June 28, 2018
Stephanie Wray, ATR-P, RMHC, works as an adjunct professor at the University of Tampa, a corporate art therapy consultant for Stars of Hope USA, and a fine artist. She is actively involved in the Florida Art Therapy Association (FATA), chairing the Membership Committee, supporting the legislative efforts, and contributing to the chapter’s newsletter and social media. Her AATA membership, she says, “has allowed me to grow and learn about the many aspects of the profession while in school and after graduation. Having access to research and the ability to connect with many founders of the field has been profound.”
Wray earned her BA in Visual Arts from Naropa University in 1996 and her MA in Art Therapy from Saint Mary of The Woods in 2017, when she was awarded the Alumni Responsible Leadership and Outstanding Service Award. Her message to current students is to get involved early; “Networking and building relationships is everything in being successful as an art therapist and as a member of society. We must work to uphold our organizations ethics and values, and the best way to do that is to be involved.” She adds:
Being a member of the LGBTQ community, my passion is for social justice and to ensure that all disenfranchised people will be supported by our organization and the world. I am passionate about community art therapy and corporate art therapy, which I feel are essential to getting the message of diversity and inclusion into our society.
Her early activity with the chapter involved working closely with FATA President Joe Scarce, ATR-BC, MFT, after the Pulse nightclub tragedy, a topic the two presented on during the 2017 Conference in Albuquerque. She is looking forward to co-presenting about FATAs trip to Puerto Rico and presenting on her thesis during the 2018 Conference in Miami.
“Completion” by Stephanie Wray. Acrylic on canvas. Visit her website for more artwork.
Artist’s statement: “This piece was my final piece of art created to describe the conclusion of my thesis. It is inspired by the sky and the ocean and the meeting of the two.”