New Frontiers in Art Therapy: Art Materials and Techniques

February 22-23, 2024
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Day 5, February 22, 2025

Materials and Techniques in Art Therapy

This presentation delves into the nuanced distinctions between directives and interventions in art therapy, focusing on their application and impact within therapeutic settings. Drawing on Robbins and Sibley’s concept of the stimulus potential of materials, we explore how different media can elicit varied emotional and cognitive responses, emphasizing the importance of selecting materials that align with client needs and cultural contexts. The discussion incorporates media dimensions variables, including task complexity, and examines how these influence therapeutic outcomes, balancing adversity and pleasure in material use. Additionally, the significance of cultural humility is highlighted, advocating for the thoughtful integration of both traditional and unconventional media to ensure inclusivity and respect for diverse client backgrounds. By understanding these factors, therapists can enhance their practice, fostering meaningful engagement and effective therapeutic experiences through the intentional use of materials.

Learning objectives:
By the end of the presentation, the participants will be able to:
1. Identify and Differentiate: Distinguish between directives and interventions in art therapy, understanding their distinct roles and applications in therapeutic processes.
2. Evaluate Media Impact: Analyze the stimulus potential of materials and media dimension variables, including task complexity, to tailor therapeutic approaches that balance adversity and pleasure for clients.
3. Apply Cultural Humility: Demonstrate the ability to integrate traditional and unconventional media respectfully, considering cultural humility to enhance inclusivity and client-centered care in art therapy.
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Lisa D. Hinz, PhD

Lisa D. Hinz, Ph.D., ATR-BC is a licensed clinical psychologist and board certified art therapist.  She is an associate professor and director of the art therapy psychology doctoral program at Dominican University of California.

Dr. Hinz is the author of many professional publications and three books on art therapy. The second edition of her book, Expressive Therapies Continuum: A Framework for Using Art in Therapy was released in January 2020 and builds upon her interest in materials and methods in art therapy.

Dr. Hinz specializes in the treatment of eating issues, substance abuse, and lifestyle medicine; she maintains a private practice in St. Helena, California.

Embodying Empathic Attunement Within the Expressive Therapies Continuum

What is the Expressive Therapies Continuum, and how do you embody empathic attunement within it?  This presentation will introduce the audience to a pantheoretical, outcome-informed framework for organizing and orchestrating treatment with a broad range of client populations.  The Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) was conceptualized by American art therapy pioneers Vija Lusebrink and Sandra (Kagin) Graves-Alcorn in 1978, but their nervous system-oriented model was too far ahead of its time to be appreciated until the emergence of clinical neuroscience in the 21st century.  
Audience members will become familiar with the basic elements of the framework, including the three interrelated levels of information processing in the development of mental imagery and the three interdependent variables that inuence client output in the art therapy process.  Care will be taken to ensure that the term “creative” is understood as an embodied function of therapist
responsiveness and empathic attunement per the ideas and intentions of the ETC’s co-creators.  
The audience will have an opportunity to practice coding a simple intervention per ETC concepts; this will prompt members to begin thinking about how the ETC relates to their own work. 

Learning objectives:
By the end of the presentation, atendees will be able to:
1. identify the three levels of the Expressive Therapies Continuum and describe their relevance to physical, emotional, and intellectual information processed by the nervous system.
2. name the three Media Dimension Variables and explain how they inuence client responses in art therapy.
3. deconstruct a simple intervention in terms of the ETC level and Media Dimension Variables involved.
4. delineate how the responsive calibration and titration of ETC levels and Media Dimension Variables facilitate the embodiment of empathic attunement. 
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Megan VanMeter, LPC, LMHC, LPC-AT/S, ATR-BC

