Art Therapy

Click on the links below to read about each student's experience at Antioch:

• Katy Aversenti
  Current student
  M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling
• Kali Kuwada
  M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling, 2005
• Elizabeth Bellmer
  M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling, 2002
• Carey DeMartini
  M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling, 2002
• Heidi Ehrenberg
  M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling, 2001

Katy Aversenti
Current student
M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling

As the proprietor of Café Venus, a small and busy Seattle cafe and nightclub, Katy Aversenti might seem too busy to add graduate school to her life. True enough, the university she would attend would have to accommodate her demanding schedule.

"Not only did Antioch have the only Art Therapy program I could find in town, Antioch offered classes that would fit into my busy schedule. The class sizes are small and there is a large emphasis on personal growth and introspection, important characteristics every counseling program should have," Aversenti says.

It helped that the financial aid process was a breeze. "Obtaining partial loans for my education at Antioch was easy as pie. I took out a third of my tuition in loans and the process was incredibly easy and user friendly," she says.

She had an opportunity to spend 10 hours a week for a couple of quarters in a work/study job at the campus Community Counseling and Psychology Clinic. "I had my pay deposited directly into my student account. That alleviated my need for loans.

"My 10 hour a week work/study paid for another third of my tuition and also got me involved in the University on a more personal and professional level. I highly recommend the work/study aspect," says Aversenti, adding that she is enrolled in Students in Service, a program that assists students in their internship. "It is almost covering the cost of my one-credit case consult class and every little bit helps."

She also suggests some employers might assist in the cost of schooling, especially if the current job is in the same field.

She credits a couple of instructors with drawing her into her Psychology studies. "Duncan Holloman and Alma Rolfs were two of the instructors who inspired me the most.

"Alma was my first instructor in Communications and Counseling and the transition into Antioch was smooth because of her approach and methods of teaching. She had an attention to detail that I appreciated.

"Duncan's teaching style was calming and soothing and his insights and attention to each student's particular needs strengthened my learning experience immensely," she says.

Her best memory so far was attending the American Art Therapy Association conference in New Orleans last year. "We were able to really see how our learning would be put into practice as we took workshops, went to lectures and participated in the rebuilding of New Orleans post Katrina." To be able to attend, Art Therapy students raised a third of the funds themselves with bake sales and an auction at Aversenti's cafe.

Her Antioch education is having an impact on operating a restaurant as well as on her future career as an art therapist.

"Really, it has benefited both careers I have. But if I focus on the therapist career, Antioch and the Art Therapy program have taught me different ways to approach counseling. Because I went through my own process in basically 'doing what I will be practicing,' there is less of my own internal static cluttering the space between therapist and client," she describes, adding "I have learned more at Antioch than at any other university."

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Kali Kuwada
M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling, 2005

When she came to Antioch, Kali Kuwada had recently completed her B.A. in Social Psychology from Western Washington University and was working as a special education para-educator for the Lake Washington School District.

"I had done quite a bit of research on Art Therapy programs along the West Coast and ultimately picked Antioch's program because of Janice Hoshino," Kuwada says. "She was always available to answer any questions I had about the program, and encouraged me to talk with current students about their experience. Because all of my questions were addressed with care, I felt very confident this was the program I wanted to attend."

Her appreciation for the Art Therapy faculty is clear and continuing. "Both Janice Hoshino and Jayashree George have been a tremendous inspiration. They continually challenge and encourage me to do my best work, and are a strong support system for me even after graduating from the program," Kuwada says.

Now a school-based counselor for Youth Eastside Services, Kuwada is confident Antioch was the right choice for her.

"My education and experience in the Art Therapy program continues to open many doors, both professionally and personally. I am now able to have a career that simultaneously incorporates all my interests: creativity, wellness and the arts," she notes.

As far as learning experiences go, Kuwada describes her best memory.

"The Art Therapy group research project was such a huge learning experience for me, and some of my most favorite memories come from that project," she says. "It was amazing to see the whole process come together; from designing the research, to doing the literature review, to interviewing participants and analyzing the results and finally, writing the report. It was really rewarding to see our research presented at the National American Art Therapy Association conference. The project was such a huge challenge, with many ups and downs, but overall a really positive experience."

