N/NY-FS-34 - "Not Quite There": Art Therapy Exploring Transitions for Those with Sexual Offenses
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This paper explores art therapy in a sex offense treatment program, specifically the therapist’s role in holding a space of transition for offenders returning to the community. The potential of art in re-humanizing those who offend is discussed along with clinician’s reflections on the therapeutic relationship in negotiating identities.
Bani Malhotra
PhD, ATR-BC
Dr. Bani Malhotra, PhD, ATR-BC is a Registered Board-Certified Art Therapist and a researcher. Dr. Malhotra recently completed her doctorate in Creative Arts Therapies from Drexel University and has assisted in several federally and locally funded research studies on traditional arts, pediatric oncology, and veterans at the Health, Arts, Learning and Evaluation (HALE) Lab at Drexel University. Her professional interests include using interdisciplinary science to develop, implement, and evaluate art therapy and arts interventions for health and wellness, especially in the context of stress, injury, or illness. Dr. Malhotra is dedicated to examining issues of identity and accessibility in art therapy, focusing on mentoring in both academic and clinical settings. A graduate of George Washington University and Delhi University, Dr. Malhotra has extensive experience providing counseling and art therapy services to individuals across the lifespan in medical, forensic, psychiatric, and school settings in India and the United States. She currently serves as a Chair for AATA’s International Shared Interest Group. Dr. Malhotra is a 2024 Clinical Research Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dr. David Gussak
PhD, ATR-BC, HLM
Florida State University
David E. Gussak, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM is Professor for the Florida State University’s Graduate Art Therapy Program and Program Coordinator for the FSU/FL Dept of Correction’s Art Therapy in Prisons program. Dr. Gussak has presented and published extensively internationally and nationally on a myriad of topics, including forensic art therapy, art therapy in forensic settings, with violin and aggressive clients, professional identity, ethics, and supervision. He has held numerous roles for several professional organizations, including the American Art Therapy Association and the Art Therapy Credentials Board and he currently serves on the editorial board for several professional journals. He has also served as a supervisor and mentor for many over the last 30 years.