Megan is licensed by the counseling boards in the U.S. states of Arizona, Indiana, and Texas, and she also holds board-certication status through the Art Therapy Credentials Board.  She has
served on professional boards and committees at local, regional, and national levels within the U.S.  Her career includes clinical work in behavioral health, correctional, educational, medical, and
social services settings, and she now draws upon these  experiences in her online private practice.   
She earned her master’s degree in art therapy with a specialization in grief and medical counseling from the University of Louisville, where she studied under Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC)
co-creators, Drs. Vija Lusebrink and Sandra (Kagin) Graves-Alcorn.  These art therapy pioneers trained her in their ahead-of-its-time, nervous system-oriented, outcome-informed framework as a
basis for assessment, treatment planning, intervention, progress monitoring, and case conceptualization. Megan enjoys sharing information about the ETC per the ideas and intentions of her professors.  She is cultivating a community of ETC enthusiasts and provides ETC supervision as well as live webinars to help others develop appreciation for both the basics and the nuances of
this important framework.  See https://www.meganvanmeter.com/for-expressive-therapists for more information.            

Mapping and Mattering the Lived Experience of Parents and Infants: A New Materialist Approach in Infant Mental Health Arts Therapy

In this presentation, the audience is introduced to a New Materialist approach to Arts Therapy in infant mental health (IMH) explaining the potential of everyday yet extraordinary effects of matter and materiality that co-produce infant and parent mental health. Posthumanist concepts of mapping, materiality, and mattering are described using examples from Emma’s research and published works. These examples show how the “doing” of multimodal mapping can reveal ways to witness and apprehend the affective and sensorial dimensions of lived experiencing. The role of the arts and infants are positioned as vital agents in disrupting the problematic trends in IMH that perpetuate the clinification and/or romanticisation of infant subjectivity. The presentation contends multimodal mapping helps agitate the radical postdevelopmental perspective needed to critically extend our insights into infancy and innovate new and responsive interventions.

Objectives:
By the end of the presentation, the participants will be able to:
1. Analyze the New Materialist approach to Arts Therapy in Infant Mental Health (IMH), focusing on the influence of materiality and matter on parent and infant mental health.
2. Explore the use of multimodal mapping to uncover the affective and sensory dimensions of lived experiences within IMH.
3. Evaluate the role of arts and infants as transformative agents in challenging conventional views and fostering innovative interventions in IMH.
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Emma van Daal , PhD

Dr Emma van Daal is an experienced psychotherapist, researcher, and author learning alongside children and families as an infant mental health consultant-practitioner, Child Psychotherapist, and Arts Therapist in private practice and community organisations for the past 18 years. Passionate about infants and the early years, Emma believes strongly in the need to incorporates the arts as vital ways to nurture attachment and promote trauma healing. She has presented internationally and nationally on this work. Emma’s practice, writing, and research is strongly influenced by New Materialism and post qualitative inquiry, enjoying/seeking interdisciplinary collaborations that innovate new ways of doing “intervention” capable of contemplating the complexity of lived experiencing. Her recent and forthcoming publications highlight the need to multimodally map the “more-than-human” elements that compose lived experiencing and (re)conceptualises well-being, trauma, and mental health within a relational ontology.

Suminagashi Paper Marbling: The Art of Flow

Suminagashi explores the aesthetic application of ink upon the surface of water, whereby an artist pulls a print, marbleized and abstract in design. The visual results may be incorporated within literary works, crafting, mixed media, and more. Modern techniques integrate various colors and printing surfaces beyond the traditional paper.
Drawing from a culturally sensitive approach to personal autonomy and empowerment, Christina Vasquez examines therapeutic elements, logistical considerations, and reflective dialogue naturally integrated within Suminagashi. This paper marbling process requires minimal materials and provides dynamic results. It fosters creative flow and attunement, and invites us to rediscover the light and beauty amidst the muddied waters of life.
This experiential presentation encourages multicultural exchange amongst clinicians who may be adapting this technique within their subjective environments. 
Art materials needed for the workshop: sumi ink, thicker paper letter size or A4, a plastic container larger than the paper that will be filled with water, dishwasing detergent (one drop), three containers for water, paper towel.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:
1. Recognize aspects of cultural sensitivity, empowering an informative approach to modern utilization of Suminagashi in Art Therapy.
2. Identify at least Four: Therapeutic Elements, Logistical Considerations, and Reflection prompts.
3. Implement at least 2 adaptive techniques empowering autonomy and community.