Her recommendation to those who might be considering Antioch is this: "I tell prospective students Antioch is very student focused, with small class sizes and flexible in that it allows you to explore your own areas of interest and build them into the curriculum."   

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Elizabeth Bellmer
M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling, 2002

Elizabeth Bellmer chose Antioch Seattle because of its diverse culture and opportunities to design her learning around her career goals.

"I was looking for a school that would be able to accommodate my work schedule and also would be able to support my personal growth," she says. "I found the educators, staff and administration all available and interested in my personal and professional success."

With her Antioch education, she was able to switch to a career in mental health after working many years in the legal field.

"I have accomplished things during my Antioch experience that I never would have imagined," she says as she describes presentations she has made at national and state conferences and the paper she co-authored for a respected academic journal.

Ask her to describe her best Antioch memory and Bellmer says there are too many to mention. "Becoming a published author certainly tops the list," she adds.

She notes Antioch has been instrumental in her ability to work as an activist for the mentally ill who are incarcerated, making a difference in the lives of those unable to effectively help themselves.

"I would highly recommend Antioch’s psychology programs," Bellmer says. "They are well thought of in the community. The education is excellent. Students are encouraged and supported to do and be their best. It is a place where individuals are challenged to grow and make a difference in their lives and in the lives of others."

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Carey DeMartini
M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling, 2002

A master’s in psychology has opened many doors for Carey DeMartini, who now works as a yoga and art therapist.

"My degree helped me access my source of creativity, self-confidence and vision necessary to do what I love," she says. "The dual art therapy and psychology degree was a challenging endeavor that was well worth the time and effort.

"My education at Antioch means everything to me in terms of where I am now in my career. Since I graduated from Antioch, I have had the honor of doing art therapy in a variety of settings. I feel fortunate to have realized my goal of being an art therapist and Antioch helped make that possible."

She describes the lasting impression three Psychology faculty members in particular have had on her.

"Janice Hoshino is truly inspiring. She has poured so much of her heart into creating the Art Therapy program and I am so grateful for her efforts. Janice is so generous with her time and interested in the academic and professional outcomes of her students. She is extremely knowledgable about the field of art therapy and willing to share her insight and resources with students. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from her.

"Ned Farley is so inspiring to me in terms of his work with existential psychology. I am appreciative of his encouragement and guidance for me to define and develop my own theoretical orientation.

"Ann Blake was my Psychopathology and Psychodiagnostics instructor. She helped me hone my familiarity with the AP writing style.

"When I recommend Antioch to prospective students I tell them not only will they have some excellent teachers, but also their peers will be great sources of inspiration, knowledge and experience.

Her experience as an Antioch student continues to unfold and she predicts it will throughout her life. She says she met and became friends with many people at Antioch. She still sees many of them on a regular basis.

"As a student at Antioch, I was often reminded by many of my inspiring peers how one person can make a difference. Although I don’t see myself as a community activist, I do work at a nonprofit wellness center that offers free and/or sliding-scale services to anyone who needs them," DeMartini says.

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Heidi Ehrenberg
M.A. Psychology, Art Therapy with Mental Health Counseling, 2001

According to Heidi Ehrenberg, Antioch's Center for Programs in Psychology changed her from the inside out.

"Now I’m sharing these changes with others," she says.

Ehrenberg is a school counselor in an atmosphere she describes as challenging, exciting and very supportive.

"Working as a school counselor, I’m able to use art therapy 80 percent of the time I’m engaged with students," she notes.

She selected Antioch after receiving her bachelor’s degree from the Evergreen State College. "I preferred a more intimate setting, with a psychology program that was more clinical and less research-oriented," she says.

When she was a student at Antioch, her father was diagnosed with cancer. It was a precarious situation for two years before he died.

"When I returned to school," she describes, "I found a warm and wonderful card of caring and support signed by all the faculty. They were there. For me, they were always there."

What would she tell future students about Antioch’s psychology programs?

"I recommend students look at the program from all sides. Walk around it, ask a lot of questions, talk, talk, talk to students and faculty both past and present. My decision to commit to the program helped me to look deep within myself and really see what was important to me.

"What was I all about? How could I grow and change and understand myself so I could help others to grow and change and understand who they are? I am constantly amazed by the intimate, personal issues people share and entrust me with as we work together in uncovering their unique strengths."

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