Art Therapy

Jeffrey J. Knadjl, MD was my clinical supervisor from October of 2007 to the present. He was the clinical director of the Psych-Oncology program at Creighton University Medical Center, and was preparing to move the program to Alegent Health Midwest Cancer Center, both in Omaha, Nebraska. He was formerly the director of a similar program at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center in Milwaukee, WI. He died in his sleep on July 18, 2008.

Dr. Knadjl and his clinical partner, Barbara Clinkenbeard approached me in December of 2006 because they wanted very badly to incorporate art therapy into the Pscyh-Oncology program. This was very fortuitous for me, as I had just graduated with my Master's Degree in art therapy and was still job-hunting. They tried very hard to create a position for me at Creighton, but failed to get Creighton to fund it. In October of 2007, I began seeing some of their cancer patients without charge, in exchange for free supervision for my counseling license. Eventually, they decided to move the Psych-Oncology program to Alegent, with the hope that they would eventually be able to create a position for me there. Monday, July 21 was supposed to be their first day to see patients at Alegent, but, tragically, Dr. Knajdl suddenly died on July 18.

Dr. Knajdl was the best supervisor I could have asked for. I knew from the first day I shadowed him that he was a brilliant doctor, a talented therapist, and a warm and caring human being. He was also an incredible teacher, and I learned so much from him about how to help people in the relatively short time we had a relationship. In terms of art therapy, he totally understood it, and was totally sold on the benefits of it. He repeatedly called me an "art psychotherapist," to emphasize that I was a fully-qualified psychotherapist, not a glorified activities person or a craft teacher. He challenged me, inspired me, and supported me in a way that helped me grow professionally and develop greater competence and confidence. It is so, so sad for me to think that I will never have a supervision session with him again. I looked forward to our sessions because he was such a joy to work with. He totally "got" what I was trying to accomplish with the cancer patients and with other clients I was working with in other settings. He had tremendous respect for the power of the art process to heal.

He often said, "Doing psychotherapy is a privilege, because you hold the patient's soul in the palm of your hand." He said this fully aware of the huge responsibility it conferred on therapists.

I feel tremendous grief for his death, yet I also feel inspired to carry on his work by becoming the best art psychotherapist I can be.

This lens is dedicated to his memory.

I am a witness. This is what child abuse does to a person. I speak the truth, no matter what the consequences. Child abuse results in damage to the victim. It makes the victim hurt inside, hurt a lot, hurt all the time. You never really get over that hurt, not unless you agree to undergo a transformation. Even then, the transformation is hard, hard work. It requires you to change your whole worldview, thought by thought, cell by cell. It's slow, slow work. In order to stop child abuse, society must also undergo a transformation, and that is also slow, slow work. It takes lots of patience. It requires facing the truth. Christine created me in order to face the truth. I tell the truth, and that sets Christine free.
I am here to tell the truth, and to help Christine face the truth. I am a witness.

Agencies and group psychotherpy practices in the Omaha, Nebraska area are invited to e-mail me at the e-mail address in the picture to discuss possible employment, or to invite me to give a free slide presentation on art therapy.