August 8, 2025
Brushstrokes of Hope: Harnessing the Power of Art for Resilience and Suicide Prevention
August 26, 2025, 7 – 9 pm ET | Virtual CE Event | Everyone is Welcome
Register ($52 for AATA Members, FREE for AATA Student Members)
Join us for an inspiring and interactive session that explores the transformative power of art in the realm of mental health and suicide prevention. In “Brushstrokes of Hope,” we will delve into the intricate relationship between creativity and emotional well-being, highlighting how art can serve as a vital tool for healing, connection, and resilience.
Whether you are a mental health professional, a caregiver, or someone interested in the intersection of art and healing, this session will provide valuable insights and practical strategies for supporting someone experiencing suicidal ideation. Together, let’s paint a brighter future and explore how creativity can be a powerful ally in preventing suicide and promoting emotional well-being.
Join us in this journey of hope, connection, and healing through art on August 26 for a live, virtual conversation. If you aren’t able to attend live, the session recording will be available to view on AATA’s Online Learning Academy.
Participants may receive 2 CE credits for attending. Everyone is welcome. The session registration fee is $82, and is discounted for AATA Members ($52), and FREE for AATA Student Members.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
1) List three key factors contributing to suicidal ideation among individuals
2) Identify 5 key skills in assessing for suicide risk
3) Create a basic safety plan for a client with active suicidal ideation
Session Format
100 minutes of learning content
10-20 minutes for Q&A
Important Note from AATA
While this session and all other sessions in our Monthly Learning Series and Online Learning Academy can provide some general information and guidance regarding mental health topics, it’s critical to remember that it is not equivalent to professional mental health care or a mental health degree. Art therapists are credentialed mental health professionals. They are trained in a broad range of psychological theory and ways to use art media and creative processes to help people cope with mental health challenges. Art therapists hold Masters–level or higher degrees. Look for an art therapist with the credentials ATR (art therapist registered) or ATR–BC (board–certified art therapist registered).
About the Presenter
Patsy Mika, MA, MFT, QMHP
Clinical Team Lead with REACH, Easterseals PORT Health
Patsy Mika is a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) with experience working in diverse adolescent and adult populations, including in-recovery for substance abuse, post-incarceration rehabilitation, at-risk youth, trauma across the life span (point of incident and recovery), crisis intervention and prevention, and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Patsy is skilled in assessing patients and developing and administering treatment plans utilizing her background in positive psychology and person-centered care. Patsy brings a clinical focus on trauma-informed care, multicultural awareness, positive psychology, clinical art therapy, and mindfulness-based practices, among others. She also has both personal and professional experience in multicultural, multigenerational, and multilingual situations.
Patsy is currently working in community-based crisis response, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the REACH program in Northern Virginia. REACH works alongside 988 (the national suicide and crisis lifeline) to help provide timely responses to families and providers.
She earned her B.A. from Spring Hill College cum laude, where she majored in Art Therapy and Psychology, and holds a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Clinical Art Psychotherapy from Loyola Marymount University, where she studied under Helen Landgarten. Patsy lives in D.C. with her husband and their two beautiful boys, ages five and nine months.