NY-TE-31 - Mindful Based Art Therapy as a “Gateway” Intervention for College Students
-
Register
- Non-member - Free!
- Member - Free!
Art therapists set out to determine MBAT’s role in addressing the mental health crisis on college campuses. Learn how they teased apart the nuanced benefits of technology-assisted MBAT as compared to the intrinsic therapeutic properties of clay through salivary cortisol analysis in addition to anxiety and perceived stress measures.
Megan Beerse
Dr. Theresa Van Lith
Associate Professor and Clinical Coordinator
Florida State University
Theresa Van Lith is currently the Course Coordinator for the Master and Graduate Diploma of Art Therapy programs at La Trobe University. Previously, she joined Florida State University's faculty, focusing on coordinating clinical placements and engaging in practical research in art therapy and mental health. Her research primarily centers on developing and implementing art therapy studies aimed at practical improvements in quality of life, assessing intervention effectiveness, and determining best practices. A significant part of her work includes the ongoing development and implementation of a practical art therapy research strategy, with a future focus on practical techniques for reducing anxiety, and stress, and improving overall mental outlook through mindfulness and art-based practices.
She actively contributes to the American Art Therapy Association, serving as Associate Editor for its academic journal. She is also a Board Member of the Australian, New Zealand, and Asian Creative Arts Therapy Association (ANZACATA). Her practical contributions to the field have been acknowledged with several awards, including the American Art Therapy Association Seed Grant (2021), the National Endowment for the Arts Research Award (2020), and the Department of Art Education Faculty Teaching Award (2019).