November 20, 2024

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.

What are you most excited about in your work as an art therapist right now?

I have always been really inspired by the intersection of creativity, science, spirituality, and psychology. Working with clients still sparks immense joy in me, as does authorship and book publication. I am thrilled about the positive ripple effect from my recent book, “The Radiant Life Project,” and looking forward to the publication of my new book with Johns Hopkins University Press that will publish in Fall, 2025.

I am also really excited about how art therapy can be integrated with other therapeutic modalities and scientific understandings about the brain and nervous system. When we combine the many gifts and knowledge of our time and aim those efforts toward helping people, we create a wide and broad web of support and healing.

Growing Heart

2021

Watercolor, pen, and ink

“I absolutely love seeing how much art therapy has grown and come into the awareness of the public since I began my art therapy journey in 2007. I can only hope that it continues to evolve and expand for the benefit of the collective both clinical and creative settings. There is such a profound need for the power that art therapy uniquely provides, and I am grateful that it has become such a well respected and recognized field. It is such an honor to be a part of that movement toward health and healing.”

– Kate King

What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a career in art therapy?

I am always so thrilled to hear from students and professionals who are interested in a career in art therapy. I would encourage someone with such an interest to delve into the exciting research about how art therapy benefits many different populations and can take various shapes and forms depending on how, where, when, and to what extent it is utilized. I would also suggest that someone interested in this field pursue their own experience of art therapy from the client perspective by working with an art therapist to delve into their own inner work. Experiencing art therapy from both the client perspective and the clinician perspective has given me a well rounded experience of how powerful this modality truly is. I would also recommend that someone interested in this field get involved with AATA or their local art therapy chapter to get to know the beautiful community of art therapists who believe in this work.

Dream Catcher Tree

2024

Watercolor, pen, and ink

Has working with a particular client group shaped your professional focus or specialty? What have you learned from working with these clients?

I have enjoyed working with a wide range of clients over the years. I think it is the variety and diversity of my practice that I enjoy most because I get to see a wide presentation of how art can positively impact and heal the lives of different people from different groups. I have learned that we are all so different from one another, and yet at our core we’re all just human beings doing our best to navigate life.

How have issues of diversity and social justice impacted your work as an art therapist?

It has been empowering to work in a field that prioritizes social justice. I am moved and inspired by the large-scale and small-scale efforts toward equity, compassion, and care for marginalized communities and those from different cultures, backgrounds, orientations, belief systems, and perspectives.

About Kate King MA, ATR-BC, LPC

Kate King is a licensed professional counselor, board-certified art therapist, multi-award winning author of “The Radiant Life Project” and the upcoming book “Mend or Move On,” artist, professional speaker, and creative entrepreneur. Kate loves speaking on podcasts and writing articles for magazines, as well as working with individuals and groups in her private practice. She earned her bachelor’s degree in art and psychology from the University of Denver before earning a master’s degree in transpersonal counseling psychology and art therapy from Naropa University. Kate has worked in the field for nearly 20 years.

You can learn more about Kate on her website or via her LinkTree.

Featured Member: Kate King