Healing Through Art
11/20/2020
Expressive Therapies Summit: Art Therapy Students Presented Original Research
In partnership with the University of Mount Saint Vincent, the Expressive Therapies Summit New York held a special symposium on Sunday, November 22, 2020 from 12 to 4 p.m., featuring student and graduate-generated research and related projects in all of the creative arts.
The inaugural Art Therapy Research Symposium provided a forum where individuals from all arts therapies training programs—including art, drama, music, writing, psychodrama, dance, and play—presented their thesis research projects, shared their processes and findings, and took the mystery and fear out of doing arts therapies research.
Patricia St. John, Professor and Chair of the Art Therapy/Counseling Program, coordinated and moderated the session where four research methodologies—quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, art-based—were represented, as well as case studies.
Fourteen current art therapy students and recent graduates were selected to present their thesis or dissertation research projects—and they are from colleges and universities throughout the United States. Two presentations were by students who recently graduated from the M.S. in Art Therapy/Counseling program at the University of Mount Saint Vincent, Rita Charles ’20 and Andrea Latvis ’20, and one was presented by Jai V. Bae who graduated from The College of New Rochelle.
Additionally, Robert Wolf, Professor of Art Therapy and Practicum/Internship Coordinator, presented a case study demonstrating “Remote Phototherapy.” Dr. Wolf specializes in the integration of expressive modalities, with in-depth oriented clinical treatment, and has published works in the areas of phototherapy, dream analysis, countertransference, and expressive analysis.
Research is not only necessary for the survival and growth of the arts therapies field, but it also a creative process, much like artmaking, choreography, writing, acting, and composing—it takes passion, dedication, tenacity, and resilience. Doing research can be learned, requires discipline, and must be championed to thrive in an arts-based field.
All were invited to join as our presenters share their self-enriching work, techniques, and research.
About the University of Mount Saint Vincent
Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of Mount Saint Vincent offers nationally recognized liberal arts education and a select array of professional fields of study on a landmark campus overlooking the Hudson River. Committed to the education of the whole person, and enriched by the unparalleled cultural, educational, and career opportunities of New York City, the College equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for lives of professional accomplishment, service, and leadership in the 21st century.