Alumni Spotlights

How did you become interested in Art Therapy?

I always liked art since I was a young girl and new I wanted a career that incorporated art. I became interested in psychology later on, and I wanted to combine the two. Also, and mainly, I wanted to do something to help people and not just create art for myself.

What did you study in undergraduate?

I studied Fine Arts and have my bachelors from The School of Visual Arts.

What brought you to Hofstra?

I was visiting New York for an interview, and on my trip, I stopped by to visit Hofstra. I met with Dr. Abuhoff’s Graduate Assistant and Professor Miller. They both answered my questions, and I was impressed with the program.

What are things you like about being a Hofstra CATC?

I would say the community aspect, the warm faculty, and the friendly student body.

What is the best experience you had as a CATC student?

Getting to know my fellow students and practicing experientials in class that I could later implement in my career.

What populations do you like to work with?

I am getting prepared for my first experience in the art therapy field, and I would like to work every age and demographic until I find my niche.

How did you become interested in Art Therapy?

When I was little, I pretended to hold regular office hours for my stuffed animals who experienced regular interpersonal conflict (who was my favorite and so on). I also taught them and my neighborhood friends art. Around the same time, my aunt, a clinical psychologist told me about a "new" field of Art Therapy. I looked up to her! Later, it was actually working with resettled refugees through my non-profit and realizing they needed way more advocacy and assistance than I could offer without licensure and proper training.

What brought you to Hofstra?

I wrote a paper at Albertus Magnus about Art Therapy and the incarcerated. I took a chance and Face Timed Dave Gussak (who I cited in my writing) for an interview. He answered! I stayed in touch with him, and when it came time to look at programs, he told me to get in touch with Dr. Deborah Elkis-Abuhoff. I interviewed at several programs. After speaking with Dr. Abuhoff and later Dr. Bloomgarden, I was sold.

What are things you like about being a Hofstra CATC student?

The students are amazing. They are inspiring, fun, witty, hilarious, creative, edgy, and they are here because they love what they do. How lucky are we?! We are also graced with faculty who LOVE what they do and do it well. This has an impact on everyone. It makes learning, curiosity, and in-depth inquiry contagious.

What is the best experience you had as a CATC student?

A vast majority of the time, I feel tremendous gratitude for my experiences in this program, even when the days are super long. If you love what you do, you don't work a day in your life.

What populations do you like to work with?

Resettled refugees, adolescents/teens, at-risk-youth, clients in various stages of substance use disorder.

Anything else you would like to share about yourself?

When you get stuck in your writing, your creativity, your thesis research, remember that the answer is in the work. It engenders movement.

“Vocation at its deepest level is, 'This is something I can't not do, for reasons I'm unable to explain to anyone else and don't fully understand myself but that are nonetheless compelling.'"
― Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation

What attracted you to Hofstra University's MA in Creative Arts Therapy Counseling program?

Hofstra University's program caught my interest for a few reasons. The flexibility of rolling admissions was great for me as I was ready to begin my studies in the spring semester. Additionally, the faculty at the time I applied had a great breadth of experience in the field. I was interested in the opportunity to learn about different approaches to the practice of creative arts therapy in various settings.

Give us a brief background of your work experience post-grad, including your current position, and how Hofstra’s program and internship component has prepared helped you. 

I am grateful to say that one of my internship opportunities offered me a position full-time after graduation. Since graduating and obtaining my limited permit in NYS, I have been employed at River Post-Traumatic Stress Services, which is a program that provides trauma-focused therapy at varying levels of care to active duty service members and first responders. While at Hofstra, I received the support of the Program Director and others to set up an internship at this site which previously had not been secured. This allowed me to spend my summer interning full-time and taking courses part time online. My secondary internship experience was at Jamaica Hospital inpatient psychiatric unit, which prepared me to function more autonomously and helped me to create and solidify my identity as a creative arts therapist. The daily variety of experiences offered by this internship helped to hone my skills and sharpen my creativity.

Tell us about your experiences and interaction with faculty in this program.

I had a great experience with the faculty in the program at Hofstra. I found the staff to be supportive and encouraging, with faculty allowing each student to explore their own respective, unique identities as creative arts therapists.

What is your advice for prospective students looking for a degree in art therapy?

My advice would be to research your school prospects and find the school that fits what you want to learn about the field. Take a look at the faculty, their bios, and any alumni interviews to explore from whom you want to learn. If you can find out any information about internship opportunities and elective availability that is a big plus.  

Any additional feedback you wish to share with the department and/or prospective students! 

For the department: I am happy to see increased engagement with alumni! There are many of us graduates who would like to stay involved and connected with the program that afforded us the ability to practice in the field we love.

How did you become interested in Art Therapy?
I have always been interested in art. When I was younger, my mom worked at The Museum Company, a retail store, so I grew up surrounded by little Degas ballerinas, statuettes of Bastet and Horus, canvas-faux-painted prints of Monet’s water lilies and Matisse rooms with a view. I got to play with sand art kits, mosaic kits, sarcophagus-maker kits, etc at the store’s demo table. Holiday shoppers would ask me questions about the kits, and I would talk about how the materials felt to use, how the process of making the art made me feel, and my learned “secret” departures from the kit instructions that yielded the coolest and weirdest results. The process of art-making was the important bit, and I think that’s really where the art therapy of it all begins for me.
I became interested in art therapy as a career by way of living through these last few years. Things took a turn nationally and culturally. I mourned the death of my heroes and two of the greatest artists of all time. I lost dear friends. I saw other friends struggle to stay. Nothing felt right, and I couldn’t get my bearings. And I knew art was the way through.

