Art Therapy Symposium

Using the creative and expressive arts has proven to enhance the social and psychological well being of individuals and communities, and as Creative Arts Therapists, our goal is to always find new ways to improve our methods.

At this year’s Art Therapy Symposium, we welcome all levels of experience in conceptualizing social justice with breakout sessions geared toward multiple levels of learning. This symposium is also for those on or considering a path to reconceptualizing and reimagining our approaches to art therapy by taking the time to learn, reflect, and build community in new ways, and ground ourselves in a foundation of decolonial and antiracist practice.

This symposium is brought to you by the West Coast Creative Arts Therapy Alliance, a collaborative effort between the Center for Community Engagement and Art Therapy Program at Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling, Antioch University Seattle, Loyola Marymount University–Marital and Family Therapy Department with Specialization Training in Art Therapy, and the Graduate Art Therapy Psychology Department at Dominican University of California.

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Day at Glance

8-8:20 a.m.  “What is Art as Liberation?” Invitation to Create in Community

8:20-8:50 a.m.  Opening Remarks
Dr. Mary Andrus, Lewis & Clark Graduate School, Dr. Amy Backos, Dominican University of California; Dr. Janice Hoshino, Antioch University Seattle; Dr. Louvenia Jackson, Loyola Marymount University; and Dr. Maru Serricchio-Joiner, Loyola Marymount University; Bobbi Kidder, Antioch University Seattle

9-10 a.m. Keynote: Looking Into The Well: Deep Equity in Creative Arts Therapy, Leticia Nieto, PsyD, LMFT, TEP, Professor, Counseling, College of Education and Counseling, Saint Martin’s University

10:10 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Equity & Building Community  |  Morning Breakout Sessions
These sessions will focus on building a foundation for challenging legacies of white supremacy, colonialism, racism, and sexism among other struggles out in the field, in the classroom, and within one’s own reflective practice.  “What if we rushed towards our own accountability and understood it as a gift we can give to ourselves and those hurting from our harm? -M. Mingus

12:10 - 1:10 p.m. Lunch Break

1:10 - 3:10 p.m. Creating Social Change  |  Afternoon Breakout Sessions
These sessions will focus on expressive arts therapy, we will focus on being present in our bodies, center healing practices that are trauma informed, culturally competent, and committed to social justice praxis. “Your body—all of our bodies—are where changing the status quo must begin.” -R. Menakem

3:20 - 4:20 p.m.  Student & Programs Panel: Art, Liberation, and the Future of Creative Arts Therapy

4:30 - 5 p.m. Closing Remarks From Programs

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BIPOC Student Scholarship

In conjunction with the Symposium, the West Coast Creative Arts Therapy Alliance is raising money to support Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) students who attend this event. Contribute to the fund and learn more here