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Christina Vasquez, MS, ATR-BC

Christina Vasquez is a Board Certified Art Therapist with over 24 years’ experience in the field of mental health care. She has presented internationally on the topic of Art Therapy while living overseas in Bosnia-Herzegovina. There, Ms. Vasquez volunteered her services at an orphanage, utilizing Art Therapy with children coping with trauma, grief and loss related to the Bosnian Genocide. She has done extensive work in the field of disaster relief, and multicultural collaboration on the development and publication of light painting photography as a therapeutic intervention.
Christina currently provides services at the Robert Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, KS, where she specializes in the care and treatment of Veterans with complex medical and mental health issues, such as polytrauma, TBI, PTSD, Spinal Cord Injury, Substance use disorder/addictions, serious mental illness, hospice, and palliative care. She also serves as Veteran Art Show Coordinator, in tandem with interdepartmental and community partners, and is a liaison for the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

Honouring the Media

This presentation delves into diverse approaches to engaging with art materials, guided by the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) and Media Dimension Variables (MDV) frameworks. The presenters will illustrate how exploration can flow from somatic to symbolic, while fostering awareness of individual preferences and aversions toward various media. Five distinct art materials will be introduced, each offering unique sensory and expressive possibilities.

The session includes a hands-on workshop where participants are invited to actively engage with some or all of the presented art materials, creating alongside the facilitators. This experiential component aims to deepen understanding of the therapeutic potential of different media and encourage participants to reflect on their own responses to the creative process.
Participants are invited to bring art materials to this presentation: art media of your choice, clay, images from magazines, coloured pencils, natural materials, watercolours.

Objectives:
After this presentation, the participants will be able to:
1. Explore the therapeutic shift in engagement with art materials using the ETC and MDV frameworks.
2. Identify individual preferences and aversions toward different media and their impact on the creative process.
3. Practice hands-on exploration of diverse art materials to deepen understanding of their therapeutic potential.


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Maria Riccardi MA, PhD(c), ATR-BC, OPQ

Maria is a registered art therapist, a career counselor, a licensed clinical psychotherapist and the former president of the Quebec Art Therapy Association. She is an adjunct professor of art therapy at Concordia University and at l’Université du Québec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, as well as a faculty member at Winnipeg Holistic Expressive Arts Therapy Institute.

She collaborates with local non-profit organizations and mental health institutions, developing community-based art studio programs for adolescents and adults who are marginalized due to mental and physical health issues, immigration issues, and poverty.

She has expertise with veterans living with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder within the context of trauma intervention as well as in the evaluation of art processes and products during treatment.  She has founded a clinic in Montreal based on the Expressive Therapies Continuum, providing educational and emotional support to children and families.
Her current research interests include media properties and their role in assessment.
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Carmen Oprea MA, MFA, ATR-BC, RCAT

Carmen is a registered art therapist with post-graduate training in sandplay therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy. Holding master's degrees in art therapy and fine arts, she is currently a doctoral candidate in psychology.

Her professional career includes art therapy services for individuals and groups of all ages with various life challenges, at her clinic, Accès Art. She deeply resonates with Indigenous wisdom and strives to provide culturally sensitive art therapy to Inuit and First Nations adolescents.

Carmen is fortunate to be part of a dedicated team at Concordia University, being co-investigator in a research projects related to art therapy and depression at the same university.
She provides supervision to creative art therapists in person and online.

Neurographic Drawing and Its Potential for Art Therapy

Neurographic drawing, widely recognized as both an artistic and therapeutic technique, holds untapped potential in its origins and applications. Few are aware that it was developed by Professor Pavel Piskarev with the primary intention of rewiring the brain. Emerging research suggests that neurographic drawing possesses unique qualities that may support cognitive and emotional transformation.

In this presentation, Dr. Piskarev will delve into the origins of this innovative method, its theoretical foundations, and its potential impact on neuroplasticity. He will explore why neurographic drawing holds significant value in art therapy and discuss its benefits for clients, such as enhancing emotional regulation, reducing stress, and fostering personal growth. Attendees will gain insights into how this technique bridges art and neuroscience, offering a powerful tool to support therapeutic outcomes.

