March 3, 2025
We are pleased to announce our 2025 Supervision Continuing Education virtual series! Attendees can join live or watch the sessions anytime On Demand. (We recommend watching live to be a part of the discussion and Q&A with the presenters as well—as join in an informal opening art making session!)
Art therapy is a unique profession that requires both a strong professional identity and a nurtured creative process. Art therapists often need additional support to sustain both aspects of their work.
As art therapists face unique developmental challenges throughout their careers, supervision can guide us through different phases of professional development. In this three-part virtual learning series, presenters Annette Vaccaro, EdD, LPAT, LCSW, SCPsyA, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS, ATCS; Cindy Concannon, LPAT, LPC, ATR-BC, NCC; Dan Summer, Ph.D., LAC, ATR-BC, LCAT, LPAT, ATCS; and Traci Bitondo, PhD, LPC, LPAT, ATR-BC, ACS, ATCS will share insights drawn from their extensive experience as supervisors. Through a series of interviews with these experts, Annette will explore the developmental journey of art therapists—from early-career challenges to more advanced stages—and discuss how supervisors can tailor their approach to meet the evolving needs of their supervisees.
Each session will provide an overview of common experiences at different developmental stages, followed by small group discussions and explanations of how to apply this knowledge in clinical supervision. Using the Discrimination Model of Supervision—a well-established developmental framework—we will examine the three key roles a supervisor must navigate: consultant, teacher, and counselor.
This interactive course, held from 7:00–9:00pm ET on three Fridays in March and April, is designed for art therapists seeking to deepen their understanding of the phases and stages of professional growth. It is free for AATA Student Members and discounted for AATA Members.
The Developmental Journey: Student Professional Growth and Supervision, March 21
What do students need? Join presenters Annette Vaccaro and Cindy Concannon for a session exploring the common experiences of students as novices and what they need to succeed. Through the lens of the discrimination model, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the model’s roles of teacher, helper, listener, and consultant in supervision.
This session will also provide universal precautions and intervention strategies, offering practical tools to safeguard student vulnerabilities while keeping them engaged.
How does artmaking contribute to supervisee development at this stage? The session will examine the role of artmaking in student development, highlighting how creative expression fosters growth and resilience. Attendees will learn how recognizing key developmental milestones can allow educators and supervisors to tailor their support to meet students where they are—especially for second-career or interdisciplinary students who may face unique challenges. The session will also define intervention strategies appropriate for use with students and new professionals.
About the Presenters
Annette Vaccaro, EdD, LPAT, LCSW, SCPsyA, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS, ATCS, maintains a general practice with a specialty in clinical supervision in Livingston, NJ. She is the Director of Academic Affairs at the Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis (ACAP) and Director of Academic Affairs at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis (BGSP) within the New Jersey Branch campus. Dr. Vaccaro is also an Associate Professor at Caldwell University and Coordinator of their Art Therapy Programs. She is currently preparing the Post Master’s program for online participation from anywhere. Her research interest is in the professional journey of art therapists and psychotherapists.
Cindy Concannon, LPAT, LPC, ATR-BC, NCC, is the Director of the Rolli Codey Center at Caldwell University. She hosts practicum and internship students at the Center that provides outreach to the community as well as on site psychotherapy and art therapy services. Cindy trains students to work with a range of problems and diagnoses including aphasia and grief work.
The Developmental Journey: Growth in New to Experienced Professionals, April 4
What are the shared experiences in the transition from new professional to seasoned expert? In this session, presenters Annette Vaccaro and Dan Summer will explore the evolution of the supervisory relationship, focusing on how new professionals develop self-assessment skills and gradually move toward autonomy. As supervisees gain experience, their reliance on concrete answers shifts, and supervisors must adapt to provide the right balance of guidance and independence.
Attendees will also gain insight into developmental shifts that can lead to either stagnation or deep, meaningful work. The session will provide strategies to recognize when professionals are at risk of stagnation and introduce strategies to keep growth continuous, ensuring that both supervisees and supervisors remain engaged in an ever-evolving relationship.
How does the supervisor become internalized over time leading to a capacity for autonomy? The session will also examine how the internalization of the supervisor over time helps supervisees build confidence in their own decision-making. As professionals mature, their needs for support, supervision, and creative engagement shift. Understanding these changes allows supervisors to evolve alongside their supervisees, fostering a professional path that leads to deeply satisfying work in the seasoned professional.
