Category Archives: art and healing

Happy New Year from Sibel Golden

Happy New Year! from Sibel Golden   The need and desire for the arts to take a vital role in individual and collective wellness throughout all aspects of society is clear. NWCEAI applied this mandate to everything we achieved in 2022, and will continue to do so going forward. All our workshops, training, and outreach […]

Walking the Talk: An Interview with Training Program Alumna, Jessica Johnson

It was a joy to get to know clinical social worker and training program alumna, Jessica Johnson. She shared how she has been applying her learning experiences in the Professional Expressive Arts Therapy Training Program in her work as a therapist, and in her own life. Suzan: So when did you graduate from the training […]

The Journey to Becoming an Expressive Arts Therapist: An Interview with Cleopatra Bertelsen

I recently had the privilege of interviewing Cleopatra Bertelsen as my first of a series of interviews with current cohorts, or graduates of the NW Creative & Expressive Arts Professional Training Program. Here is what I learned from this vibrant, compassionate force in the field. By Suzan Alparslan Suzan:  First I’d like to just get […]

Musings on Neuroaesthetics, Creativity, and the Poetry of Being

By, Suzan Alparslan, MFA  Poetry is: words that are empowered to make your hair stand on end, that you realize instantly as being some form of subjective truth that has an objective reality to it, because somebody has realized it. Then you call it poetry later. ~ Allen Ginsberg It has been long established by […]

Art & Social Justice

Art & Social Justice “Artists are here to disturb the peace. They have to disturb the peace. Otherwise, chaos.”  James Baldwin As we have watched unprecedented events unfold throughout our country, we are reminded of the transformative power of art. Art and social justice are deeply connected.  Speaking truth though art has a long and mighty […]

Reflections from a Graduate of Our Training Program

“As we tap into the deep sources of bodily wisdom through creative art expression, we dance the renewal, recreation, and healing of ourselves and our world.” This quote by Anna Halprin illustrates how creative expression not only helps to strengthen the body-mind connection but also aids in the process of our healing as individuals andas […]

Local Artist Spotlight: Rae Akino

Local Artist Spotlight: Rae Akino Our intern, Sophia Maggio, recently interviewed local Seattle Artist, Rae Akino, who tells stories through her art, and has found healing along the way.  SM: What brought you to art? RA: As a child I displayed interest as talent in drawing and crafts but was told that could never be […]