November 3, 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.
We talked to Irene Silva, an art therapy student based in Pennsylvania.
What excites you most about your job right now?
I am most excited for the many populations art therapy can support and how the field will transcend through telehealth services. Being able to utilize art to support clients is a dream come true.
Is there a particular community or population that has inspired you?
Working with several populations has ignited my passion in art therapy and personal fulfillment. My current personal passion is working with the Epilepsy Foundation in utilizing art therapy to support people who are epileptic. I have learned while working with epileptic clients, that art therapy can support in lowering the nervous system and offer emotional and mental processing within personal griefs with diagnosed with epilepsy. Additionally, utilizing person centered and strength based approaches have been most supportive.
What are your hopes for the field of art therapy?
My hopes for the future of Art Therapy is that we may be able to come together across the nation in one accord and expand in the telehealth field within art therapy. I would also like to see art therapists across the nation be recognized for their extraordinary services art therapy offers across populations within the medical field.
How has race or social justice impacted your journey?
Yes, race has been an impact within my art therapy education. For instance, as a beginner student in art therapy I was interested in learning about the first person to receive a doctorates degree in art therapy, Dr. Lucile Venture and had the most challenging time uncovering her dissertation from 1976. However, I was please to find her dissertation available at last year’s AATA conference from “projectlucileventure”, which was shared during a group workshop. Dr. Lucile Venture emerged into the art therapy field during the civil rights movement and is believed because she was a black woman, was overlooked for years within her contributions as a Art Therapist.
Additionally, upon learning more on ableism and how art therapy can support individuals with unseen diagnosis and other disablements that are more visible needs special care and attunement within the field. As a future art therapist being a first generation American and having an unseen diagnosis these factors in growing opportunities are imperative with the level of care I can provide.
“I have had an absolute wonderful time at last year’s AATA conference in Pittsburgh, PA. I learned different applications and reaches that art therapy has provided within different populations. I was able to be a witness to the active supports art therapists gave to each other and this furthered my motivation within the field. This is where I belong!”
— Irene Silva, Art Therapy student
What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a career in art therapy?
I would advise that art therapy is a journey full of fulfillment and the only limiting possibilities are those we give ourselves. Upon my journey as a emerging art therapist I waited 8 years to go back to school to fulfill my dreams and although there has many obstacles like finances, insecurities, and work life balance, every step forward in this direction has been rewarding. There are so many talented art therapist’s I have met along my journey and I am so proud to be a part of this group in making small differences with huge impacts.
How did you get involved with AATA?
I enjoy supporting AATA initiatives through the Pennsylvania chapter and any other events I can accomodate for. I learned about AATA through my Art Therapy Master degree program. I was thrilled to see this community connected with students and working professionals in the improvement of art therapy. I am so happy that there are scholarships to support the growth of education in the field. Additionally, it is truly fascinating to be a witness of the many studies going on to help diverse populations in the field of art therapy. My inspirations comes from the supports AATA provides and the constant education stemming in the field.
About Irene Silva
My name is Irene Silva and I am a Philadelphia native. I am a first generation American born and the first to attend college and soon to complete a masters degree. I am active in my community in providing a humanistic lens within every space I encounter and relish in being surrounded by diversity. I believe in the power that art can offer individuals and I believe offering art therapy is limitless in the potential a person can gain. I have a special connection in working with people and caretakers who have epilepsy. Being distant from my family overseas I understand the unique privilege I have with having more available resources for Epilepsy and other health concerns. I make it my mission to learn all I can within my chosen populations so that I can offer supports across countries.
I am actively working with the PAATA chapter to promote and support the field of art therapy and look forward to the day I can offer the same support to AATA directly. “This is where I belong, and I plan to make a difference”.