Objectives:
By the end of this presentation, the participants will be able to:
1. Explore the foundational concepts and neuroplasticity principles behind Professor Pavel Piskarev's development of neurographic drawing.
2. Examine the potential benefits of neurographic drawing in art therapy, including emotional regulation, stress reduction, and cognitive transformation.
3. Learn practical approaches to incorporating neurographic drawing into art therapy practices for diverse client needs.
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Pavel Piskarev, D.Sc, Prof.

Pavel Piskarev is the creator of the transformative methods "Neurographica®" and the "Pyramid of Development", as well as the innovative concepts of "Aesthetic Intelligence" and "Drive-Culture". He leads the "Rise of Hero" program and serves as the rector of the Institute for Analytical Coaching.

As the head of the creative association TO "Neurographica®" at CUPA (Creative Union of Professional Artists) in Russia, Pavel combines his expertise in art and psychology to pioneer innovative approaches to personal and professional development.

A corresponding member of the International Academy of Psychological Sciences and a member of the Association of Russian-speaking Coaches, Pavel is also a managing partner of the "DRIVING" project, captain of "ZOceanClub", and a master facilitator in the "KOAN-group".

Day 6, February 23, 2025

Dare We Laugh? The Use of Humour in Arts Therapy

In art (and psycho)therapy, we tend to avoid using humour as this may possibly be colluding with denials and defenses – our own as well as our clients. Jung wrote that laughter is diagnostically important, often indicating that a complex has been touched. There is an approach, backed by much research, in which humour can be used as a catalyst for change.
In this presentation, Hephzibah Kaplan will share her work on using humour within art therapy, including the ethical framework and protocols for this approach.

Learning objectives:
By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:
1. Analyze the role of humor as a therapeutic tool by examining the principles developed by Frank Farrelly and their integration into art therapy practices.
2. Evaluate the impact of establishing group practices and long-term supervision training courses on the professional development of arts therapists.
3. Explore cross-cultural approaches to art therapy supervision through case studies and insights from international workshops.
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Hephzibah Kaplan, MA, HCPC, BAAT

Hephzibah qualified in art therapy at the University of Hertfordshire in 1998. She worked with the innovative Joseph H. Berke at the Arbours Crisis Centre, a therapeutic community. Over several years, she trained with Frank Farrelly, who developed the approach of using humour in therapy. In 2010 she established the first group practice for art therapy in London. In 2016, she created the first long Supervision Training Course for arts therapists and has trained over 150 arts therapists in integrative clinical supervision. She has presented to arts therapists and health care professionals in Germany, Greece, India, Japan, South Africa and the UK.

ART FROM THE EARTH
Wild Clay in Outdoor Art Therapy:
Extraction, Processing, Meaning-Making

The alchemical properties of clay, derived from the living earth, have fascinated human beings for thousands of years. Within our hands lies the transformation of the prima materia into spiritual, figurative and utilitarian objects.  
This presentation offers an account of using wild clay in outdoor art therapy with groups of students on an educational farm in rural SE England. The Farm offers vocational courses for students aged fourteen to twenty-one with additional educational, emotional and neurodivergent needs. The land around the farm contained deposits of clay which offered a versatile, tactile medium allowing for purely emotional expression or used to create more formal
ceramic pieces.  
I developed a system for the students to harvest raw clay direct from deposits in the ground; hand processed to remove impurities; and then pit firing the resulting art work to produce terracotta objects.  This process allowed the students to explore themes of identity, transformation and interpersonal connection through shared experience. The presentation will include images of the students finished clay work as well as actual pieces I created alongside the students.

