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President: Nicholas Denson
Nicholas Denson, MA, is a DC based art therapist. He received his BA in Studio Art/ Psychology from Christopher Newport University and MA in Art Therapy from George Washington University. Nick currently practices Art Therapy at the McClendon Center. The center is a nonprofit program that provides therapeutic for adults with serious and persistent mental illness. Nick enjoys visiting museums, trying new art classes, going for car rides, and singing tunes for self-care. |
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Treasurer: Jee Young Suk
Jee Young Suk, MA, LGPC, LGPAT, received her Master in Art Therapy from the George Washington University in 2013 and completed undergraduate Pre-Art Therapy program in Emporia State University in 2008. Currently Jee Young works as a mental health project coordinator of the Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington, providing individuals of all ages including children, adolescent, adult, and seniors with art therapy and counseling services. She has provided individual and group art therapy services for children, adolescents, and adults in medical, inpatient psychiatric, group home-based studio, inpatient psychiatric research/treatment, community-based clinic settings. |
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Delegate/Alternate: Michael Pretzer
Michael Pretzer, MA, is an art therapist at NorthStar Academy, a school in Rockville for adolescents making the transition from a residential program to living at home and at Create Arts Center in Silver Spring, which serves clients with a variety of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional needs. After careers in art education and journalism, Michael earned a master’s degree in art therapy from George Washington University. He also has received degrees in journalism from Northwestern University and the University of Kansas and holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from the Rhode Island School of Design. |
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Licensure Committee Chair: Jordan S. Potash
Jordan S. Potash, PhD, ATR-BC, REAT, LCPAT (MD), LCAT (NY) is a registered, board certified and licensed art therapist, as well as, a registered expressive arts therapist. He has worked with clients of all ages in schools, clinics, and community art studios in the U.S. and Hong Kong. Jordan is primarily interested in the applications of art and art therapy in community development and social change, with an emphasis on reducing stigma, confronting discrimination and promoting cross-cultural relationships. Jordan has published on a variety of topics that include multiculturalism, social change, burnout prevention, ethics and medical humanities. He is also co-editor of Art therapy in Asia: To the bone or wrapped in silk (2012, Jessica Kingsley), the first book to systematically document indigenous, adapted and integrated art therapy theories and practices across Asia. Within the American Art Therapy Association, Jordan has served as chairperson of the Ethics Committee and Multicultural Committee, as well as, Book Review Editor for Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association. |
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Membership Chair: Jane Woo
Jane Woo, MA, is an art therapist and mental health counselor in the DC Metro area. She received her BA at The University of Georgia and her MA at The George Washington University. She currently works Tracy's Kids at Children's National Health Systems. Tracy's Kids is a non-profit organization that helps address the emotional needs of pediatric oncology/hematology patients and their families. Jane also works as a mental health counselor for Vive Family Support Program, which provides therapeutic services to adolescents, young adults, and their families in their home or within the community. Her favorite art mediums are cut paper, bookmaking, pen and watercolors, and oil painting. |
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Programming Chair: Marcie Katcher
Marcie Katcher has a B.A. in Art Education, K-12 from University of Miami, Florida; Masters of Creative Arts Therapy from Hofstra University, N.Y. with MFA studies at Pratt, Brooklyn, N.Y. and a degree in Web Design from Parsons School of Art & Design in Manhattan. She has a special interest in digital technologies and creative expression. She worked at Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults where her research showed art therapy can lowered blood pressure and increase positive affect in deaf blind individuals. Her experience includes work with children with autism, the elderly and those experiencing trauma or mental illness. She developed creativity workshops for government leaders and scientists as well as media training workshops using the arts. She is new to Washington D.C. and founded Power Art LLC, producers of well being workshops in mindfulness, creativity, healing and diversity using the arts. She also works with private clients. If you are an art therapist, mental health professional or professional artist wanting to present a workshop idea for the Potomac Art Therapy Association please email her at [email protected]. |
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Ethics Chair: Deni Brancheau, Ed.S, ATR-BC, LCPAT
Deni is a registered, board certified, licensed art therapist with extensive clinical experience in the fields of mental health and special education. She also holds special education certifications in both Maryland and Virginia. During her professional career, Deni has worked as an art therapist, art therapy educator, supervisor, school administrator, and special education program director. For many years, Deni has served adolescents with emotional problems, undiagnosed mental illness, substance abuse, and children and adolescents on the autism spectrum. She recently returned to the school setting and currently works with middle school students receiving special education services. Deni believes that the transformational qualities in the expressive arts naturally lend themselves to working with individuals struggling with addiction, trauma and emotional issues. Deni’s approach to therapeutic work utilizes the expressive arts therapies to guide the client in finding their creative selves and regaining access to their potential for healing. Deni has been an adjunct professor at the GWU Graduate Art Therapy Program since 1995 and greatly enjoys teaching students how to use the creative arts in therapy and healing. She has presented many workshops in art therapy and authored a book chapter on art therapy and autism. She pursues her interests in art and gardening whenever possible. |
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Communications Chair: Stephanie Tyler
Stephanie Tyler ATR-BC, LGPAT, is a Licensed Graduate Professional Art Therapist in Maryland. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Florida in 2009 before moving to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and beginning her work teaching photography to DC youth. Hooked on the use of art making as a healing modality, she went on to earn her Master of Arts in Art Therapy from the George Washington University. Stephanie currently works as an art therapist and treatment coordinator at MSA The Child and Adolescent Center, where she incorporates the creative process with children, teens and families in crisis. |
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Research Chair: Gioia Chilton
Gioia Chilton, PhD, ATR-BC is an art therapist, artist, and art-based researcher. She has serves as adjunct faculty for several universities and has been a leader in the field of art therapy as a registered and board certified art therapist for 20 years. In 2010, she co-founded Creative Wellbeing Workshops, LLC, where she provides continuing education training using art and happiness strategies to alleviate burnout and stress (www.CreativewWellbeingWorkshops.com). Author of numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, she recently co-authored a chapter on arts-based research for the Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research. |
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Interim Student Secretary and PATA Student Representative: Lauren Campbell
Lauren Campbell is currently a second year graduate student at George Washington University working towards her MA in art therapy. She has been a PATA student representative with GW since 2014 and is set to graduate from the program this May. Lauren received a BA in Psychology with a minor in Studio Arts from Wittenberg University in 2014. She is currently an art therapy intern at St. Elizabeth's Hospital working with adults in inpatient psychiatric care. |
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PATA Student Representative: Catherine Moster
Catherine Moster is currently a first year graduate student at George Washington University working towards her MA in art therapy. She has been a PATA student representative with GW since Fall of 2015 and is set to graduate from the program in 2017. Catherine received a BA in Art with a minor in Psychology from the University of Louisville in 2015. She is currently an art therapy intern at Friendship Place and Miriam's Kitchen working with adults seeking mental health and housing services. |
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PATA Intern: Hallie Beck
Hallie Beck is currently a senior at Richard Montgomery High School and will be graduating this spring. Over the past few summers, she has worked as a camp counselor for the City of Rockville, working with campers with physical and mental challenges in the arts camps. She will be double majoring in art and psychology at Towson University starting this fall. |