Featured Member: Elham Khezri

January 27, 2024

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 you most excited about in your career as an art therapist?

What excites me most about my work right now is the opportunity to engage with and research the experiences of immigrant children and women. I am currently exploring how art therapy can serve as a powerful tool to help them navigate cultural adjustment, identity challenges, and past traumas. Through creative expression, I aim to provide a safe and supportive space where they can process complex emotions and share their unique stories. I am continually inspired by the resilience of immigrant communities, and I am dedicated to using art therapy to foster healing, empowerment, and a stronger sense of belonging in their new environments.

 

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

Working with immigrant children has deepened my understanding of cultural identity and the ways art therapy can provide a safe space to express emotions and cope with past traumas.

“I would encourage aspiring art therapists to remain open to learning from each client. Flexibility, cultural awareness, and empathy are essential skills in this profession.”

– Elham Khezri

How have race, diversity, and/or social justice impacted your work as an art therapist?

As someone committed to social justice, I strive to ensure that my approach is inclusive, culturally sensitive, and empowering for marginalized communities. My work emphasizes the importance of acknowledging diverse experiences in the healing process.

 

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

I hope to see art therapy become more widely accessible, particularly to underrepresented communities, and for it to gain more recognition as an effective form of therapy.

 

“I am passionate about the intersection of culture, art, and therapy, and I hope to continue developing projects that highlight the therapeutic potential of traditional and contemporary art forms.”

– Elham Khezri

Diptych – Untitled
Acrylic Paint
2021
Artist Statement: Within my diptych, my intention was to capture the essence of the ambitious spirit within black women. Through these paintings, I sought to convey the emotions and dreams they hold for their future selves. Each brushstroke was guided by the desire to encapsulate that pivotal moment of envisioning and aspiration. As a black woman artist, it was important for me to offer my perspective on this experience and to honor the resilience and strength embodied by black women.
In my artwork, I explore the journey of women as they navigate the immigrant experience, carrying the strength and beauty of their cultural heritage. The women I depict are dressed in traditional clothing, representing the deep connection to their roots. The stark white background symbolizes the blank slate of a new land—an unfamiliar space that can feel numb and isolating for days, months, or even years. This whiteness is both a challenge and an opportunity, reflecting the uncertainty and disorientation that often accompany migration. Yet, amidst this blankness, there is an unyielding thread of hope. The women in my paintings are not static; they are engaged in the act of creating and moving forward, embodying the belief that they can forge a new life. The white background, while initially cold and unfamiliar, holds the potential to be filled with color, culture, and growth. Through my work, I celebrate the resilience of immigrant women, their courage to carry their heritage into new environments, and their unwavering hope that, in time, they will make this new land their own.

About Elham Khezri, Ph.D.

Elham holds a Ph.D. in Art Therapy from Spain and is currently pursuing a Post Master’s in Art Therapy from Canada at CiiAT. Her work spans research, practice, and advocacy, with a focus on empowering individuals through creative expression. She has authored several articles and a book on innovative art therapy techniques in English and Persian Language. Dr. Khezri’s professional journey has been enriched by working with diverse communities, especially children and families who are immigrants, to explore the healing potential of art.

You can learn more about Dr. Khezri on her Instagram @dr.elham_khezri. To find information about the Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees, click here.

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