North Carolina Art Therapy Association - NCATA Blog

"No One Ever Talks About This": Grief Workshop at Art Therapy Institute, October 12, 2017 6:30-8:30pm

10/6/2017

"No One Ever Talks About This": Grief Workshop, October 12, 2017 6:30-8:30pm

People have difficulty talking out loud about grief and dealing with it publicly. Join art therapist, Katharine Phlegar and artists Heather Lewis and Megan Bostic for an immersive, autobiographical exploration of how meaning-making through art can help process grief and provide a platform of understanding for others. The workshop will take place in conjunction with an art exhibition, Nobody Ever Talks About This, with works by Lewis and Bostic. Participants will be invited to contribute to a growing work of art as they offer an acknowledgement and remembrance of their own losses.

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This workshop series is geared towards counselors, social workers, expressive arts therapists, graduate students, and other allied professionals, however ALL are welcome! Note: No art or art therapy experience is necessary to attend.

CEs are available; ATI is an NBCC-approved provider (ACEP) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

ADMISSION FEES:
Professional $45/ Two hours of Continuing Education Credit
Personal $15/ No Continuing Education Credit

REGISTER AT THE LINK BELOW:
https://ncati.networkforgood.com/events/3931-no-one-ever-talks-about-this-grief-workshop

Art Therapy Roundtable Discussion this week at the Art Therapy Institute!

9/18/2017

Art Therapy Roundtable
Thursday, September 21, 2017 6:30-8:30pm
at the Art Therapy Institute of North Carolina
200 N Greensboro St, Carrboro NC 27510 (office located on the 2nd floor of Carr Mill Mall)

[With Hillary Rubesin, MA LPC, REAT, Courtney Powers, MA, ATR, LPCA, and Anna Hicken, MA, LPCA, ATR]

Interested in learning more about Art Therapy?!

To kick off our workshop series this year we are hosting a panel discussion and presentation about the field!

Join us for a unique educational opportunity to:
1) Broaden your perspective on the healing power of the arts
2) Ask questions about the professional field and learn the steps to becoming an art therapist
3) Speak directly with expressive arts therapists working in the community

This workshop series is geared towards counselors, social workers, expressive arts therapists, graduate students, and other allied professionals, however ALL are welcome! Note: No art or art therapy experience is necessary to attend.

CEs are available; ATI is an NBCC-approved provider (ACEP) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

ADMISSION FEES:
Professional $45/ Two hours of Continuing Education Credit
Personal $15/ No Continuing Education Credit

REGISTER AT THE LINK BELOW:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-therapy-round-table-tickets-9625902333

NCATA Response to Recent Events in Charlottesville, VA

8/16/2017

The North Carolina Art Therapy Association is saddened and appalled by the violence and racist bigotry that emerged during events that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12, 2017. As an organization of healthcare professionals, we stand firmly against violence, racism, and the structural oppression of individuals and groups. We affirm and commit to advocate for the dignity, self-worth, well-being, and creative potential of all people. We share in the responsibility to uplift human rights and work always toward the creation of a more loving, accountable, just, free, and equitable society.

Meet & Greet Your Peers: August Art Therapist Spotlight!

8/16/2017

MEET KARA ASHLEY-GILMORE, OUR ART THERAPIST IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR AUGUST 2017!

Name:
Kara Ashley-Gilmore

When and where did you receive your degree?
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY, 2007

What drew you to the field?
I have been interested in psychology since childhood, when I used to read my mom’s old psychology textbooks. However, it wasn’t until I started taking interior design classes in college, and witnessed my own healing surface in the art I was making, that I connected with the healing power of art and discovered the field of art therapy. I switched my major, and it’s been an art therapy love-affair ever since.

What kind of work are you doing currently?
I am currently in private practice in Hendersonville, NC, where I specialize in helping women nurture their creativity, cope with anxiety and panic, and live free from shame and the effects of past trauma. I facilitate a weekly anxiety support group, teach art workshops for self-care and creativity development, and lead art therapy groups for seniors in several local assisted living and senior centers.

