Who Are We ?
Meet the Board
President : Katie Hall, MA, ATR-BC, LPAT, LPCC
I am an artist and art therapist with a master’s in art therapy and counseling from Southwestern College in New Mexico and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Pratt Institute in New York. Practicing over 12 years as an art therapist, I have also served on the board for the New Mexico Art Therapy Association (NMATA) as President. I explore issues of impermanence, separation, and inter-connectivity in my drawings, paintings, sculptures, and films. In my art therapy and counseling practice, I currently focus on treating individuals struggling with post traumatic stress disorder, grief, depression, anxiety, and life transitions in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I focus on improving quality of life, empowerment, and guiding clients to reach a deeper understanding of self through art expression. I integrate mindfulness, person-centered, transpersonal, and somatic (body centered) approaches into my practice with a focus around each client’s unique needs at the time. I am passionate about sharing the healing powers of expressive art making, including visual, music, and movement with community. I hold the belief that we are all artists, in that we all seek to express our inner selves in some way and this is not always possible with the use of words. Through art making, I feel we can access and awaken our deeper selves, and at the same time find connectivity and commonality with others.
Vice President: Bridget Steed, MA, LMHC
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, certified Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapist, and intermodal artist who divides my time between Mexico and the United States. I am particularly drawn to working with vulnerable and underserved populations, including adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. I repeatedly witness how the use of visual art, music, dance, song, drama, and writing helps foster creative expression, connection, purpose, and self-esteem. I serve as an Executive Committee Co-Chair (ECC) for the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) since 2023, and appreciate collaborating with people from all over the world to help advocate for, and bring awareness to, the use of the arts for growth, transformation, and healing. I enjoy leading groups through intermodal expressive arts therapy processes as well as offering trainings to graduate students on how to incorporate Art Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy into their work with clients. I believe that creative expression is one of the most beautiful ways to heal the mind, body, and spirit, and allow oneself to be seen in the world. I hold a dual Master’s Degree in Art Therapy & Counseling from Southwestern College. My post-graduate training was through the late Dr. Natalie Rogers’ Person Centered Expressive Arts Institute’s (PCEAI) program in Sonoma, California. I serve on the boards of Disaster Shock’s Expressive Arts Team an continue to be inspired and moved by the vibrance and beauty of Latin American culture.
Treasurer: Jessica D. Downey, Ph.D.
I completed both my BA in German Studies & Spanish Language / Literature and my Masters of Education at the University of Cincinnati. Miami University is where I earned a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on Language and Culture Integrated Education. I founded the Society for Research into Language & Culture Integrated Education (LCIE) in February of 2024 in furtherance of my dissertation work on culture in language teaching and a lifetime learning about multiple languages and societies. During my career as an English language educator, I have continued to collaborate professionally with cross-cultural psychologists to explore interdisciplinary connections in the successful teaching of language, culture, and communication for all students. These collaborations have brought unique linguistic and cultural learning experiences to hundreds of students from around the world and helped them learn not only about the languages and cultures of others, but also their own. At LCIE, I design and develop the core activities of the research society, to include the annual international symposium, language teacher training projects, and multiple language and culture conversation partner programs. I am overjoyed to embark on this new chapter of building dedicated partnerships with scholars, teachers, and students to improve and expand teaching and learning opportunities of the highest quality for those interested in language and cultural education in the greater Cincinnati community and beyond.
Founder and Executive Director: Monica Doreen Dick, MA, LMHC
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and artist creating therapeutic artwork that heals myself, helps ease suffering in others, and enrich lives. I earned my dual master’s degrees in Counseling & Art Therapy in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I worked as a trauma informed art therapist. The University of Cincinnati is where I completed my Psychology Minor, and Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) program. I was inspired to create a therapeutic art program for patients after my father passed away in hospice. In his last days, he was unable to speak, and looked straight up at a white ceiling day and night. I began skylight paintings as my own art therapy practice to navigate and heal in my grieving process. After further research in neuroaesthetics (how viewing art affects the brain, emotions, and stress) and quantum mechanics (behavior of nature at and below the atomic scale), I now know a therapeutic wellness painting could have eased his suffering and helped with my family’s grieving process. I am dedicated to healing in my current art making practice where I employ art therapy techniques in my work. My background began in hand drawn portraiture and I continue to create commissioned portraits of loved ones and pets, warming hearts everywhere. I enjoy using my artwork and knowledge in mental health to grow personally and touch the lives of others.
Post Graduate Trainings : Monica Doreen Dick, MA, LMHC
- Exploring Social Determinants of Health. March 2025.
The Ultimate Grief Treatment Toolbox: Over 60 Interventions to Promote Healing & Hope. Aug 2025
Among Grieving Children, Adolescents & Adults
- Ethics of Expressive Arts Therapy, Art Therapy and Play Therapy with Traumatized Children. Trauma Informed Practices and Expressive Art Therapy Insitute. Dr. Cathy Malchiodi. Sept 2023.
- Trauma Informed Ethical Decision Making. MITC Training. July 2023.
The Magic of Dreams: A Study of the Transcendent Function. C.G. Jung Institute of Santa Fe. Feb 2022.
Healing with Ecotherapy: Ethical Considerations in Helping Clients Reconnect to the Body and Nature to Resolve Trauma. Jan 2022.
- Vagus Nerve, Expressive Arts Therapy and Bilateral Stimulation: Regulation and Restoration through Bilateral Movement, Sound, and Art. Trauma Informed Expressive Arts Therapy Level 1. Trauma Informed Practices and Expressive Art Therapy Insitute. Dr. Cathy Malchiodi. Jan 2021.
- Standards, Best Practices and Ethical Issues in Case Documentation. Dr. Laura Lansrud-Lopez. April 2021.
- Trauma Grief and Renewal Certificate Program. Transformation and Healing Conference. Southwestern College. Dr. Rev. Ted Wiard. Aug 2018.
- Certified Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Solace Crisis Treatment Center, 2017.