Learning objectives:
1. Explore the therapeutic potential of wild clay in outdoor art therapy with neurodivergent and emotionally complex students.
2. Analyse the process of harvesting, preparing, and pit firing wild clay for art therapy use.
3. Investigate how clay work facilitates themes of identity, transformation, and connection in group settings.
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Simon Woodward, MA, BAAT

I am an Indoor and Outdoor Art psychotherapist. Along with my MA in Art Psychotherapy, I’ve undertaken training in nature-based therapies including the Environmental Arts Therapy (EAT) Certificate. My professional development includes trauma, compassion-focused therapy and neurodivergence. An accredited BAAT private practitioner, I have provided indoor and outdoor art therapy to all ages. I have run outdoor well-being groups for a national mental health charity.
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I have been an associate lecturer at Roehampton University on the MA Art Therapy training programme. I have also supervised graduates and provided personal therapy to art therapy trainees. I’ve been commissioned by a number of national organisations to provide art therapy to young people who have experienced domestic abuse, looked-after children and fostered children.  I have provided indoor art therapy to a number of schools. I’ve facilitated outdoor art therapy on an educational farm with young people with severe emotional trauma and forensics histories.  I contributed to the EAT book: The Wild Frontiers of the Heart and recently published a collection of poems: ww.naturalhysteria.co.uk

​In September 2023 I moved to Somerset – exploring the exciting possibilities of moving my outdoor art therapy practice from London’s green spaces in to a rural setting.

Zentangle® Approach for Stabilisation and Engaging Focus

This presentation introduces the Zentangle technique as a therapeutic tool for trauma work, highlighting its grounding and calming effects. Drawing on neuroscience theories, the presenter will explore how the rhythmic and repetitive nature of Zentangle supports self-regulation, reduces anxiety, and fosters a sense of control. The session will also examine the integration of Zentangle into Flash techniques, offering a creative approach to trauma processing that is accessible and effective.

Following the theoretical overview, participants will engage in a hands-on workshop to experience Zentangle firsthand. Guided step-by-step by the presenter, attendees will create their own Zentangle drawings, gaining practical knowledge of its technique and therapeutic potential. This interactive session aims to equip participants with an innovative and versatile art-based method to support clients in trauma recovery, emphasizing its simplicity, adaptability, and benefits for emotional healing.

Learning objectives:
By the end of this presentation, the participants will be able to:
 1.  Demonstrate the steps involved in creating a Zentangle drawing and understand its structured method.
 2.  Explore the therapeutic benefits of rhythmic drawing in fostering self-regulation and emotional grounding.
 3.  Analyze the neuroscience theories that support the use of Zentangle in trauma work and anxiety reduction.
 4.  Examine how Zentangle can be integrated with Flash techniques to enhance trauma processing.
 5.  Develop practical skills to incorporate Zentangle as a creative and accessible intervention in therapeutic settings.
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Jennifer Marchand, MA, CCC, CCTP-II, RCAT

Jennifer Marchand, MA, CCC, RCAT, is a Canadian trauma therapist and EMDRIA-approved consultant with over 10 years of clinical experience in a diverse range of settings and cultural contexts. She currently lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia specializing in work with conflict-affected populations, complex trauma and dissociation, and the impacts of vicarious trauma (such as with humanitarian aid workers, health professionals, journalists, and activists). She integrates the creative arts into her trauma recovery work and has a special interest in the benefits of the Zentangle drawing method, leading her to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CTZ).

As a trauma trainer and technical advisor to Medica Mondiale, e.V., an international women’s rights organization based in Germany, she develops and delivers training on trauma sensitivity for health professionals in conflict-affected settings—such as Kurdistan, Afghanistan, and Southeast Europe, with a focus on self-care and burnout prevention. She has also worked with Blue Dragon, an organization in Hanoi, Vietnam supporting a team of psychologists working with survivors of human trafficking.

She is also an editor and author in the exciting new publication on combining EMDR and Creative Arts Therapies for the treatment of complex trauma with diverse populations across a range of cultural contexts: EMDR and Creative Arts Therapies.

