BACKGROUND
I am a registered and board-certified art therapist with over 30 years of experience working with children and adults with serious mental illnesses and other disabilities. I have worked in several school settings, an inpatient hospital, and an outpatient day treatment facility. This wide range of experiences, including working with people from various backgrounds, has helped me develop an inclusive and compassionate style as I continue to work with a diverse group of clients at our studio.
I coordinate and teach art therapy at two institutions in India and mentor and supervise students. I have published two books, Creative Expressions: Say it with Art, and co-edited Using Art Therapy with Diverse Populations, Crossing Cultures, and Abilities. I recently contributed a chapter titled, “My First Year as an Art Therapist in India: Ethical, Cultural, Logistical, and Supervisory Issues,” in the book, Exploring Ethical Dilemmas in Art Therapy: 50 Clinicians From 20 Countries Share Their Stories by Audrey Di Maria, as well as another chapter, titled, “An Art Therapist’s Perspective on Cultural Humility in Diverse Settings: My Personal Journey from India to the United States of America.” in the book Asian Art Therapists: Navigating Art, Diversity, and Culture by Megu Kitazawa.
I enjoy sharing my passion for art therapy through presentations, workshops, and teaching. I started the Indian Art Therapy Discussion Forum (IATDF) in 2015. From 2016 to 2018 I was on the Board of Directors of The American Art Therapy Association.
I continue to pursue my passion for art by combining traditional Indian art techniques and hand-woven Indian fabrics. Over the last six years, I learned more about mindfulness and became certified in MBSR (Mindful Based Stress Reduction). Currently, I am a teacher-in-training in the Mindful Meditation Teacher Certificate Program (MMTCP) with Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield.
I am a member of the American Art Therapy Association, Potomac Art Therapy Association, and Virginia Art Therapy Association.
Check out my profile on: Therapy Den.
You can reach me at: [email protected] or call 571.482.3010, EXT. 1
It was an honor to serve as a member
of the National Board of the
Art Therapy Association from 2016 – 2018
What is it about being an artist that helps me to be an art therapist?
Through my paintings, I depict the balance I experience between the Eastern and Western cultures within me.
I appreciate the delicate details in Indian art. I use old unusable Indian saris where the gold weaving is still beautiful and intact. I believe each piece has the history of the weaver and the particular memory of the person who has worn the sari. Now I use the fabric to create yet another purpose in my art.
I also admire free expression and creativity in modern art and the skill and craftsmanship of traditional artists, thus combining these two aspects in my visual expressions.
I feel that art is personal and helps me to not only express myself but also connect with people and the world around me. This is what draws me to art therapy. I hope, through art and mindfulness, to help others find a way to healing and joy in their own lives.
