What originally drew you to the field of art therapy?

I didn’t become interested in art until my junior year in high school when I took a 3D art class. I connected with the teacher (whom I still occasionally talk with today) and fell in love with ceramics. I realized that I didn’t need to have drawing skills to be able to express myself creatively. I didn’t decide I wanted to be an art therapist until college when I joined the art therapy club. 

Can you tell us about your academic journey?

I earned a bachelors in psychology, from my home state, at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. I pursued my art therapy master’s degree at George Washington University in DC since they focused intensively on trauma work which was my area of interest. 

From your point of view, what is the most important thing to keep in mind when working as an art therapist?

I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that art therapy

or any other therapy is not the answer to everyone’s problems. It’s important to recognize the impact of systemic influences and understand the limitations of therapy. I think it’s okay to feel powerlessness at times as a therapist, and that is a parallel to how many people feel in their daily lives. 

What are some important self-care practices you recommend or practice?

My most important self-care practice is trail running. I love connecting with my body, nature, and close friends all at the same time. For me it’s important to have self-care practices that have nothing to do with my professional identity. 

Are you working on anything now that you’re really excited about?

It’s been amazing to have my own practice so I can expand my areas of work beyond therapy. I started facilitating a BIPOC eating disorder support group through the Eating Disorder Foundation which has been really fun. I’m passionate about creating spaces for BIPOC and increasing access to services. I also recently started teaching an art enrichment class at a high school which aligns with my passion for community work. 

How important is it to collaborate with your art therapy colleagues?

It’s always amazing to connect with other art therapists since we speak the same language. It was great to meet new colleagues at the annual member meeting!

How have your professional collaborations benefited your career?

Most of my professional connections were in DC before I moved here. Since then, I’ve been meeting people individually that passed down projects and clients to me which I’m extremely grateful for. I found the current nonprofit I’m affiliated with (Maria Droste) through

a BIPOC therapist peer consult group. I’m enjoying being affiliated with Maria Droste as everyone is really focused on social justice.

How would you like to see the field of art therapy evolve in the coming years?

I think there should be consequences for those making false claims of doing art therapy when they do not have the educational background. By having an art therapy license in the state of Colorado this would ensure clients are seeking help from accredited professionals. Also, AATA needs to repair broken relationships after supporting harmful individuals. 

Is there anything you would like to see happen to support and expand the Colorado art therapy community?

It’s been really exciting to see COATA collaborate with community agencies and artists! I think it would be great to continue this type of community support. 

How is/can art therapy or art used for social justice?

I don’t currently see art therapy being used for social justice frequently. I think art therapists are so exhausted trying to make ends meet that it is difficult to engage in social justice community work as well, specifically for BIPOC art therapists. 

Within the therapy room, art therapy needs to be decolonized the same way we are decolonizing other systems within the mental health profession such as documentation, professionalism, and client/therapist power dynamics. Art therapy and other mindfulness therapies often appropriate eastern cultures without thinking any harm is being done. On a micro level, these are ways in which art therapy can approach social justice before even starting to work with people who are extremely traumatized by oppression.

On an interpersonal level, I think art can help people with dominant identities understand experiences of those with marginalized identities, while also giving people without power a voice. I think creating expressive spaces for BIPOC who frequently have to adapt to white spaces is extremely important. 

As art therapists, we understand the innate empowering experience of creating. On a systemic level, we also need to acknowledge that for many people that is not enough, and that is not going to create systemic changes. 

Is there anything additional you would like to share about yourself or your experience as an art therapist or your art therapy practice?

I recently opened my practice, Expressive Connections, a few months ago. I’m currently accepting Medicaid and United/Optum/Oscar/Oxford insurances. However, I want to increase my self-pay clients so that private practice is sustainable for me, so please keep me in mind as a referral! I’m also open to starting supervision for ATR’s as well as any other community opportunities.