April 16, 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 inspires you most about your job right now?
What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a career in art therapy?
Has working with a particular client group shaped your professional focus or specialty? What have you learned from working with these clients?
My work has been with infant and early childhood mental health. This population is special to me because I heavily believe in the power of early intervention and creating supportive and secure caregiver-child relationships. It’s given me a chance to work with little ones and adults. In addition, I work with this population in a school setting, so I provide consultation with the teachers I work with and also get a chance to guide the adult-child relationships there. This population has taught me to hold empathy, awareness and patience.
“Trust the process and yourself.”
— Gaby Espinoza, M.A., LMFT & ATR-BC
How have race, diversity, and/or social justice impacted your work as an art therapist?
This is important with the families I work with. Having these families feel heard when the system has failed them is crucial work. Advocating for these children to have support in a classroom setting while also bringing awareness and validation to the teachers that have challenges is important.
What’s your engagement with AATA?
I’m a part of the Southern California Art Therapy Association and active on their Public Relations committee. It has been great connecting with peers and trying to create a space where everyone understands what it’s like to be an Art Therapist.
What are your hopes for the future of the art therapy profession?
I hope Art Therapy becomes a regulated mental health profession in California!
About Gaby Espinoza, M.A., LMFT, ATR-BC
Gabriela Espinoza is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Board-Certified Art Therapist in Southern California. Her passion is within infant and early childhood mental health and the impact of caregiver-adult relationships. Gaby is the founder of Connections and Reflections: Art Therapy and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation. She also currently serves as a primary therapist as well as provides Art Therapy supervision and early childhood mental health consultation. In addition to this work, Gaby serve on the SoCal ATA committee as well as the CalAIMH committee (California Association of Infant Mental Health).
Learn more about Gaby on her website: connectionsreflections.com.