2025 BATA Symposium Brochure |
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Saturday, September 6th
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Welcome to the 44th Annual Buckeye Art Therapy Symposium!
The following schedule will guide you through the continuing education opportunities (1 CE/hr.) offered by a dynamic array of presenters.
Please be aware that this schedule is subject to change and we recommend checking back for updates!
Location:
Mount Vernon Estate
1041 US HWY 250 N, Ashland, OH 44805
Phone: (419) 606-4284 and (419) 606-4283
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
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8:30 – 9:00 AM:
Registration/Check-In for Saturday-Only Registrants
Location: Main Entrance
Light refreshments: pastries, water, coffee
9:00 – 10:00 AM:
Paper Presentations
· "Tea, Talk, and Art; A Faith-Based Preventative Community Cancer and Health Initiative"
Location: Bride Room (limited to 15 people)
Presenter: Dawn Freeman, MAT, ATR-BC and JoLynne Marsh
This session highlights a Cleveland Clinic faith-based, art therapy-integrated approach to community cancer prevention. Participants will explore how art therapy can reach underserved populations to improve health knowledge. Participants will gain practical strategies to launch similar initiatives in their own communities. Creating nature infused mandalas will follow the presentation.
· “Ethics and Imagery: Discussing Symbolism within Culturally Proficient Practice”
Location: Farmhouse West Wing (limited to 50 people)
Presenters: Jennifer Schwartz, MAAT, LPAT, ATR-BC, ATCS and Molly O’Neill Haaga, PhD, LPAT, LPC, ATR-BC with Kayla Kephart, Jade C. Lewis, & Giavanna Victor
Regardless of the setting, population, or theoretical approach of the art therapist, the work of art therapy is steeped in symbolism. Recent research has brought to light best practices for working with complex images within a culturally proficient practice. Presenters will define key components of symbolism engaged in art therapy practice, describe three visual thinking strategies, and explore three examples of divergent meanings among multicultural symbolism. We will conclude with a group discussion of the universal and idiosyncratic nature of symbolism as it is referenced in the Art Therapist’s Ethical Code.
9:00 – 10:30 AM:
Workshops*
*Workshops do not require pre-registration this year, but may be limited to a first come, first serve based on supplies and room capacities.
· “Zine and Heard: A hands-on dive into the world of zines as therapeutic tools”
Location: Farmhouse East Wing (limited to 32 people)
Presenter: Madeline VanHorn, LPC, ATR-P
Discover the history and power of zines—self-made booklets that utilize artistic media to share personal narratives. This session is a dive into the world of zines, their history, use in art therapy, and case examples. Through experiential zine-making, participants will explore the impact of this accessible and empowering media.
· “Transforming Pain by Turning Inward: Healing Through Visualization Meditation, Mandala Making, and Body Mapping”
Location: Ballroom (limited to 50 people)
Presenter: Monica Brown, LPC, ATR-P
Participants will learn about and engage in a synergistic art experiential, composed of a guided visualization, body mapping and therapeutic mandala-making to help promote inner healing.
10:30 – 10:45 AM:
Break
Light refreshments: snacks, water, coffee
10:45 – 11:45 AM:
Ethics Plenary
· “Centering on Ethics in Supporting Migrants and Survivors of Political Violence”
Location: Ballroom
Presenters: Jennifer Schwartz, MAAT, LPAT, ATR-BC, ATCS and Lauren Williams, MA, LPAT, ATR-BC, LPCC-S
This ethics presentation will challenge attendees to think critically about how they can best support migrants and refugees escaping political violence and/or experiencing current threats of political violence. We will review current literature, apply ethical principles, and reflect on current practice through discussion and art making.
11:45 AM – 12:00 PM:
Networking
- Add to BATA 2025 Collaborative Art Making project
- Visit vendor tables
12:00 – 1:15 PM:
Annual Membership Meeting Luncheon
Location: Ballroom
The BATA Annual Meeting of the Membership is a time for the OH art therapy community to come together and hear about the work that has been done with our state association over the past year. The meeting will feature introduction of the BATA Board of Directors, reports from each board position, and announcement of the winners of the annual scholarships, Honorary Life Membership, and other awards.
Boxed lunch and drinks will be provided.
1:15 – 2:15 PM:
Paper Presentations
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- · “Fostering Socialization for Youth in Community Arts”
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- Location: Farmhouse West Wing (limited to 50 people)
- Presenters: Heather Denning, MA, LPAT, ATR-BC, ATCS, LSW and Jiannah Carter
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“Fostering Socialization for Youth in Community Arts” explores how art fosters social skills for youth, presents the similarities and differences between community arts and community-based art therapy, and provides examples of student-led art projects conducted at a community center serving youth living below the federal poverty level.
- · “Exploring Countertransference from a Creative and Somatic Perspective”
Location: Bride Room (limited to 15 people)
Presenters: Areka Foster, PhD, LPCC-S, LPAT, ATR-BC, SEP
This experiential session explores somatic countertransference through creative and somatic practices, offering strategies to identify, manage, and ethically integrate it into supervision and the therapeutic process, thereby enhancing relational depth and clinical outcomes. The session is intended for both supervisees and supervisors.
1:15 – 2:45
Workshops*
*Workshops do not require pre-registration this year, but may be limited to a first come, first serve based on supplies and room capacities.
· “Creative Mindfulness”
Location: Farmhouse East Wing (limited to 32 people)
Presenters: Madeline Skemp LPCC-S, ATR-BC, LPAT and Maggie Rosner LPC, ATR-P
This presentation will focus on the integration of mindfulness and trauma-informed care for art therapists working with clients who have experienced a disaster. The basics of mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and somatic systems will be discussed in the context of a crisis. Creative interventions to promote individual and community compassion and resilience will be shared.
· “Two things are true: Using collage within a dialectical framework to promote wellness within the supervision relationship”
Location: Ballroom (limited to 50 people)
Presenter: Melissa Hladek MA, LPCC-S, LPAT, ATR-BC, PMH-C
This presentation will focus on the integration of mindfulness and trauma-informed care for art therapists working with clients who have experienced a disaster. The basics of mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and somatic systems will be discussed in the context of a crisis. Creative interventions to promote individual and community compassion and resilience will be shared.
2:45 – 3:00 PM:
Break
Light refreshments: snacks, water, coffee
3:00 – 4:30 PM:
Workshops*
*Workshops do not require pre-registration this year, but may be limited to a first come, first serve based on supplies and room capacities.
· “Yarn Painting Workshop: Creating Art with Embroidery Floss on Canvas”
Location: TBD
Presenters: Michelle Chavez, MA, LPAT, ATR-BC
Explore the traditional roots and clinical applications of yarn painting in this hands-on workshop. Learn how this textured, meditative process supports therapeutic goals and creative self-care. Participants will discover ways to adapt the practice for clients while experiencing its grounding, restorative benefits for themselves.
· “Disaster Planning & Recovery for Art Therapists”
Location: TBD
Presenters: Jennifer Souers Chevraux and Cheryl Pete, LPAT, ATR-BC
This session equips art therapists with disaster readiness skills through hands-on planning, ethical guidance, and recovery techniques for materials, artwork, and records. Participants will create actionable plans, learn preservation methods, explore AATA-aligned best practices to ensure client care continuity, and leave empowered with tools and confidence to navigate emergencies.