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
I love working in mixed-media—combining collage, acrylic paint, watercolor crayons, and text onto canvas and other surfaces. I’m inspired by nature and the colorful blooms I can’t grow in my shady garden. I sell my work at art festivals in Western NC and at a local art gallery in Hendersonville.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I spend my free time reading, playing in my art studio, camping with my family, and daydreaming about new business ventures and art workshops to teach.

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
My hope is that art therapy—provided by trained and licensed Art Therapists—spreads throughout every county in NC, so that more individuals who can benefit from non-verbal treatments will have access to the care they need. I also hope for more art therapy training programs throughout NC, more job opportunities for art therapists, and licensure for art therapists.

Anything else? (favorite quote, etc)
“Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less that the trees and the stars. You have a right to be here, and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.” ~Max Ehrmann

You can reach Kara at: kgilmore@mountaincreativearts.com

Meet & Greet Your Peers: July Art Therapist Spotlight!

7/31/2017

MEET KAREN KUEBLER, OUR ART THERAPIST IN THE SPOTLIGHT FOR JULY!

Name: Karen Kuebler

When and where did you receive your degree?
Masters in Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY 2007

What drew you to the field?
I’ve always loved all that involves creativity (drawing, painting, dancing, singing, play, building, poetry) along with the ability to express emotions and ideas through the process. My first career was teaching art in various setting and I started to notice that the adolescents I taught were pouring their hearts out through their art. I wanted to learn more about the psychology of art and started researching masters psychology programs and found Art Therapy!

What kind of work are you doing currently?
I’m the Expressive Arts Therapy Manager and art therapist at Veritas Collaborative's Child and Adolescent Program in Durham. Veritas Collaborative is a specialty hospital system for the treatment of eating disorders.

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
Yes! I’ve recently fallen in love with embroidery and the slow, intricate process of creating an image stitch by stitch. I also love watercolor, collage and drawing with stabilo pens. I’m inspired by layers of color and texture, botanical prints, and my 5 years old’s drawings.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Spend time with my family outside

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
My hope is that we continue to thrive and grow professionally in NC and be recognized for our valuable contributions to mental health in our state. My wish is to find a North Carolina university that would be open to supporting a graduate level program for Art Therapy.

Anything else? (favorite quote, etc)
This is a poem I discovered recently that aligns well with the therapeutic process- the hard work of therapy can eventually lead to discovering a whole new world:

Oceans
Juan Ramón Jiménez
Translated by Robert Bly

I have a feeling that my boat
has struck, down there in the depths,
against a great thing.
And nothing
happens! Nothing… Silence… Waves…
—Nothing happens? Or has everything happened,
and are we standing now, quietly, in the new life?

Meet & Greet Your Peers: June Art Therapist Spotlight!

6/18/2017

Meet LIZ ALDAG, our art therapist in the spotlight for June 2017!

Name: Liz Aldag

When and where did you receive your degree?
I received my Masters in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2009

What drew you to the field?
My passion for making and using art as a means of externalizing and processing difficult events, combined with my interests in psychology and social justice, made art therapy seem like a perfect fit for me.

What kind of work are you doing currently? (location, type of client, etc)
I am currently working as the Patient Engagement Coordinator for the PBMT Family Support Program at Duke Hospital in Durham, NC. In addition to doing direct art therapy work with the children, I coordinate all of the other inpatient and outpatient programming, including music therapy and a variety of other activities. My primary clients are hospitalized pediatric patients receiving blood or bone marrow transplants (ranging in age from 0-25), though I also get to work closely with the caregivers and siblings of the patients.

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
I am! I work primarily in clay, though I also take a lot of photographs and do painting and mixed media work from time to time. I am inspired by the process of working with clay (particularly wheel throwing), which is very meditative and serves as an excellent release from the emotional intensity of the work I do.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Outside of work, I try to spend a lot of time in the ceramics studio or outside with my dog, Darby, enjoying all of the hiking and people-watching that Durham has to offer.

