Social action

“Arts is essential to life in our communities”. Stated Maggie. She is passionate about art, nature and well-being. For over 30 years Maggie has been serving the community using art to promote mental wellness and create a space for social connection. Founding member of the Arts and Play Society launched to provide an unconventional art education in a supportive and inclusive environment. Her services are available On-Line and In-Person.

She trained as a Professional Artist and Early Year Learning Educator. She is also an
entrepreneur operating two other divisions; Chow Creative Studio and Six Principles Art Lab. Maggie is an active member of the Expressive Arts Therapy Association, National Art Education Association, and Holistic Arts Based Program facilitator. In addition, Maggie is also a Club Leader of Nature Kids BC in South Okanagan.

Annemarie is a mom of four and lives in amiskwaciwaskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). She has a background in health care, is a writer and artist, facilitates therapeutic yoga and expressive arts for individuals, dyads and groups, and teaches home-school arts enrichment classes.

Before becoming an IEATA Creative Wellness Service Initiative (CWSI) guide, she attended trainings in expressive arts at the Prairie Institute of Expressive Arts Therapy and Expressive Arts Florida Institute, among others. Annemarie has been a professional member of IEATA since 2018 and is working towards her REACE®.

NGOs I am working with

• Hope Midwives
• Sohkastwaw Lodge
• Kahkike Homes

As a second-generation immigrant, I was born and raised on the Canadian prairies, and as a teen spent several years in Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. My family’s experiences of displacement, language and cultural learning propelled me into a career in multi-lingual education which began among indigenous peoples of South America. For most of my life I have worked as a teacher-educator in Spanish and English language teaching.​ I joined IEATA in 2017 and serve as the Canadian Regional Coordinator.

NGOs I am working with

• Beyond Borders, a ministry of TeachBeyond

Dana holds a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and Clinical Counseling from Southwestern College. She has been in the healing field since 1997 when she first discovered she was an Intuitive Empath and became a licensed somatic bodyworker in 2004. She has Specializations Certifications in Interpersonal Neurobiology, Human Sexuality, Ecotherapy & Trauma, Grief, & Renewal through Southwestern College. Dana is currently working on her PHD & Doctorate of Natural Medicine based on Quantum Physics and energy medicine through Quantum University.

Dana is in the process of opening an Integrative Psychedelic Wellness Center.

She offers a variety of sessions from a wide range of modalities including as a NES Health practitioner offering Bioenergetic scans that read your Biofield.

NGOs I am working with

• Burning Man??

Treva Jones is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Director, and Therapist at Healthy Life Choices Georgia in Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, a suburb of Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, USA. With so much exposure to trauma in our world today, especially after COVID, Treva realizes that accessibility to in-person and virtual expressive arts can help to calm the body’s response to trauma and bring awareness and inner healing to the truest form of identity, expression, self, and how we show up in the world. Through Healthy Choice Wellness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health and emotional well-being in the community, she will actively contribute to the advancement of expressive arts.

NGOs I am working with

• https://healthychoicewellness.org/

Dr. Erlange Elismé is a Certified School Social Worker at Gwinnett County Public Schools. She has served South Florida and Metro Atlanta communities for over 30 years. Dr. Elismé is also a part-time instructor at the University of Georgia. During her time as a graduate assistant, Dr. Elisme had the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed professor Dr. Heidi Laporte in facilitating Expressive Arts and Cross-Cultural Conversation sessions. This invaluable experience allowed her to explore innovative educational approaches that integrate visual arts, music, and movement as tools for supporting social-emotional learning within schools.

Recognizing the importance of holistic healing methods, Dr. Elisme has become a trainee of the International Expressive Arts Association Therapy (IEATA). Through this program, she is further enhancing her expertise in utilizing expressive arts therapy techniques to promote emotional well-being and personal growth among students.

Dr. Heidi Heft LaPorte is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Barry University School of Social Work in Miami, Florida, USA. She has more than 25 years of teaching experience. Outside teaching, she makes expressive arts accessible to students with diverse interests, body abilities, and identities. She offers in-person and virtual professional development sessions and workshops using expressive arts to engage in conversations around self-care, cultural identity, and ancestral heritage. Dr. LaPorte is a graduate of the Expressive Arts Florida Institute (EAFI), a Board Member, and Membership Co-Chair of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA).

NGOs I am working with

• Sunserve

Roxana graduated with a B.A. from Barry University of the USA, Florida, Bachelor of Counseling, Florida, USA, Educational Facilitator in Expressive Arts – Salve Regina University, Rhode Island, USA, Masters in Educational Family Orientation, Universidad de Villanueva, Spain, Postgraduate in Interventions in Expressive Arts from the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala and is a Life Coach.

She represents PCETI-El Salvador (Person Centered Expressive Arts Institute), through which the Creative Connection Program is developed, taught by Dr. Graciela Bottini. She is a member of IEATA@ and coordinator of IEATA in Central America.