Roots of Healing: Eco Art Therapy and Multicultural Perspectives in India

India has rich geographical, social, and cultural diversity and expresses its heritage and traditions through religions, festivals, clothing, food and an array of artforms. Drawing on the rich cultural heritage, and diverse resources available in India, the integration of natural dyes, handmade paper, organic materials, clay, textiles, and more, this presentation showcases a unique approach on how eco art therapy becomes a holistic medium for healing and self expression. This presentation delves into the realm of eco art therapy, emphasizes on multicultural perspectives in Indian context and highlights materials sourced from nature and
techniques rooted in Indian Indigenous wisdom. Natural materials, deeply rooted in cultural significance and ecological sustainability, provide a multifaceted platform for self-expression, emotional exploration, and personal growth. Engagement with traditional and natural materials has the potential to help individuals connect with their heritage, foster mindfulness, and enhance sensory experiences, leading to the possibility of therapeutic outcomes. Insights into the symbiotic relationship between nature, culture, and therapy underscore the potential for transcultural dialogue and the enrichment of therapeutic interventions. The presentation will be followed by a guided workshop where participants will engage in hands-on experience creating an artwork inspired from one such Indian folk artforms. Through practical applications, the presentation demonstrates how the integration of traditional Indian art materials can enrich the therapeutic process, offering innovative pathways for healing and self-discovery.

Learning objectives:
By the end of the session, the participants will be able to:
1. Explore eco art therapy using traditional Indian materials for healing and self-expression.
2. Highlight multicultural and ecological perspectives in Indian art therapy practices.
3. Facilitate hands-on creation of Indian folk-inspired art for therapeutic exploration.
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Ritu Dua, MA

Ritu Dua is an art therapist and obtained her MFA in Art Therapy in 2023 from MIT-ADT, SOFA University, Pune, India. Prior to this she has years of experience as a visual artist, educator, and writer. Currently she is associated with Mpower minds, an Aditya Group Education Trust initiative located at Aditya Birla Hospital, Pune as Art Therapy Consultant. She is also associated with Center for Mental Health, Baner Pune in the same capacity. In the past she has worked with children with special needs, with underprivileged children, women groups and also for The Red Pencil Humanitarian Mission in their  art-based capacity building and training program in India.
She is passionate about integrating nature-based art therapy interventions, traditional healing techniques and contemplative practices to help individuals heal and recognize their own innate beauty and wisdom as it is reflected in the nature and in their own creativity. She regularly participates in art exhibitions and her artworks and installations reflect her love for nature and sustainable practices.
Besides adopting a holistic approach in her work, helping people discover their voice, values, and self-connection, she is working towards creating mental health awareness to end the stigma associated with mental health in her country.

Growing Up With Art Therapy

Judith Rubin reflects on the early days of art therapy and the contributions of dedicated pioneers who shaped the field. Influential figures such as Judith Kramer, Margaret Naumburg, and Elinor Ulman played pivotal roles in her career and development. She also highlights the evolution of art therapy materials, transitioning from simple tools for expression to the incorporation of diverse and innovative media. Similarly, approaches in art therapy have expanded from primarily psychodynamic frameworks to a wide variety of methodologies. Rubin raises a thought-provoking question about the current positioning of art therapy: how can the field maintain its unique identity and established role within mental health professions while avoiding being overly confined to clinical contexts? This reflection invites a dialogue on the future direction of art therapy in a rapidly changing therapeutic landscape.

Learning objectives:
By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to:
1. Explore the contributions of early pioneers in art therapy and their influence on the development of the field.
2. Examine the evolution of art therapy materials and methodologies, from psychodynamic approaches to diverse contemporary practices.
3. Discuss the current and future role of art therapy within mental health professions, balancing its unique identity with broader clinical applications.
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Judith Rubin, PhD, ATR-BC

Judith A. Rubin is a pioneering figure in the field of art therapy, with over five decades of experience as a clinician, educator, and author. She is internationally recognized for her contributions to the development and advancement of art therapy as both a therapeutic practice and academic discipline. Rubin’s work integrates a psychodynamic approach with creative techniques, allowing individuals to explore and express complex emotional states through art.

She is the author of several key texts, including the widely respected Approaches to Art Therapy: Theory and Technique, which has become a foundational resource for art therapists worldwide. Rubin’s academic contributions extend to her role as a professor, where she has mentored numerous art therapy students and trained new generations of practitioners. She has also held leadership positions in the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) and is a recipient of its highest honors, including the Distinguished Service Award.

A passionate advocate for the role of art in mental health, Rubin has worked in various settings, from private practice to hospitals, schools, and community-based organizations. Her innovative work continues to shape the practice of art therapy, inspiring professionals to use art as a tool for healing and self-discovery.
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