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IEATA REGIONAL GROUPS
Europe
About IEATA Europe
Europe is home to a wide spectrum of cultural expressions, artistic lineages, and evolving conversations around mental health and well-being. Within this landscape, Expressive Arts Therapy offers a meaningful bridge between creativity, care, and connection.
IEATA Europe is committed to nurturing a growing community of practitioners, educators, and institutions who engage with expressive arts as a therapeutic and reflective practice. Our focus lies in creating spaces for learning, dialogue, and exchange honouring both established practices and emerging voices across the region.
Through regional initiatives such as webinars, learning circles, workshops, and collaborative projects and more, we aim to support visibility, accessibility, and professional development in Expressive Arts Therapy. Rather than a single approach, our work embraces diversity in methods, cultural contexts, and applications across countries.
We invite therapists, artists, educators, students, and allied professionals to join us in shaping the future of Expressive Arts Therapy in Europe. If you are interested in collaboration, consultation, or contributing ideas to the European community, we would be glad to connect and grow together.
Regional coordinator
Dr. Ashima Narula, based in Rome, Italy holds a PhD in Psychology and has a strong academic
foundation in mental health, with a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and specialized
certifications in Expressive Arts Therapy. She currently serves as the European Regional
Coordinator with IEATA and is also an Ambassador with the Creative Wellness Initiative
(CWSI), advocating for integrative, creatively responsive approaches to well-being. Alongside
her academic and leadership roles, she has taken direct initiative to expand access to expressive
arts based mental health support through digital platforms and community-driven learning
spaces.
She is the founder of Therapy Palette: Mental Health Clinic & Art Therapy Studio, offering
counseling, training programs, internships, supervision, and workshops for psychology students
and mental health professionals. Her work bridges clinical psychology with creative, experiential
practices, emphasizing ethical, reflective, and trauma-informed approaches.
Grounded in evidence-based practices and a person-centered counseling philosophy, Dr.
Ashima’s work emphasizes empathy, active listening, and non-judgmental support. She
prioritizes creating safe and nurturing therapeutic environments where individuals can explore
both struggles and strengths, fostering strong therapeutic alliances that support healing,
self-awareness, and growth.
She is also the creator of the Dear Diary initiative, a reflective and creative monthly newsletter
that integrates expressive writing, art prompts, metaphors, and storytelling to support emotional
awareness and self-exploration. She has authored Through the Art Door: Simple Guide for Art
Therapy Techniques, a practical resource designed to make expressive arts therapy techniques
accessible to students, practitioners, and communities.
Committed to ongoing professional development, she regularly engages in advanced training to
stay informed about emerging research and evolving practices in expressive arts therapy and
counseling psychology. Her work is rooted in advocacy, collaboration, and community-building,
with a sustained commitment to strengthening expressive arts therapy across regions through
education, dialogue, and creative engagement.
Personal website: https://therapypalette.com/
