Darcie Davis-Gage, PH.D, LMHC
President
Darcie Davis-Gage is a licensed mental health counselor in Iowa and a counselor educator at the University of Northern Iowa. Dr. Davis-Gage has over 20 years experience as a counselor, clinical supervisor, and counselor educator. She graduated from the Northwest Creative and Expressive Art Institute as an Expressive Art Therapist.
Dr. Davis-Gage actively collaborates in numerous interdisciplinary research and service endeavors and frequently publishes and presents nationally and internationally on expressive art therapy, wellness and self-care, and trauma informed design.
She is a member of the International Expressive Art Therapy Association and the Association of Creativity in Counseling. She currently provides expressive art counseling and wellness services in the community.She integrates expressive art into clinical supervision and consultation services at Hero Haven. This non-for-profit serves first responders and firefighters experiencing compassion fatigue and occupational stress. She is also training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART-Basic) which is an evidenced based eye movement treatment for trauma and other mental health issues.
She also enjoys an active art practice in dance, movement, drama, and mixed media.
John Marek (he/him)
Member at large
John comes from a background in design and creative work. He’s drawn to expressive arts for the way they help people reconnect with themselves, discover new ways of self-expression, and deepen empathy for others. His involvement with Northwest Creative and Expressive Arts Institute reflects his belief in creativity as a powerful path back to our shared humanity.
Debbi Odell, LMFT, EXAT
Treasurer
Debbi Odell offers a blend of somatic work, parts work, expressive arts therapy and EMDR to individuals, couples and groups in clinical practice. Debbi’s therapy work currently focuses on adolescents, adults and couples dealing with relationship issues, trauma and dissociation, identity, attachment, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Debbi created and facilitated expressive arts therapy groups on multiple topics, including grief, bisexual identity, and resilience, and currently co-facilitates an expressive arts group for alumni and fellow creative therapists. She received a Master’s in Clinical Psychology with Somatic Concentration from Antioch University Santa Barbara and an Expressive Arts Therapy Certificate from Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute (NWCEAI). Additional training and experience include EMDR Level I (Scaling Up EMDR) and Social Emotional Arts Certificate (Arts & Healing Initiative). Based in Central California, she offers therapy and creative experiences throughout California via Zoom.
Karla Mancero, Ma, LMFT
Member at large
Karla Mancero is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Masters of Arts in Couples and Family therapy from Antioch University Seattle. She also earned her Professional Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy at NWCEAI in 2019-2020.
Karla has a private practice in Seattle serving children, adolescents, and families with a special focus on social and separation anxiety, depression, relational issues, and sensory integration needs in neurodivergent children.
Karla thrives when she is being creative with clients and for her own mental health. Above all though her first love in the expressive arts is poetry. Karla has many interests in the arts and continues to learn and play with hand drumming, dancing, paint pouring, improv, and writing.