This lens is about art therapy, the use of art for purposes of healing and personal growth, and about my own experiences as an artist and a therapist-in-training. It is for people who want to learn more about the profession of art therapy, people who are interested in art-making for healing purposes, and prospective employers who want to know more about me.
In Memory of Jeffrey J. Knadjl, MD
1967-2008
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.
In Memory of Jeffrey J. Knadjl, MD
A Guestbook for Those Whose LIves Were Touched by Dr. Knajdl
I invite others who knew Dr. Knajdl to share memories of him and/or words of comfort for the many people who are grieving his untimely death.
chanfu wrote...
Thank you, Dr. Knajdl, for all you've taught me, for inspiring me, and for believing in me. I am a better art psychotherapist because of you. It was a privilege to be supervised by you.
Posted July 23, 2008
Art Therapy Basics
- Definition of Art Therapy
- Wikipedia's definition of art therapy. The page also contains lots of art therapy links.
- Art Therapy FAQ from the American Art Therapy Association (AATA)
- This FAQ answers basic questions about art therapy, such as how it developed, how art therapists are trained, and what kinds of settings and populations they work in.
- Art Therapy in the News (from AATA's website)
- Recent news articles about art therapy, from many different sources.
- Art Therapist Locator
- This site allows to find art therapists in your local area. You can search by name, city and state, or specialties.
Benefits of Art Therapy
- Art-making provides an alternative, and sometimes more powerful, means to express feelings and communicate trauma issues.
- Buried thoughts and feelings may emerge more easily in visual images.
- Art-making is a constructive process that fosters a sense of control, making expression of scary thoughts and feelings safe.
- Art-making can be used for stress management, self-soothing, and mood brightening.
- Successful art-making experiences can build self-esteem.
- Viewing one's art products can lead to catharsis, self-validation, and increased self-awareness.
- The creation of visual imagery is a powerful way to work with personal symbols.
- Art-making can be a superior form of expression for clients who have difficulties with verbal expression.
- Creating and viewing visual images can enhance learning.
- Because it stimulates different parts of the brain than talk therapy, art therapy may bring about the brain synthesis important in recovery from PTSD.
- Facilitating art-making experiences can be a powerful way to build therapist-client rapport.
Resources for Professionals
- American Art Therapy Association
- A good place to start for anybody interested in art therapy as a profession. The American Art Therapy Association is the professional organization for American art therapists. The site has lots of information about art therapy basics, credentialing, education and ethical standards.
- Art Therapy Credentials Board
- The Art Therapy Credentials Board is the organization that sets the professional standards for art therapy, and confers registration (ATR) and board certification (ATR-BC) to art therapists that meet their qualifications. The site gives extensive information on the requirements for those professional designations.
- Arts in Therapy Yahoogroup
- An active and lively discussion group about art therapy. You must be an art therapist or an art therapy student to join.
Resources for Students
- Graduate Art Therapy Program at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College
- This is the program that I recently graduated from. It is a distance learning program that requires you to be on campus for only 3 short residencies a year. The rest of your coursework is done at home and e-mailed to your professors. You have to arrange for your own practicum and internship placements in your local area. There are no art therapy programs where I live (Nebraska), so this program met my needs well.
- AATA-Approved Educational Programs
- From AATA's website, this is a list of approved graduate art therapy programs.
- AATA Student Networking Yahoogroup
- A discussion group for art therapy students.
Information About Me
- My Resume
- Information for prospective employers about my education and work history.
- Spontaneous Therapeutic Art-Making as a Resilient Response to Trauma - Abstract
- This is the abstract of my master's thesis.
- Spontaneous Therapeutic Art-Making as a Resilient Response to Trauma: A Heuristic, Retrospective Study
- This is the full text of my master's thesis.
- Benefits of Art Therapy for Trauma Survivors
- This is a list of benefits of art therapy for trauma survivors found in the research and clinical literature, with references.
- My Linked-In Profile
- The Artbin
- Check out my lens on general art-making topics.
My Artwork
Here are some photos of artwork I have made for my own healing and growth purposes.
Being Held
Challenged by Sun
Charmed by Moon
Flower Goddess Shrin...
Age 13
Age 13 Transformed
Memory #28
The Source
Initiation Mandala
Master's Thesis Artwork
This is artwork I made as part of my research for my master's thesis.
Response Artwork #1
Response Artwork #2
Response Artwork #3
Response Artwork #4
Response Artwork #5
Response Artwork #6
Response Artwork #7
Response Artwork #8
A Canvas Mirror Narrative
This is an example of a response writing I did to an art piece I made while I was an undergradute student. It was done using Bruce Moon's "canvas mirror" method, where I speak in the voice of the piece.
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.
Books for Art Therapists
Introduction to Art Therapy: Faith in the Product
Bruce Moon expresses the heart and soul of art therapy like no other author. I recommend all of his books.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2008) 
Handbook of Art Therapy
A good overview on recent trends in art therapy, as well as art therapy with a wide variety of populations.
Amazon Price: $47.60 (as of 12/03/2008)
The Use of Art in Counseling Child and Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse
A very comprehensive book on art therapy for survivors of child sexual abuse. Also included are chapters on treating adolescent and adult sex offenders.
Amazon Price: $37.04 (as of 12/03/2008)
Multimodal Approach to Creative Art Therapy
Robbins presents some very interesting theoretical and clinical articles on psychoanalytic art therapy. His chapter on materials is especially good.
Amazon Price: $49.95 (as of 12/03/2008)
Books for People Who Want to Explore the Healing Benefits of Art-Making
If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit
This is the single best book about the creative process I've ever read. It's not just about writing, it's about any sort of creative work.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2008)
Sark's New Creative Companion: Ways To Free Your Creative Spirit
SARK's books are wonderfully playful and inspiring.
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/03/2008)
![The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity [10th Anniversary Edition]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CHAK9ASCL._SL75_.jpg)
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity [10th Anniversary Edition]
Julia Cameron's method is somewhat arduous, but there is much wisdom in this book about enhancing creativity and living creatively.
Amazon Price: $10.30 (as of 12/03/2008)
Learning by Heart: Teachings To Free The Creative Spirit
Corita's "assignments" are wonderful creative starting points, that teach much about art-making.
Amazon Price: (as of 12/03/2008)
Drawing with Children
This is not just for children. Mona Brooke's method is one of the best for learning the basics of drawing.
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 12/03/2008)
Contact Me
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. Reader Feedback
hillbillyartist wrote...
Great lens. I too create began creating as a healing, and continue to do so. I am adding you to my favs.
The Hillbilly Artist
Posted October 21, 2006
zuzanna wrote...
Christine, thanks for creating this lens. It's a very interesting subject and you presented it so nicely. 5* from me!
Posted October 20, 2006