What did you study in your undergraduate degree:
I studied Geography at University of Miami, with a minor in Fine Arts.

What brought you to Hofstra?
I was looking for a graduate program that put the creative in creative arts therapy. I knew I wanted a program that valued the process and spirit of art, and looked to find this value reflected in the curriculum. Icing on the cake: proximity. It’s a university between the ocean and the city.

What are the things you like about being a Hofstra CATC student?
I am a big fan of CATCH! I feel lucky to have found a program that offers a student-run graduate club — it’s a great resource for supplementing our studies and training, and the comradery really helps keep us sane during full throttle weeks.

What is the best experience you had as a CATC student?
Attending this year’s AATA conference in Miami! The conference sessions were fascinating, and I enjoyed getting myself acquainted with the art therapy community at large.

What populations do you like to work with?
I like working with emerging adults/ Millennials.

How did you become interested in Art Therapy?
From a very young age I have always loved art, and I have always admired the manner in which both my grandfather and father would create artwork. Both father figures were stoic in nature; however, they truly became alive when they put pencil to paper. I relate to their nature and attitude in many ways. Thus, they became my inspiration to practice my craft. My personal experience with art making has always left me feeling empowered. Moreover, being that I’m shy by nature, art has always helped me convey things I was afraid to vocalize. When it came time to consider what I wanted to do with my life, I knew I needed to make creativity and art-making a lifetime decision. Yet, my path to discovering a role that would mesh my desire to help others and create art was not apparent at first. It was through the guidance of my undergraduate counselor that I discovered the creative art therapy counseling career path.

What did you study in your undergraduate degree:
Fine Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design.

What brought you to Hofstra?
After graduation, I took a year off from school to work and fervently researched different art therapy programs. At the time, I was short a few psychology pre-requisite credits. I knew that my lack of psychology credits would make my application to art therapy programs a lot more difficult. I found that Hofstra considers all aspects - application, portfolio, and personal interview within their acceptance decision. I took a leap of faith and submitted my application. Upon my interview, I was ecstatic to hear I could still be considered for acceptance with my situation. I ended up being accepted and given the opportunity to actively acquire the psychology credits within the first year of the graduate program. Thus, in many ways I consider my acceptance into the Creative Arts Therapy Counseling program a huge blessing.

What are the things you like about being a Hofstra CATC student?
I really enjoy the passion each professor has for the profession. Each professor provides a unique perspective on their application of creative arts therapy counseling. Furthermore, I am constantly inspired by each of my peers who come from such diverse backgrounds and walks of life.

What is the best experience you had as a CATC student?
My favorite experience while studying at Hofstra has been getting the opportunity, through one of the program electives during the summer, to expand my knowledge of sand-play therapy. Getting the chance to see the professors sand-play therapy studio first hand was amazing.

What populations do you like to work with?
I haven't determined a particular population I wish to work with. However, I am completely open to creating a positive change through art in whichever community I get the opportunity to work within.

How did you become interested in Art Therapy?
A cousin of mine is an Art Therapist so I was always interested in the profession. I have always wanted to help people so bridging my love for both art and therapy seemed like a good way to do it!

What did you study in your undergraduate degree:
I completed my associates degree in art from Nassau Community College and my bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Oneonta. This prepared me well for the Creative Arts Therapy Counseling admission requirements.

What brought you to Hofstra?
Since I grew up close to Hofstra, I decided to look into their Creative Arts Therapy Counseling program. Once I met the faculty and heard more about the program, I knew it was where I wanted to go. 

What are the things you like about being a Hofstra CATC student?
The relationships; not only the ones with faculty and fellow students, but the ones we make out in the field through practicum and internship. The program really makes you feel connected and all the experiences in class, through CATCH (graduate student club), and in the field bring together a great community!

What is the best experience you had as a CATC student?
My favorite experience so far has been studying abroad in Ireland! It is such a beautiful place, and I learned so much about expressive therapies and the Irish culture. I would love to go back!

What populations do you like to work with?
I am very interested in working in a psychiatric inpatient unit. I am currently interning at Nassau University Medical Center within the co-ed psychiatric unit. This has been such a great experience, and it doesn't even feel like an internship. Ultimately, I think the psychiatric population is where I would like to end up when I enter the profession.

How did you become interested in Art Therapy?
I had no idea art therapy existed until I answered an ad for a book club on Craigslist my first year living in New York City. The book club was made up of several art therapists, music therapists, social workers, and lawyers. Throughout the course of this group, I learned a lot from these women and was able to go to shows and events and ask questions about what they do. This prompted me to want to learn how I could incorporate art into my social work counseling sessions.

What did you study in your undergraduate degree:
I studied Social Work for both my undergraduate and graduate programs. I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work. I went to Baylor University in Waco, Texas for undergrad and NYU for my masters.

What brought you to Hofstra?
I had been working as a social worker for 9 years and was feeling burned out. I wanted to make a change and really started researching art therapy as a career and what I would need to apply to schools. I eventually came across Hofstra’s website and emailed the program director, who was able to answer all of my questions. I then came in to speak to her and see the campus. I chose Hofstra for its small class sizes and attentive staff.

What are the things you like about being a Hofstra CATC student?
I enjoy the access that we have to professors and their passion and interest in what they teach to us.

What is the best experience you had as a CATC student?
During my first year in the program, I was trying to figure out how to balance transitioning from my career to going back to being a college student, so I was not as active in events and outings. This year I have enjoyed getting to know my fellow students and participating in the offerings of the CATCH Program.

What populations do you like to work with?
I enjoy working with children and teens. Eventually, I would like to work with families impacted by trauma and family violence.