Art Therapists as Advocates and Activists: Reinventing Our Professional Identity Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPCC, LPAT International Art Therapy Organization first presented April 2008

Artists have roles as agents of transformation that are more socially valuable than their mainstream art world roles Arlene Goldbard From New Creative Community

Art therapy is… a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. [definition created by C. Malchiodi, 2006, for AATA, Inc.]

Envisioning a subtext to this definition: Art Therapists are more than this, they are… agents of transformation through the arts; providers of compassionate service; … and by nature, advocates and activists for social issues and social justice.

agents of transformation through the arts;

providers of compassionate service;

… and by nature, advocates and activists for social issues and social justice.

Where do the “seeds of commitment” for this work come from? Where we came from and what we came through; Life experiences--personal, political, and work-related; … and those unexplainable synchronicities that place us squarely where we need to be for the lessons we need to learn and the gifts we need to give.

Where we came from and what we came through;

Life experiences--personal, political, and work-related;

… and those unexplainable synchronicities that place us squarely where we need to be for the lessons we need to learn and the gifts we need to give.

Where the seeds of commitment started for me… First “art therapy” job: Working with domestic violence, child abuse, neighborhood violence, homelessness, & poverty.

First “art therapy” job: Working with domestic violence, child abuse, neighborhood violence, homelessness, & poverty.

And what then became my “calling”….

INSPIRATIONS FOR ART THERAPISTS Two Stories of Art, Advocacy, and Activism in Action…

Lily Yeh…. Founder of the Village of Arts & Humanities, North Philadelphia Started on an invitation to create a garden in an abandoned lot in 1986.

Founder of the Village of Arts & Humanities, North Philadelphia

Started on an invitation to create a garden in an abandoned lot in 1986.

The Legend of Lily Yeh … a brief movie

International Medical Corp’s [IMC] Art Therapy Programs…

International Medical Corp Film … photography program in Uganda

Some more things you can do… and you don’t have to go to Uganda to do them… [in other words, world travel is not necessary for activism and adovacy]

Quiz: Who received all “C’s” in English class during college and went on to write 13 books? You are looking at her! If I can overcome that, you can, too. First book: “Breaking the Silence” in 1990--I was both breaking the silence for children from violent homes & opening my own voice as an advocate. Become a good communicator and start to communicate!

Quiz: Who received all “C’s” in English class during college and went on to write 13 books?

You are looking at her! If I can overcome that, you can, too.

First book: “Breaking the Silence” in 1990--I was both breaking the silence for children from violent homes & opening my own voice as an advocate.

The World Wide Web is an art therapist’s playing field for capitalizing on your talents to use images to share the good word about your work… Or start a blog on art therapy and social issues that impassion you… And they say a monkey can use Apple’s iMovie software to make a film-- and I am living proof of that! Learn to use media to spread your good words and images…

The World Wide Web is an art therapist’s playing field for capitalizing on your talents to use images to share the good word about your work…

Or start a blog on art therapy and social issues that impassion you…

And they say a monkey can use Apple’s iMovie software to make a film-- and I am living proof of that!

“ Art Therapy: Be the Change You Want to See “ … be the advocacy you would like to see for your profession. A short film by Cathy Malchiodi, 2007

… so… what is your dream ?

… what’s deep in your heart ?

And what change do you want to see in the world?

The End