[Self-Study] (Art Therapy Supervision) Synergistic Consultation: Fostering Collaborative Relationships with Current Supervisors and Mentors

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.

Andrea Davis LPC-AT-S, ATR-BC, ATCS is the founder of Dallas Art Therapy 501(c)3, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing art therapy services to the underserved. With 18 years of clinical experience, she works in private practice at Davis Art Therapy and Counseling and serves as a supervisor for art therapy and Licensed Professional Counseling Associates. Davis has actively contributed to the field of art therapy through her involvement in professional organizations and leadership roles. She served as a two-term president of the North Texas Art Therapy Association and spent three years as the Honors Chairperson for the American Art Therapy Association. Currently, she plays a vital role on the National Exam Development and Standard Setting Committee with the Art Therapy Credentialing Board and serves as a reviewer for the American Art Therapy Association Conference Committee.

In addition to her dedication to the field, Davis has shared her expertise through her written contributions. She authored a chapter titled “Professional and Ethical Use of Expressive Arts,” featured in the book “Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling Children and Adolescents” published by Routledge in 2017. Her recent chapter, “Art Supplies and Infection Control: The Tools of Our Trade,” is included in the newly published book “Pediatric Medical Art Therapy” by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in 2021. Outside of her professional endeavors, Andrea enjoys creating art in her free time. She has showcased her artistic talents by painting murals in Dallas and at the CIDMA Museum in Corleone, Sicily and an art quilt at McKesson Corporate Learning Center in Irving, TX.