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
I would love to have official art therapy (and other expressive therapy) departments in the local hospitals, as there are in many parts of the country. I also hope to see NC offering licensure for art therapists in the near future.

Anything else? (favorite quote, etc)
“Everything is biographical, Lucian Freud says. What we make, why it is made, how we draw a dog, who it is we are drawn to, why we cannot forget. Everything is collage, even genetics. There is the hidden presence of others in us, even those we have known briefly. We contain them for the rest of our lives, at every border we cross.” - Michael Ondaatje

Contact information:
Liz.aldag@duke.edu
You can find my ceramic work at thelulubird.etsy.com and @lizaldag on instagram

Meet & Greet Your Peers: April Art Therapist Spotlight!

6/18/2017

Introducing KATELYN MOORE, our art therapist in the spotlight for April 2017!

Name: Katelyn Moore

When and where did you receive your degree?
2013 from The George Washington University

What drew you to the field?
When I was a sophomore in high school, my mom handed me an article in the News & Observer about these Vietnam War veterans who received art therapy to treat their PTSD. I’ve been an artist since I could pick up a crayon. I got into psychology when I was in middle and high school.

What kind of work are you doing currently? (location, type of client, etc)
I work at an inpatient psychiatric hospital. I mainly work with adults with a wide range of mental illnesses and varying experiences of trauma. I occasionally cover children and adolescent groups when needed.

Are you creating your own art? Absolutely! Favorite media? Oil paint! Inspiration?
Either my imagination or what is going on in the world around me. I am passionate about social justice. I also love nature, comic books, math & science, and sci-fi.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Besides making art…. I collect and read comic books! I’ve written some of my own comics, but haven’t published anything… yet. I write a lot—mainly poetry. And binge watch Netflix—who doesn’t?? (And it’s mainly the Marvel and DC shows lol)

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
Licensure! And that other professionals know/recognize what art therapy actually is, respect it, and see the value in it.

Anything else? (favorite quote, etc)
Favorite quote: “In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.” ~Marianne Emily Williamson

Contact information:
My website is www.katelynrichelle.com. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @KatelynRichelle!

Meet & Greet Your Peers: May Art Therapist Spotlight!

6/18/2017

Getting to know AMANDA SAMBETS, our art therapist in the spotlight for May 2017!

Name: Amanda Sambets

When and where did you receive your degree?
The College of New Rochelle 2014

What drew you to the field?
I started out in an undergrad Graphic Design program but decided I couldn't sit behind a computer all day. I needed to be working with my hands and the field was changing. I starting working at a preschool, kids would come tell me horrible things about their home life. After coming home and talking about these situations my dad told me about Art Therapy- he knew someone at a college. After checking it out I liked the idea of using art to express the inner self and being a third hand for clients.

What kind of work are you doing currently? (location, type of client, etc)
I am a Special Education Teacher for Wake County Public Schools. I use my skills with Autistic (low functioning) High School students.

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
I love painting but recently I have enjoyed using ink on Yupo paper.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Flea Market shopping. I enjoy finding treasures.

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
I'd like to have a license but everyone needs to want to do the work for it.

Anything else? (favorite quote, etc):
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference. Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken.

Contact information:
asambets@gmail.com
Pchsau4.weebly.com

Meet & Greet Your Peers: March Art Therapist Spotlight!

3/9/2017

Getting to know ANDREW ELMAN, our art therapist in the spotlight for March, 2017!

Name: Andrew Elman

When and where did you receive your degree?
I received a master’s in psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute in Chatsworth, CA in 2005. This is a dual program of Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Therapy.

What drew you to the field?
I was an elementary school teacher in my previous career. That turned into specializing in art and I taught art for several years. I really enjoyed working with children and their families. Eventually I decided to combine my interests of working with families and making art.

