September 7, 2017

Jaana Kilkki, MA, ATR works with adults, in both inpatient and outpatient behavioral health settings, facilitating groups and individual art therapy sessions at Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia.  In addition to art therapy, Ms. Kilkki utilizes yoga and mindfulness in her work with military personnel and their families.  She values her AATA membership because it keeps her connected to art therapists across the nation through its local chapters and annual conference.  She recalls, “When I moved from the East Coast to the Midwest following my graduation from Hofstra, I attended the local AATA meeting and was warmly welcomed.  This gave me a sense of connection and allowed me to find professional contacts in a new place.”

Of her current position at Belvoir, Kilkki shares: “I feel fortunate to be working with the population I always wanted to work with, the military.  I always felt that art therapy would be a powerful tool to help our military personnel and families to process and heal from the demands of deployments and the strains that military life puts on the service members and their families.  I have experienced this personally as a military service member spouse.  It has been encouraging to see the number of art therapists at Ft. Belvoir, and how well the art therapists are integrated into the patient treatment plan and team.”

Ms. Kilkki hopes that in the coming years, art therapy licenses will be available in every state.  As she puts it, “The goal is to be recognized nationally and at the state level as the trained and qualified mental health professionals that we already are.”

“Apples” by Jaana Kilkki. 2015. Photograph.

Artist statement: “I have been an avid photographer since I was a teenager, and photography has been an important form of self-discovery, self-care and mindfulness practice for me throughout my life.  Through my photography practice, I have learned to hone into the present moment, a practice that I also want to facilitate for my clients in art therapy.  Learning to notice and appreciate even minute details of everyday life and my surroundings, including nature, allows me to commune with the creative spirit that connects us all.”

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