April 4, 2019
Ashley Rivera is a second-year art therapy graduate student at The George Washington University. She completed an internship at Clean and Sober Streets in Washington D.C., working with adults with substance abuse in a residential treatment program, and is currently interning at several D.C. public schools, working with both elementary and high school students. Her culminating paper focuses on how art therapy can influence occupational decision making in high school students by focusing on personal values and core strengths. She also finds time to serve as a co-chair of the Multicultural Committee, an art therapists of color group for students at GWU. “I think it’s important to have a safe space to talk about diversity issues in the field,” Rivera says.
Rivera will be moving to Hawaii in August to begin her career as an art therapist. In preparation for her big move to Maui, she used the Art Therapist Locator “to connect with art therapy graduates who were either native or new to the island.” She is excited to move to a place with core values of family and community. “When I move there, I want to be able to get to the people on the island and learn more about the culture,” she says. “Once I do that I feel that I can better advocate for art therapy and share the benefits of the profession.”
“Staying Afloat” by Ashley Rivera. February 2018. Tissue paper, water-soluble oil pastels, yarn, and cardboard.