What kind of work are you doing currently? (location, type of client, etc)
I am a counselor at the North Carolina Central University Student Health and Counseling Center. I am also in private practice in Chapel Hill where I see individuals, couples, and families addressing all client’s needs in psychotherapy. I am trained in EMDR and DBT. I often incorporate art therapy and DBT with my clients. I am hoping to start a Creative Mindfulness group soon. This group will focus on DBT skills and expressive therapy.

I have been able to start an expressive therapy group at NCCU. This group meets weekly and we hold our meetings in the Fine Arts building on campus. We enjoy addressing different topics and issues and expressing ideas through art.

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
I do enjoy landscape painting but I have gotten away from my painting practice. I would like to get back to it someday. The Blue Ridge Mountains are true source of inspiration. We visit Asheville often and I like to see the local artists work there.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I have 2 children, ages 1 and 7. They are quite a joy and we have no problem filling our free time with things to enrich their lives.

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
I would love for there to be an Art Therapy program at one of the universities in the Triangle. There is certainly a need.

Andrew Elman LPC ATR
http://www.therapyessential.com/
919.641.9660

Meet & Greet Your Peers: February Art Therapist Spotlight!

2/21/2017

Getting to know CASSIE HAMRICK, our art therapist in the spotlight for February 2017!

When and where did you receive your degree?
I received my MA in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2016.

What drew you to the field?
I became interested in socially engaged art in my early twenties. After several years of exploring and building a community based arts practice, I began seeking ways of furthering accountability and implementing ethical measures for inclusion and collaboration within community art endeavors. I saw that art therapy provided frameworks that could help guide ventures in social justice art praxis. I have not turned back since, and am so grateful to friends, colleagues, and family members who have supported me along the way.

What kind of work are you doing currently? (location, type of client, etc)
What a great question! It just so happens that I am opening a private practice in Durham, NC next month. I will be based at Radical Healing, “an intentional, radically inclusive, LGBTQ+, multiracial and multicultural home for healing and wellness” (check us out at www.radicalhealing.us). I will be accepting child, teen, and adult clients, with a focus on assisting folks with anxiety, life transitions, past or present trauma, gender and/or sexuality exploration, self-esteem, grief, and other needs. More information will be available on my website: www.cassiehamrickarttherapy.com

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
Always!! I maintain a professional art practice alongside my practice in art therapy. I keep my art career separate from my art therapy praxis, but each constantly informs the other. I have enjoyed working with altered books, mixed media collage, textiles, photography, and experimental film and performance.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I love being outside, preferably near water, spending time with family, friends, and pets!

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
I would love to see multiple graduate art therapy programs emerge within North Carolina. I also personally look forward to getting to know more art therapists in our state!

Connect with Cassie at www.cassiehamrickarttherapy.com

Meet & Greet Your Peers: January Art Therapist Spotlight!

1/18/2017

Getting to know JODI AKER, our art therapist in the spotlight for January 2017!

When and where did you receive your degree?
I attended the University of Louisville, in Kentucky.

What drew you to the field?
I was unhappy working as a commercial photographer right out of school (undergraduate) and was talking to my Professor. She suggested I look into Art Therapy because of my interest in psychology.

What kind of work are you doing currently? (location, type of client, etc)
I work in a high school in Raleigh, and at the moment I am not specifically doing art therapy there. I was at my former school, but have not set up the program here. I am hoping that next school year I will be doing art therapy again. I have been doing supervision for Art Therapists in the Raleigh area.

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
I am a photographer by degree and by passion, but love doing mixed media work. I am inspired by the human form and love to incorporate human face and bodies into my work.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Free time? I teach yoga two nights a week. I love to read, and am a sci-fi buff (books, movies, tv). I intend to make art regularly. I also love to be outside with my husband and dogs.

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
I would love to see a University start an art therapy program. The resources are there and there is interest. It seems to always come down to money. If there was a Masters in Art Therapy program, there would be more art therapists, more facilities would know what art therapy is and would hire, and it would help with licensing in the state.

Connect with Jodi at aker.art@gmail.com

Meet & Greet Your Peers: December Art Therapist Spotlight!

