellness Specialist at the internationally renowned Miraval Spa in Arizona and a regularly featured creativity facilitator at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts for clients affected by life threatening illness and providers working with them. 

Amelia Laver, originally from the UK is a qualified Attorney, who later became inspired to pursue a career as an Expressive Arts Therapist, after being in a workshop with acclaimed Art Therapist, Rebecca Wilkinson. She has been working with psychedelic medicine for 3 years, facilitating 1:1 sessions with MDMA and Psilocybin mushrooms, holding workshops on microdosing and utilizing Expressive Arts Therapy tools that she gained during her first years training and internship whilst enrolled in the a Masters of Expressive Arts Program.

Since then she has pivoted from that program in order to pursue licensure in order to work with psychedelic medicine.

Charmaine Husum, RCAT, DKATI, RTC, CT is an internationally recognized artist, Registered Canadian Art Therapist, Somatic Counsellor, and Kundalini Yoga & Meditation teacher. For over 10 years, Charmaine has specialized in helping individuals prepare for and integrate altered states of consciousness and psychedelic experiences using Somatic Art Therapy. She is extensively trained in somatic and holistic approaches, including Internal Family Systems, Hypnotherapy, Transpersonal Psychology, and Trauma-Informed Therapy.

Through her private practice, Centre of the HeArt, Charmaine supports clients worldwide in healing from PTSD, CPTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. As an advocate for harm-reduction and trauma-informed care in psychedelic therapy, she has developed specific protocols in her Psychedelics & Art Therapymanual and course, offering structured frameworks for integrating these experiences. She also teaches through her online school and the Kutenai Art Therapy Institute in Nelson, BC.

Her upcoming book, Psychedelics & Art Therapy: A Trauma-Informed Manual for Somatic Self-Discovery(Routledge, 2025), will serve as a vital resource for clinicians and individuals integrating psychedelic experiences. Charmaine’s research focuses on neuroplasticity, epigenetics, and intergenerational trauma, exploring how creative expression acts as a catalyst for healing and transformation.

Doctoral Education: Is it for Me?

Oct. 27, 2 pm 

This panel of doctoral level art therapy students and educators will provide an opportunity to learn more about the intended values and goals of doctoral education, especially as related to students of diverse backgrounds, races, gender orientations, and perspectives facing implicit and explicit institutional hierarchies. [PANEL]

Presenters: Danielle Chen, Nancy Gerber, Lisa Hinz

Danielle Tidwell Chen, PhD, LMFT, RPT, ATR, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Registered Art Therapist, and Registered Play Therapist with over a decade of experience in art therapy and family therapy. She holds a Ph.D. in Art Education with a concentration in Art Therapy Theory and Practice from Florida State University, where she also earned her M.S. in Art Therapy. In addition, she obtained a Master’s in Family Therapy from Mercer University and a B.S. in Psychology with a concentration in Studio Art from Georgia State University. As an AAMFT Clinical Fellow and an Approved Supervisor in Training, Danielle’s research focuses on the intersections of multiracial and multicultural identities. Her work explores how art therapy and systemic theories can help individuals navigate complex identities, particularly through the lens of cultural humility and social justice. She is passionate about using response art as a tool for therapists to engage in self-reflection and personal development. Danielle has been published in the Art Therapy Journal, contributing to important discussions on identity, social justice, and therapeutic practice. 

Nancy Gerber, Ph.D., ATR-BC is Teaching Faculty in the Art Therapy Program at Florida State University. She is also an Associate Clinical Professor Emerita and founding/former director of the Ph.D. Program in Creative Arts Therapies at Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Gerber’s scholarship focuses on doctoral education, art therapy research strategic planning, and arts-based research. Dr. Gerber co-created the Arts-Based Research Global Consortium to advance socially responsible arts-based research. She is co-researcher and developer of the Art Therapy Research Community Network. She has recently published a book entitled Imagination and Arts-Based Practices for Integration in Research. Dr Gerber has received the American Art Therapy Associations Award for Distinguished Educator and the Florida State University’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching.

