April 1, 2026
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.
For this profile, we spoke with AATA Treasurer Dr. Kathryn Snyder.
Tell us about your involvement with AATA
I’ve been an AATA Member for over 13 years and currently serve as Board Treasurer. Over that time, I’ve volunteered at conferences and have had the opportunity to lead learning sessions.
“I am a proud member of the Board of Directors, where I feel I can support the sustainability of our organization while helping to welcome and mentor a new generation of art therapists.”
— Dr. Kathryn Snyder, PhD, MA, ATR-BC, LPC
As an art therapist, what excites (or inspires) you most about your job right now?
The opportunity to contribute to the future of art therapy through teaching and research. This work reflects not only my years of experience with children, teens, and families, but also my vision for cultivating a care ecology within third spaces—places where communities can meaningfully access the value of art therapy, including museums.
Has working with a particular client group shaped your professional focus or specialty?
I’ve developed expertise in areas such as child development, learning disabilities, and neurodevelopmental differences including ADHD and autism, as well as anxiety and depression.
I’ve found that supporting this population requires more than individual care—it involves understanding the broader systems they are part of. This has led me to take a family systems and community-based approach, looking holistically at the educational, healthcare, and home environments that influence a young person’s well-being. My clinical practice is centered on coordinating care across these systems, helping bridge language barriers, and ensuring that the sensory and developmental needs of children and teens are prioritized.
What are your hopes for the future of the profession?
In a time when the world often feels unsteady, I find grounding in the community of care we create each day. I remain hopeful about how we can continue contributing to a better world—one creative act at a time.
Colored pencil illustration, ‘sloth’
May 2020
About Dr. Kathryn Snyder, PhD, MA, ATR-BC, LPC
Dr. Kathryn Snyder is an Assistant Professor at Temple University. She earned her doctorate from Drexel University under Dr. Girija Kaimal. Her research examines art therapy with young children in high-needs early childhood settings, with particular attention to emergent literacy and developmental growth.
Grounded in an ethics of care framework, her scholarship explores the intersections of art therapy, education, and community-based practice. She is especially interested in place-based work within schools and museums, investigating how art therapy can function as relational, ethical engagement that supports belonging, early intervention, and institutional responsiveness.
With more than 26 years of clinical experience, Kathryn’s work bridges practice, research, and community-centered care across educational and cultural contexts.
Dr. Kathryn Snyder will be facilitating the 2026 Art Therapy Supervision Series, Toward a Lifespan Framework for Art Therapy Supervision: Integrating Relational–Cultural, Ecological, and Developmental Models. The series will explore the developmental journey of art therapists, from early-career challenges to more advanced stages, and how supervisors can tailor their approach to meet the evolving needs of their supervisees.
The Supervision Series is free for AATA Student Members and discounted for AATA Members.