12/10/2016

Name: Tai Kulenic, MPS, LPC, ATR-BC

When and where did you receive your degree?
I received my Art Therapy degree from Pratt Institute in 2002

What drew you to the field?
I believe the universe puts you where you need to be if you’re still (and brave) enough to listen. I say that because I truly believe the field of Art Therapy found me! My undergraduate degree was in creative writing. At the time, all I wanted to do was live on a sailboat and write poetry – this vision ranked pretty high on romanticism but particularly low on practicality. So, after graduation, I took a job in the publishing field doing editing, design and layout. This paid the bills but left me within shouting distance of a truly creative life. Then one day in a local coffee shop, I ran into an artist friend of mine. He listened as I shared my feelings of loss for a sense of purpose in my life. It was way too easy to blame the job or the relationship that I was in at the time, but in those gaps of experience, my soul knew it wasn’t those other things – it was me. My friend looked me squarely in the eye and said, “You need to talk to my ex-girlfriend. She’s an art therapist…I think you’re an art therapist, too.” I called that ex-girlfriend – Deb Shoemaker, the very next day! Deb was gracious enough to tell me all about art therapy and all the pre-requisites I would need to apply to graduate school. From that day forward, everything fell into place in divine order – I had found my truth.
We are each other’s keepers – Thank you, Deb Shoemaker!

What kind of work are you doing currently?
Currently, I am a Wilderness Therapist at Trails Carolina near Asheville, NC. I work with adolescent girls, ages 14-17. The girls that I see have typically failed in traditional therapeutic settings and are having trouble in school and/or not thriving at home. I believe adolescence is a time when girls need to be seen and known the most. Wilderness therapy allows kids to unplug and reconnect…to each other, to nature, but more importantly, to themselves. I think kids who are aware, tend to become “others aware” and then world aware. Out in the woods, I slow things down and invite a student to use their hands for understanding and discovering themselves through metaphor and creative expression.

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
I love found objects! Rusty metal, torn pieces of paper revealing half a word or phrase, etc. Sometimes those pieces make it into a painting or sometimes an assemblage. I love the idea of organizing fragmented, discarded pieces into something repurposed – so it breathes life again. Lately, I’ve been really drawn to textiles – weaving, fabric, felt/fiber. I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing, but the process has been amazing!

What do you like to do in your free time?
Usually you will find me on a trail out in the woods with my dogs. A walk in the woods has become a spiritual practice, especially early morning because there’s no one around to remind me who I’m supposed to be so it’s easier to remember who I am. Recently, I’ve also been helping out in the Asheville Poverty Initiative Café that “rescues” unused food from local restaurants and serves meals at no charge in hopes to build relationships – “the table is a great equalizer.”

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
Boy! Not sure how to answer this one. Maybe I’m still grieving the recent election…but what comes up for me is the hope that we find ways to connect to each other. We are all more alike than we are different. We need to find ways to get to know each other. We fear what we don’t know, and what we fear, we destroy. I would love to create a collaborative piece of art with you all to start to heal our wounds in some way. Just seems to me that it’s going to take our collective creativity to lessen this divide. As art therapists, I believe our job is not just story teller, but story holder…

Anything else?
There is no difference between art and prayer to me. Maybe because creating never feels like it comes “from” me but rather, “through” me. My biggest challenge has always been to silence the ego long enough to allow that process to occur, but there is a certain wisdom that comes from turning 50. I used to think being an “artist” meant that you had to have created at least one piece of art worthy of a gallery hanging/showing. Now I believe a true artist lives their life as a piece of art – from those we choose to call friends to preparing a simple meal. I’m reminded of my favorite St. Francis quote: “Preach always. If necessary, use words.”
My email address is: clinicaldog@yahoo.com

CEU Opportunity at the Art Therapy Institute of NC

10/31/2016

CEU Opportunity at Art Therapy Institute of North Carolina
Art as Form of Communication with Alzheimer's Patient
Nov. 3rd 6:30-8:30pm, with Nancy Ferguson LMFT
“Over a period of two years, we used drawing to free my husband, Harold, from his AD for a few hours each day.” Nancy, his wife and presenter, and Miho Nakamura, CNA, planned out drawing activities for him--a "job" that improved his focus and language skills. This presentation will demonstrate how art to improved the quality of Harold's life. He was able to use language to the end of his life and colored his last picture about a month before he died May 22, 2016. Harold had two art shows, and loved art but did not produce any until they started this activity with him.

