Dr. David Gussak

Professor, Florida State University

David Gussak, PhD, ATR-BC is Professor for the Florida State University art therapy program. Dave has published and presented extensively on art therapy and corrections. He authored "Art on Trial" and "Art and Art Therapy with the Imprisoned: Re-Creating Identity" and co-edited the "Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy".

Abbe Miller

Associate Professor and Art Show Coordinator, Albertus Magnus College

Abbe Miller, MS,  ATR-BC, LPCA has taught nationwide, the processes of transformational art psychotherapy for over 37 years. She is Associate Professor and Art Show Coordinator of the Graduate Art Therapy Program at Albertus Magnus College and maintains a private practice.  She is an exhibiting artist. She has numerous journal articles and is a third year doctoral student at Lesley University.

Megan Robb

Program Director, Art Therapy Counseling - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Megan Robb, ATR-BC, LPC, NCC is an Associate Professor and Director of the Art Therapy Counseling at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Robb's research interests include shame, multicultural education outcomes, culturally sensitive art therapy practice, medical art therapy, and group art therapy. Her recent clinical work as an art therapist was at the National Institutes of Health. Robb currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. Caroline Alexis Decosimo

Founder and Executive Director, Playing to Live!

Alexis, DrPH, ATR, LPCA received her masters in Art Therapy and Clinical Counseling at The George Washington University. Alexis received her doctorate in public health at East Tennessee University. Alexis is currently working as an art therapist in Asheville, NC and is the Founder and Executive Director of Playing to Live! She specializes in trauma informed art therapy, program development, and international development. She has worked in Liberia, Uganda, South Africa, Eastern Europe, India, Jamaica, Florence, Italy, and Walter Reed National Military Hospital. She has worked as a clinician in wilderness therapy settings, autism, substance abuse, at risk youth in diverse populations, PTSD, substance abuse, eating disorders, military, and with homeless and displaced persons.

She has experienced time and time again how artistic expression, play, and cultural empowerment can facilitate recovery and healing after a traumatic experience, and her passion and career path lies within developing global programs that provide children in low resource communities a safe and healing space for recovering from trauma.

Kathryn Tedeschi

Founder and Clinical Director, Sage House Counseling & Art Therapy

Kathryn Tedeschi, MA, ATR-BC, LCAT, LPC is a graduate of The George Washington University art therapy program. She has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, military veterans and individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. Since 2011 she has worked as an art therapist for Tracy's Kids, providing services to pediatric Hematology-Oncology patients in Washington DC. Kathryn recently moved to New York to start the Tracy’s Kids art therapy program at the Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children's Health at New York-Presbyterian /Weill Cornell.

Emery Mikel

Founder and Director, Water & Stone

Emery H. Mikel, MA, ATR-BC, LCAT, LCPAT provided studio art therapy to the elderly and people living with dementia throughout the Washington, DC area until her relocation to Huntington, NY. She created and conducted her own contract service with 15-20 retirement homes. She studied Transpersonal Art Therapy at Naropa University. She is the founder and director of Water & Stone: a transpersonal and contemplative creative arts therapy collective. She also mentors therapists, supervises interns, and guest lectures at George Washington University and Nazareth College. She received her MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology: Art Therapy from Naropa University in Boulder, CO.

Dr. Jessica Stallings

Program Therapist and Adjunct Professor, Emporia State University

Dr. Jessica Stallings, ATR-BC, LMHP taught at Emporia State University, worked in private practice, and is currently working in partial hospitalization with children ages 5 to 12. She completed a dissertation on using popular culture with individuals with ASDs.

Pamela Ullman

Founder, Colors of Play

Pamela Ullmann, MS, ATR-BC, ATCS, LCAT is a board certified and licensed art therapist who has practiced in the field for more than 20 years, working with children and families in a variety of community and healthcare settings. She is currently working as an Art Therapist in a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, and was previously a Program Coordinator for the Autism Program, with the Institute of Child Development in a University Medical Center. She was instrumental in developing the Art Therapy program in 2003 for the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center in Manhattan and subsequently served as director of the Child Life and Therapeutic Activities department there.

Pamela has an independent practice called Colors of Play, LLC and has recently formed a nonprofit organization, Healing Arts Family Connection, Inc. that provides creative arts therapy services for children with special needs and families throughout the tri-state area

Dr. Melissa Klay

Melissa Klay, Ph.D., ATR-BC, LCAT, is a licensed, registered, and Board Certified Art Therapist and a limited-permit clinical psychologist in New York. She has been providing psychotherapy services for the past 18 years, teaching as an adjunct assistant instructor at Pratt Institute, and conducting qualitative and quantitative studies.

Amanda Bechtel

Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapist

Amanda Bechtel, ATR-BC, LCPC, LCPAT is a board certified registered art therapist, licensed clinical professional counselor and licensed clinical professional art therapist. In addition to eating disorders, she has used art therapy to treat symptoms of depression, anxiety, self-injurious behavior and substance abuse. She holds a certificate in advanced trauma treatment. Amanda regularly presents on art therapy and eating disorders at national conferences and regional symposiums. She is adjunct faculty at St. Mary of the Woods College and currently sits on Maryland's Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists.

Peggy Kolodny

Licensed Art Therapist

Peggy Kolodny MA, ATR-BC LCPAT, licensed art therapist, is adjunct clinical faculty at University of Maryland School of Social Work, Notre Dame of Maryland University as well as multiple professional institutes. She has a trauma-focused art psychotherapy private practice with Level 2 certificates in EMDR and IFS (Internal Family Systems).

The American Art Therapy Association’s Multicultural Committee

The course was developed through extensive collaboration among the members of the American Art Therapy Association’s Multicultural Committee over an extended period of time. All contributors have a Master’s degree or higher level of education.

Eva Miller

Co-Founder, North Carolina Art Therapy Institute

In addition to being one of the co-founders of the N.C. Art Therapy Institute, Eva Miller, MPS, ATR, LPCS currently facilitates art therapy groups for women with eating disorders, adults with acquired brain injury, and refugee children.  She also directs the recreation program at a local healthcare & rehabilitation center in Raleigh, NC. 

Kristin Linton

Organizing Founder, North Carolina Art Therapy Institute

Kristin Linton, MA, LPC, an organizing founder of the Art Therapy Institute, has worked to promote awareness of the field, access to services, and educational trainings. Currently she is working on the Burma Project in the Chapel Hill schools where she is also the district art therapist for the Exceptional Needs Program.

Dr. Hilary Rubesin

Executive Director, North Carolina Art Therapy Institute

Hillary Rubesin, PhD, MA, LPCANC, LPCS, LPC, is the Executive Director of the North Carolina Art Therapy Institute where she manages community engagement and education, facilitates outpatient expressive arts groups, and school and community expressive therapy sessions, as well as coordinates treatment with families, translators, teacher, school administrators, medical clinics and resettlement agencies for refugees. She also provides clinical supervision and administration for LPC interns, research and public health interns. She serves as a peer reviewer for Arts in Psychotherapy, a professional journal

Ilene Sperling

Ilene Sperling, MA, LPC, ATR  is a master's level art therapist and the clinical director of the Institute in North Carolina. She has experience working with diverse populations of various ages in inpatient psychiatric units for children and adolescents, public schools, day treatment mental health centers, childcare settings, and private practice.