About the Presenters
Annette Vaccaro, EdD, LPAT, LCSW, SCPsyA, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS, ATCS, maintains a general practice with a specialty in clinical supervision in Livingston, NJ. She is the Director of Academic Affairs at the Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis (ACAP) and Director of Academic Affairs at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis (BGSP) within the New Jersey Branch campus. Dr. Vaccaro is also an Associate Professor at Caldwell University and Coordinator of their Art Therapy Programs. She is currently preparing the Post Master’s program for online participation from anywhere. Her research interest is in the professional journey of art therapists and psychotherapists.
Dan Summer Ph.D., LAC, ATR-BC, LCAT, LPAT, ATCS, is an Associate Professor and chair of the graduate counseling program at Caldwell University. He received his doctorate in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University and has had additional training in modern psychoanalysis and drama therapy techniques. He has published on response artmaking to gun violence, using a sculptural process to express reactivity, and on developing one’s eco identity through interacting with natural materials. Dr. Summer is interested in arts and healing initiatives focusing on social justice and the use of psychedelic integration into counseling practice.
The Developmental Journey: Developing Supervisors and Supervision Practices, April 11
What do art therapy professionals need to successfully transition into the role of supervisor? This session explores the competencies required for effective supervision and the ways in which seasoned professionals become catalysts for generativity within the field. The supervisory relationship is more than just a space for guidance—it is a model for professional development that is passed down through each new wave of clinicians. The way a supervisor engages with their supervisees directly influences how those supervisees will, in turn, mentor others.
How do supervisors continue to grow, evolving into master clinicians who not only guide their supervisees but also shape the next generation of professionals? By mastering the ability to move fluidly between the roles of teacher, helper, listener, and consultant, senior clinicians refine their approach and learn how to provide supervision with intent and adaptability. This session will introduce a structured model that empowers supervisors to navigate these roles effectively, ensuring that their guidance is responsive and impactful.
Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to cultivate a thoughtful and intentional supervisory practice, one that not only supports individual supervisees but also contributes to the ongoing evolution of the field.
About the Presenters
Annette Vaccaro, EdD, LPAT, LCSW, SCPsyA, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS, ATCS, maintains a general practice with a specialty in clinical supervision in Livingston, NJ. She is the Director of Academic Affairs at the Academy of Clinical and Applied Psychoanalysis (ACAP) and Director of Academic Affairs at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis (BGSP) within the New Jersey Branch campus. Dr. Vaccaro is also an Associate Professor at Caldwell University and Coordinator of their Art Therapy Programs. She is currently preparing the Post Master’s program for online participation from anywhere. Her research interest is in the professional journey of art therapists and psychotherapists.
Traci Bitondo, PhD, LPC, LPAT, ATR-BC, ACS, ATCS, is an Assistant Professor at Caldwell University, where she shares her expertise in Counseling and Art Therapy with future professionals. She holds a Master’s in Counseling specializing in Art Therapy and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. Honored with the 2022 Nancy Schoebel Legislative Service Award from the American Art Therapy Association and the NJ Counseling Association’s Edward Stroh LPC Award. Traci also led a research team recognized with the Rawley Silver Research Award. She is the immediate past President of the New Jersey Art Therapy Association and has presented nationally and internationally on trauma treatment, art therapy interventions for special populations, and clinical supervision. She operates a Counseling and Art Therapy practice where she treats mental health clients, supervises emerging professionals, and advises on practice development. Her background includes working in diverse settings with clients facing severe mental illness, individuals in the vision loss and blind community, and providing in-home therapy to families in crisis.
About the Series
Each 2-hour virtual session can be purchased individually ($55/session for AATA members) or as a 6-hour bundle at a discounted price ($138 for AATA members). The sessions are FREE for AATA Student Members. To become a member, get started here. If you cannot attend live, all sessions will be available On-Demand. To become a member, get started here. If you cannot attend live, all sessions will be available On-Demand.
Beginning in 2023, all Board-Certified Art Therapists (ATR-BCs) need to complete six Continuing Education credits in ethics and six in supervision as part of their 100 required CE credits. By attending this series, art therapists may receive up to six supervision CE credits (two for each session). All art therapists, students, and other mental health professionals are welcome to attend!