July 20, 2017
For the last seventeen years, Cathy Meier Asher, MA, ATR-BC, LCAT, ATCS has been in private practice. She also works part-time at the Carol Simon Center of Morristown Medical Center with clients in oncology inpatient, outpatient, and group settings. Asher earned her Masters of Art Therapy from New York University in 1992. Throughout her career, she has taken pride in organizing community projects as a way to encourage and promote the benefits of art therapy for individuals who otherwise may have had opportunities to experience art therapy. Asher feels closely connected to the AATA and has taken advantage of the Institute for Continuing Education (ICE/AT) for her ongoing edification. Ms. Asher is a member of her local chapters, and finds AATA conference attendance to be “an excellent way to connect to other art therapists.”
When asked why art therapy is effective, Asher explains, “Art therapy bridges different cultures and languages when words are insufficient. The process of making art helps clients to process difficult feelings of grief, anxiety, and trauma. Making art allows clients to separate from their feelings.” Furthermore, “Some clients embrace the artist inside of them and continue to make art after treatment.” Asher organizes two art shows of client works each year. In her career, she strives to live by the ideal advised by her mentor Edith Kramer, ATR, HLM, founder of the NYU Art Therapy program, who stated that “an art therapist should also be a part-time artist.”
Asher is waiting to be licensed in New Jersey under the LPAT (Professional Art Therapy License), which was recently approved, and says, “I hope this helps the profession [of art therapy] in NJ.” Asher also hopes that “individuals of every race, gender, and culture continue to have access to art therapy services in light of the healthcare challenges we are dealing with.”