Where: The Art Therapy Institute, 200 N. Greensboro St. Suite D-6, Carrboro, NC 27510 (upstairs in Carr Mill Mall, just outside of elevator)
When: Thursday, Nov. 3rd
Fees: $45
CEU: 2 clock hours offered (ATI is an NBCC approved provider)
Registration: http://ncati.org/professional-training-internshipshttp://ncati.org/professional-training-internships
For more information, please contact Kristin Linton: klinton@ncati.org, or 919-381-6068

AATA Conference 2017: Call for Proposals Now Open!

10/24/2016

(click the graphic above to learn more)

Meet & Greet Your Peers: October Art Therapist Spotlight!

10/6/2016

ART THERAPIST SPOTLIGHT: October 2016

Name: Erika Hamlett, MA

When and where did you receive your degree?
May 2015 from the George Washington University

What drew you to the field?
I have always been an artist. After receiving my bachelors in fine arts and after working several different kinds of art jobs (from welding to preschool photography to mold making for a taxidermy company) I always felt like something was missing. Recognizing my two passions were/art art and wanting to help people in some way led me immediately to researching the field of art therapy. I literally applied to UNC Chapel Hill the following day to complete my pre-requisites to get into a master’s program for art therapy. As I got closer to grad school, everything started to make sense and fall into place. Being in a graduate program continued to confirm and reassure me that this (art therapy) is exactly what I am supposed to be doing. This is how I can be a changing piece in the world.

What kind of work are you doing currently? (location, type of client, etc)
I have started my own small business: Creative Spark Art Therapy of NC: a community practice. I am based in Chapel Hill, NC but work in lots of surrounding areas (Durham, Hillsborough, Raleigh, Pittsboro). I provide art therapy groups and workshops through community centers, retirement communities, assisted living facilities, rehab facilities, hospitals, and I also have some individuals I meet with working in places that suit the client, like places of worship or in-home. I work with all ages, mostly adults and seniors on issues from navigating life transitions, coping and living with dementia and Alzheimer’s to tapping into expression, engaging creativity, mental illness, and always empowering individuals. I also offer wellness, enrichment, and/or stress relief groups for staff, caregivers, other professionals, and college students. I also take every opportunity possible to educate people about the field of art therapy, for example the Annual Senate’s Health & Wellness Fair for Senators, staff, and interns. Locally, I’ve recently participated in a Total Brain Health Fair for seniors in a retirement community. I’m always networking, finding other individuals, groups, organizations that are interested in being a part of empowering people in our communities.
I stay busy and love every minute of it!

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
I am working with a lot of fabrics, using them in collages and also I’ve been exploring weaving long strips on a circular loom (hula hoops work great!) to make mandala weavings. I am also part of an art exchange between other art therapists that is making its way around the country! I love installation art, the kind where people can interact with, walk through, touch, an experience that engages the senses we tend to neglect on a daily basis. Perhaps it’s the seasons changing, but I’m drawn back to Andy Goldsworthy’s work. He inspires me to continue to engage in nature in ways that keep me aware and mindful of my environment. And I love getting muddy!

What do you like to do in your free time?
Free time is something I don’t get a ton of, but when I do, I use it to recharge. You can find me outdoors whether it’s hanging in a hammock or hiking the trails of Duke Forest with my partner and dog. I love cooking, it’s always been a connecting and bonding experience with family. And I love movies. I happen to live very close to two theaters, so that works out!

