November 22, 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.
Today, we caught up with Alexandria Parker, an Art Therapy Graduate Student at Seaton Hill University. Alexandria recently volunteered to lead an art-making experiential session for a bimonthly virtual All-Member Meeting.
Has working with a particular client group shaped your professional focus or specialty?
I recently started to work with adult populations as a Behavioral Health Tech at a local hospital. After having years of experience working with children as an RBT, I am learning how to work with the adult population by running groups and taking daily notes. I am learning that I enjoy working with adult populations, as you see, diagnoses develop further for them, and you gain further insight into mental health disorders like Schizophrenia or early-onset Alzheimer’s. I am learning that they are simply trying to gain help through their disorders, and they enjoy having a group to make art or simply listen to music during this tough time in their life. I ultimately see myself working with this population in the future!
What inspires you during your art therapy journey?
As a Black female in a graduate Art Therapy program, I saw only 1 person of color in my classes. It was not until the AATA Art Therapy Conference in Pittsburgh that I saw a wide range of Art Therapy professionals and students of color. This then led me to learn more about the Multicultural Committee for AATA. It motivates me to continue this work and to pursue working with multicultural populations, so clients see representation in their sessions. I recommend that students of color who are a part of AATA in some capacity join the Multicultural Committee to find their voice and meet other multicultural professionals!
What advice would you give to other students?
I am a member of AATA’s Multicultural Committee. What keeps me excited about the AATA community is the opportunities to share interests and what you think the committee needs. For example, last month for the All-Member Meeting, I led an art directive on Cultural Diversity Day as I saw it as important to show the diversity within the AATA community. I encourage students, especially, to get involved in committees to put their input into what they would like to see within the community and any changes they would like to make. We are the future of the AATA community, and our voices matter!
“I encourage students, especially, to get involved in committees to put their input into what they would like to see within the community and any changes they would like to make. We are the future of the AATA community, and our voices matter!”
— Alexandria Parker, Art Therapy Graduate Student
What are your hopes for the art therapy profession?
I hope to see art therapy in other states with the proper license to practice. I am currently in Pennsylvania for my Master’s, and we are hoping to establish licensure for art therapists here in Pennsylvania. In the future, I hope that all 50 states establish licensure for art therapists, as it is vital.
What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a career in art therapy?
Do research when applying to schools! As I said before, licensure looks different depending on where you are applying to school. Doing the proper research will let you know where exactly you can go. AATA was a great resource when looking at schools for both undergrad and graduate studies. Furthermore, understanding that you do not have to be perfect at art to join this profession. If you have a love for both art and mental health, then do it; it will be an amazing journey for you to embark on.
The Record Collection
Old Records, Acrylic Paint, Water color, Water color markers, and canvas paper
Alexandria Parker
The Record Collection is a set of records of an emotion I had each week during the summer semester of graduate school. The record is paired with a song I attached to the record. Here I listed a picture of each record on Canva, but all the records will be stored in a book like a Record Collection. It was a vulnerable moment for me as I went through a rollercoaster of emotions putting it together.
To listen to the collection, you can scan the QR code or go to my Instagram page @artmadebyalexx.
About Alexandria Parker
My name is Alexandria Parker, I am closing in on my first year as an Art Therapy graduate Student at Seton Hill University. I obtained my bachelor’s degree at Ohio University with a major in Studio Art with a concentration in Art Therapy and a minor in Psychology. I am a Behavioral Health Technician at Independent Health in Greensburg, PA. I am a proud member of the Multicultural Committee for AATA!