NGOs I am working with

• Asociación Déjame Ayudarte (Asociación Déjame Ayudarte/SENDAS para la Mujer, NGO whose mission is to heal and empower women who have been abused)

Roxana graduated with a B.A. from Barry University of the USA, Florida, Bachelor of Counseling, Florida, USA, Educational Facilitator in Expressive Arts – Salve Regina University, Rhode Island, USA, Masters in Educational Family Orientation, Universidad de Villanueva, Spain, Postgraduate in Interventions in Expressive Arts from the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala and is a Life Coach.

She represents PCETI-El Salvador (Person Centered Expressive Arts Institute), through which the Creative Connection Program is developed, taught by Dr. Graciela Bottini. She is a member of IEATA@ and coordinator of IEATA in Central America.

NGOs I am working with

• Asociación Déjame Ayudarte (Asociación Déjame Ayudarte/SENDAS para la Mujer, NGO whose mission is to heal and empower women who have been abused)

My name is Deianara and I am 25 years old. At this moment I am in my final year of my masters of Clinical Psychology at the KU Leuven. I am very excited to soon start my professional life and as part of that, I started my IEATA journey to gain more experience in the Expressive Arts Therapy world. My hope is to start giving back and being able to help others in times of need (or just in need of some little extra support).

NGOs I am working with

• Psychologische Kring Leuven vzw

Her academic education background in arts and psychology made her a professional in expressive art therapy. She has a Master of psychology in family therapy and B.A in art She has a certificate of painting and design from Italy. Her art experience, such as more than 20 exhibitions in other countries, showed her art ability and her expression. In ABANA Art therapy center she is planning and implementing many workshops and training for students who want to be expressive art therapist and art therapist. She has published 2 books and several articles about the effect of art therapy in treatment. She is one of the first person in Iran to have received the REAT® certification.

NGOs I am working with

• Kiana SOCIO-CULTURAL NGO

Sagarika Sukhija is a postgraduate in psychology from the University of Rajasthan. This young professional has worked in the areas of learning and development, as well as, community management.She yearns to make expressive art accessible for children of different ages, abilities and identities.

She offers in-person and virtual expressive art workshops. The pivot for her is to provide a safe space for these children where they feel witnessed.

Angela has completed the graduate diploma in Expressive Art Therapy from Singapore University of Social Sciences and is currently admitted into Master of Counselling from Monash University. Angela has a great passion to integrate expressive art therapy into counselling as an alternative way to approach clients.

NGOs I am working with

• Singapore Yanhuang Culture Research Association

Ms. Au is an Expressive Arts Therapist (Intermodal IDEC®) and designer. She graduated with an MA degree in Expressive Arts Therapy with minor in Psychology and has strong experience in applying recovery, wellbeing and art in the rehabilitation services. Ms. Au actively involves in different art development projects, exhibitions and performances in the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association more than ten years. She also provides Expressive Arts Therapy workshops for people in recovery, autistic person, elderly, caregivers and helping professions.

NGOs I am working with

• New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association

Mr Lee Chi Hung Clifford was senior registered social worker, expressive arts therapist (IDEC®), mindfulness in schools project teacher (MISP) and full member of psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong at present. He worked in Hong Kong and mainly in integrated family services centre and primary school. He was mainly focus in groupwork psychotherapy during the study in the University of Hong Kong and European Graduate School. He worked with a diverse range of clients including adolescents and woman with depression & anxiety disorders, SEN students, LGBT and working for physical and mentally challenged adults and autism adults in his clinical practices.

Lisa migrated and lived in Sydney, Australia for 10 years. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychotherapy & Human Change in 2006, Lisa moved back to Hong Kong to be with her family. Since then, she has continued her studies and practices in Mindfulness, Yoga as well as Chinese Philosophy. Lisa graduated with a Master’s Degree from the European Graduate School, Switzerland in Expressive Arts Therapy with a minor in Psychology in 2018 and is now working for NGOs as well as her Private Practice.

NGOs I am working with

• New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association

Internationally sought-after presenter, organizer, coordinator, counsellor. Recognised and acclaimed social entrepreneur and community development professional. WHO ambassador and coordinator of action on SDG3 (Health & Wellbeing). Highly respected life-design counsellor with extensive professional networks. Passion for enabling individuals and communities towards self-care and sustainable living.

NGOs I am working with

• Mary Immaculate School in Paranaque Philippines

Hong Ching Yee is a Health Education Officer (HEO) work at Hospital Pekan, Pahang, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Hong is graduated from University National Malaysia (UKM)in Master of Health Education, Degree of Bachelor of Psychology from Open University Malaysia(OUM), Member of International Expressive Arts TherapyAssociation (IEATA), She adopted Expressive Art Therapy in promoting, educating, maintaining, and restoration of health which in reducing behavioral and improving patient/clients’ sense of well-being. Other than that she also offers workshops, online and physical session in individual or group using expressive art to self-expressions, self-reflection and emotional expressions which help clients enable to heal and increase self-awareness by making change in life, enhance cognitive abilities and develops personal growth.