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
I’m a huge proponent of collaboration between art therapists, other mental healthcare and healthcare providers, social workers, you name it! When we network and work together, we are more able to be effective advocates for those we serve. I have great hopes for NC’s art therapy tribe: to grow, connect, and help support the growth of each other and the field, including getting licensure and title protection for art therapists. I’d love to have art therapy programs (or at least some courses) into the colleges and universities scattered all over our amazing state.

Anything else? (favorite quote, etc)
I am very grateful to my family for always being supportive, my partner Beth and my parents who taught me to believe in myself and “always treat people how you would want to be treated.”

contact information:
Email me at erikahamlett@creativesparknc.com and/or visit my website: www.creativesparknc.com I love to connect!

You're invited to the NCATA Community Open Forum!

9/23/2016

All art therapists are invited to attend NCATA's Community Open Forum on Saturday, Oct. 8th! We will be discussing future plans for NCATA, as well as hosting open conversation about membership opportunities and community concerns. We look forward to seeing you there!
Please feel free to email info.ncata@gmail.com with any questions.

Meet & greet your peers: September Art Therapist Spotlight!

9/1/2016

Welcome to NCATA's new monthly art therapist spotlight! An opportunity for North Carolina Art Therapists to connect, network, and build our community. If you are interested in being "spotlighted," please fill out the form in "documents" and send it to arttherapync@gmail.com. Thanks...and looking forward to getting to know each other better!

Our September 2016 Art Therapist Spotlight!

Name: Evans Baker

When and where did you receive your degree?
Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk VA, 2013

What drew you to the field?
After being a professional graphic artist for 10 years+, was looking for a new meaningful career but keeping my passion working with art. Found art therapy very fulfilling and open up a great pool of knowledge regarding mental health in correlation with art and creativity.

What kind of work are you doing currently? (location, type of client, etc)
Inpatient psychiatric hospital with adult, geriatric population.

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
Yes, many mixed media, large scale abstract/impressionistic painting. Inspiration from my environment, surroundings, people I interacted and stories/conversations exchanged between others and myself.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Create art, hiking, window shopping, traveling.

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
North Carolina needs to be more open-minded to new professions, accepting more professions that can benefit the citizens of NC and eventually an academic program that is AATA-approved.

To further connect with Evans, you can find her on LinkedIn

AATA Public Awareness Initiative

8/25/2016

Meet & greet your peers: August Art Therapist Spotlight!

8/25/2016

INTRODUCING NCATA's new monthly art therapist spotlight! An opportunity for North Carolina Art Therapists to connect, network, and build our community. If you would be interested in being "spotlighted," please fill out the form in "documents" and send it to arttherapync@gmail.com. Thanks... and looking forward to getting to know each other better!

AUGUST 2016 FEATURED ART THERAPIST
Eva Miller MPS, ATR,LPC

When and where did you receive your degree?
Pratt Institute (NYC, 1999)

What drew you to the field?
I have always loved creating, since I was very young, and have used art as my own outlet and self-expression. Art therapy was a natural match of my interests in art and psychology.

What kind of work are you doing currently (location, type of client, etc)?
I work in private practice in downtown Raleigh, and also run art therapy groups at local eating disorder treatment programs.

Are you creating your own art? Favorite media? Inspiration?
I love mixed media! Colorful! Messy! I also enjoy taking classes to try new techniques and materials.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Read, hang with my dog Bruno & friends/family, spend time near water (lake, ocean, pool)

What are your hopes for art therapy in North Carolina?
I am looking forward to the field becoming more and more established and well known in this area. I am loving the new art therapists moving into the state and bringing their vision and energy.

Contact info: www.trianglearttherapy.com

AATA Conference Delegate Newsletter

8/25/2016

Good morning all! Below you will find the most recent Delegate Newsletter from our chapter delegate Amanda Sambets, detailing her time at the 2016 Conference of the American Art Therapy Association. Thank you, Amanda!

delegatenewsletter.pdf
File Size:	696 kb
File Type:	pdf