Featured Member: Ashley Stielow

February 18, 2025

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.

What are your hopes for the future of the art therapy profession?

Selfishly, I would really love to see art therapy services expand in the Midwest. There are still so many individuals in my area that have not heard of the profession or have not had the opportunity to participate in an art therapy service.

 

What keeps you excited about the AATA community? 

 

I have been a member of AATA for over 20 years. My involvement with AATA is critical to my ongoing development as an art therapist. Especially working in an “art therapy desert,” conferences keep me connected to other professionals, provide opportunities for further education, and keep me grounded in my identity as an art therapist. I am so appreciative of the association! I am so excited for Portland this year!

 

What inspires you most about your job right now? 

I love how I have been able to continue to grow as an art therapist all throughout my career. I have worked in so many different settings over the years but established my own private practice in the last 5 years. I purchased a building, and it has been exciting to imagine and create the entire space for the work myself and my clients do.
 

“I think the weight of the world sits with so many right now. It makes me feel incredibly fortunate to be able to process events of race, diversity and social justice with my clients.”

— Ashley Stielow, MS, LPCC, ATR

“Surrender Control”
March 2020
Alcohol ink on yupo paper with vinyl resist

 

Artist’s Statement:

Alcohol inks continuously provide new opportunities. No two alcohol ink works will ever look the same. They become so unique to the moment and individualized to the artist. For those reasons, it is a material I return to working with often. It is not a process that we can force an outcome with but merely become an observing participant to – in both the process and product. This allows us to put down our expectations and be witness to the uniqueness of the experience.

Has working with a particular client group shaped your professional focus or specialty? What have you learned from working with these clients?

I am so grateful for all of the individuals that have allowed me to join them on their mental health journeys over the years. Focusing on helping my clients heal from trauma is something I truly enjoy.

Has working with a particular client group shaped your professional focus or specialty? What have you learned from working with these clients?

I am so grateful for all of the individuals that have allowed me to join them on their mental health journeys over the years. Focusing on helping my clients heal from trauma is something I truly enjoy.

About Ashley Stielow, MS, LPCC, ATR

I obtained my Art Therapy degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2005. I had the best experiences in that graduate program, and I entered into the workforce feeling confident and equipped to work with so many populations. I have provided art therapy services in private schools, domestic violence shelters, outpatient clinics, inpatient residential treatment programs, community outpatient programs, and client homes. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to work alongside a variety of seasoned mental health professionals and really enjoy the ongoing collaboration I have with them. It was a day in class at school where we spent an afternoon drawing our “ideal art therapy space” and I held on to that drawing for years. My dream came to fruition five years ago when I was able to purchase a building that could be specifically dedicated to offering art therapy services to my community. While challenging at times, it has been such a profound experience. It had been with the encouragement of my dad to follow through with this dream too, as he said to me one time, “This way, Ash, your clients will always know where to find you”. He passed away in October of 2024, but as a small business owner himself, I feel like I am also continuing a legacy for our family and that means so much to me.

Learn more about Ashley on her website at www.innercanvascounseling.org.

 

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