RE6 - Exploring Pediatric Hospital Art Therapists: Organizational Structures' Impact on Professional Identities (NY)

Susanne Bifano is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and Organizational Psychologist committed to advancing equitable mental health practices. She is particularly interested in how organizational structures shape the professional roles and interactions of art therapists. At NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, Susanne provides mental health care to children and young adults with chronic illnesses and delivers evidence-based interventions for healthcare staff facing moral distress.

Her research and presentations span topics such as mental health and urban poverty, integrative therapies for vulnerable populations, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) for pediatric emergency staff, and art therapy for adolescent pain management. She is currently studying integrative medicine techniques for spinal fusion surgery. A recipient of the American Art Therapy Seed Research Award, Susanne is trained in clinical hypnotherapy, EMDR, EFT, and Transcendental Meditation, enriching her holistic therapeutic approach.