Creative Therapy Sessions Podcast

Art therapist Melissa Solorzano speaks with Dr. Linda Levine Madori about her creative arts therapy research using the Therapeutic Thematic Arts Programming, also known as the TTAP method. Dr. Levine Madori discusses her current research as well as her Fulbright Scholarship. She currently teaches at St.Thomas Aquinas College and gives lectures all over the world. Dr. Levine Madori is also the author of the book Therapeutic Thematic Arts Programming for Older Adults. For more information about Dr. Madori visit www.levinemadoriphd.com

Art therapist Melissa Solorzano speaks with Brian Austin about how he incorporates computer animation into his art therapy practice. Brian holds a BFA in painting from the School of Visual Arts, and studied architecture and animation at Pratt University, NYU, and Parsons School of Design. He holds a Masters in Art Therapy from The School of Visual Arts. The founder and program director of The Animation Project, Mr. Austin, has two decades of experience at the professional level in the field of computer graphics and animation. Mr. Austin has taught computer animation at N.Y.U. and The School of Visual Arts and has co-authored Inside 3D Max4, a ‘how to’ text for the professional animator. Mr. Austin’s animation talents have earned him a Grammy nomination, plus two Telly Awards. Mr. Austin worked as a fine artist and his most recent shows were at PS1 Contemporary Arts Center and Exit Art in New York City. His artwork is contained in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and C.W. Post College. For more information about Brian and The Animation Project visit www.theanimationproject.org.

You didn't make it to the American Art Therapy Association Conference in Cleveland? No worries, Creative Arts Therapists Melissa Solorzano and Liz Beck discuss the highlights of this years annual art therapy conference. Liz is a Creative Arts Therapist practicing in California with people who have developmental disabilities. You can learn more about Liz and her art therapy blog at www.lizbeck.net .

Creative Arts Therapist Melissa Solorzano speaks with Dr. Louise Montello, LP, NCPsyA, LCAT, MT-BC, about music therapy. Louise is a licensed psychoanalyst, music therapist, and Founder/Director of the Creative Arts Therapy Certificate Program at The New School. She is an internationally known authority on music and healing and award-winning author of "Essential Musical Intelligence: Using Music as Your Path to Healing, Creativity and Radiant Wholeness" (Quest 2002). Louise is a jazz pianist and in the research lab at New York University, she has developed the clinically-proven Performance Wellness (PW) Training that integrates cutting-edge techniques from music therapy, behavioral medicine and yoga science. The PW Training is the cornerstone of her not-for-profit organization, Performance Wellness, Inc. A gifted trainer and workshop leader, Louise has presented her work to performers, health professionals, and corporate executives both in the US and abroad for over 15 years. Profits from her clinical work and training are funneled into wellness programs for disadvantaged youth and adults in the NYC area. For more information about Louise visit www.performancewellness.org

Creative Arts Therapist Melissa Solorzano speaks with Kate Collie, MA , MFA, PhD, ATR, RPsych, about her art therapy work offered to cancer patients online. Kate is a counselling psychologist and art therapist currently working in the Arts in Medicine program at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta in Canada. She has an MA in Counselling Psychology and an Interdisciplinary PhD from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and an MFA in Fine Art from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Additionally, she completed a three-year postdoctoral fellowship in psycho-oncology in the Department of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine where she did research about art groups for underserved women with breast cancer. She has been actively involved in telehealth and distance delivery of counselling and art therapy services since 1997. Kate has presented at international conferences, has authored many publications, and is an Instructor for Therapy Online's course, Cybercounselling: Level 1. For more information about Kate's work visit www.katecollie.com

Creative Arts Therapist Melissa Solorzano interviews special guest Registered Board Certified Art Therapist Gretchen Miller. Gretchen discusses her work at The Domestic Violence Center in Cleveland for the agency's Family Services Community Based Outreach Program,as well as in the Center's shelter for women and their children who need immediate protection from violence and abuse. Gretchen has worked with children and adolescents, with her work over the last few years specializing in youth and families impacted by domestic violence, as well as grieving children and adolescents who have experienced a death of a loved one. Her work with trauma intervention and loss motivated her to become a Certified Trauma Specialist with the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. Gretchen is currently President of the Buckeye Art Therapy Association and has been active within the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) since 1994, recently serving as AATA's Web Editor and presently serving on AATA's Journal Advisory Board. She is also an adjunct faculty member for Ursuline College's Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling Program. For more information/contact visit www.gretchen-miller.com

Creative Arts Therapist Melissa Solorzano interviews special guest registered, board-certified art therapist and licensed professional counselor Mary Ellen McAlevey. Mary Ellen discusses how she incorporates art therapy into a substance abuse prevention program in an elementary school setting. She currently works as a field instructor and prevention specialist III for the Saint Barnabas Behavioral Health Insitute for Prevention and is also the president of the New Jersey Art Therapy Association.

Episode 1 with special guest registered and licensed dance therapist Rena Kornblum, MCAT, ADTR, DTRL. Rena is the executive director at the Hancock Center for Movement Arts & Therapies, Inc. in Madison, WI. She has worked with a variety of populations and has developed a violence prevention program for the local school system. Rena is also the author of Disarming the Playground: Violence Prevention through Movement and Pro-Social Skills. To learn more about Rena and the Hancock Center please visit www.hancockcenter.net Music for this podcast was provided by www.royaltyfreemusic.com