Lisa D. Hinz, Ph.D., ATR-BC is a licensed clinical psychologist and board certified art therapist. She is an associate professor and director of the Art Therapy Psychology Doctoral Program at Dominican University of California. Dr. Hinz is the author of many professional publications and three books on art therapy. The second edition of her book, Expressive Therapies Continuum: A Framework for Using Art in Therapy was released in January 2020 and builds upon her interest in materials and methods in art therapy. Dr. Hinz specializes in the treatment of eating issues, substance abuse, and lifestyle medicine; she maintains a private practice in St. Helena, California.

Numbers Tell the Story: Teaching, Learning, and Applying Quantitative Research Methods

Oct. 27, 3:45 pm 

Numbers tell the story. Using quantitative research methods, students and practitioners learn ways to find the story in numbers. What are mental health professionals’ attitudes towards art therapy? Does this treatment method cause a change? Art therapy educators learn innovative ways to experientially teach research. [PAPER]

Presenter: Patricia (Pat) St. John is a Registered, Board-Certified Art Therapist, licensed in New York State. For more than 30 years she directed the MS in Art Therapy program at The College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY, where she developed the research component of the program, among many other initiatives. The college awarded her the title Professor Emerita. Soon after the college closed in August 2019, due to financial difficulties, she began teaching undergraduate and graduate art therapy at Springfield College, Springfield, MA. She teaches various courses including research. She mentored over 300 master’s thesis studies. As an active member of the AATA for the past 30 years, she has served on the Education & Training Board and co-chaired the Task Force for preparation of Education Standards & Guidelines for our accreditation group, CAAHEP. She is currently a member and previous chair of the Education Committee and Research Committee, previously Associate Editor of the Journal, and previously elected to the AATA Board of Directors. She is a recipient of the AATA Research Award and the Distinguished Service Award. She has presented many papers, workshops, and panels at AATA Annual Conferences, as well as published papers in the Journal. Her mixed media artwork has been accepted into juried exhibits across the USA and internationally.

Transformative Art Therapy: Self-Discovery in Women’s Correctional Facilities with Expressive Post

Oct. 27, 3:45 pm 

This presentation explores the impact of the Expressive Post impact in a women’s prison, utilizing relational art therapy to foster self-discovery and empowerment. It highlights innovative techniques and transformative outcomes, emphasizing the role of art in facilitating change and connection within the challenging carceral environment. [PAPER]

Presenters: Theresa Van Lith and Hayley Arjona

Theresa Van Lith is currently the Course Coordinator for the Master and Graduate Diploma of Art Therapy programs at La Trobe University. Previously, she joined Florida State University’s faculty, focusing on coordinating clinical placements and engaging in practical research in art therapy and mental health. Her research primarily centers on developing and implementing art therapy studies aimed at practical improvements in quality of life, assessing intervention effectiveness, and determining best practices. A significant part of her work includes the ongoing development and implementation of a practical art therapy research strategy, with a future focus on practical techniques for reducing anxiety, stress, and improving overall mental outlook through mindfulness and art-based practices. She actively contributes to the American Art Therapy Association, serving as Associate Editor for its academic journal. She is also a Board Member of the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA). Her practical contributions to the field have been acknowledged with several awards, including the American Art Therapy Association Seed Grant (2021), National Endowment for the Arts Research Award (2020), and the Department of Art Education Faculty Teaching Award (2019).

Hayley Arjona (MAT MFA AThR) is an Australian contemporary artist and registered art therapist dedicated to studio-based practice and social justice work. Since 2020, she has provided art therapy in the women’s prison system and family violence counselling programs. Hayley has adopted innovative ways of harnessing the transformative potential of artmaking for profound change. She designed the Expressive Post program, which to date, has engaged over 85 women in prison. Currently a guest lecturer into the Master of Art Therapy course at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Hayley teaches subjects regarding art therapy with adults and the effective application of diverse materials and processes.