This presentation showcases how collaborative art therapy research initiatives address complex socio-political, scientific, and healthcare dynamics to generate knowledge to advance and sustain the field. The project unfolded in three interconnected phases: 1) a comprehensive scoping review of art therapy literature and conference presentations illuminating trends, gaps, and emerging priorities; 2) perspectives  gathered from art therapists worldwide through surveys and focus groups, inviting dialogue on theoretical approaches, professional experiences, and research needs; and 3) a synchronous international symposium reflecting diverse voices and priorities of the global art therapy community.

In this presentation we will address the following:

• Introduction to our project of creating and art therapy research strategic plan
• Outline of the research philosophy and methods
• Description and definition of the resulting 6-point plan, goals and strategies
• Review of the current projects being implemented to actualise the plan goals
• Future goals and next steps
• How you can join.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• To identify the rationale for a systematic and coherent art therapy research strategy
• To describe the primary reason for building a global art therapy research community
• To identify the six pivotal categories for sustainable art therapy research
• To identify three current projects in process by the Art Therapy Research Community Network

PRESENTER BIO

Dr Theresa Van Lith is an Associate Professor of Art Therapy at La Trobe University, Melbourne. Her research focuses on art-based, mindfulness, and co-designed interventions for diverse groups in educational, community, and healthcare settings. She is an ANZACATA board member and Associate Editor of Art Therapy, the official journal of the American Art Therapy Association. Her work bridges research and practice, promoting inclusive, evidence-based art therapy solutions.

Dr Nancy Gerber, Ph.D., ATR-BC is Teaching Faculty in the Art Therapy Program at Florida State University, where she received the 2022–23 Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award. She is Associate Clinical Professor Emerita, founding and former director of the PhD Program in Creative Arts Therapies at Drexel University. Dr Gerber’s scholarship focuses on doctoral education, art therapy research strategic planning, and arts-based research. Dr Gerber co-created the Arts-Based Research Global Consortium to advance socially responsible arts-based research. She is co-researcher/developer of the Art Therapy Research Community Network. She has recently published a book entitled Imagination and Arts-Based Practices for Integration in Research.

When: Monday 8 September 2025
Time: 10am–11am AEST
8am AWST/HKT/SGT
12pm NZST
Duration/CPD: 1 CPD hour
Where: Zoom
Cost: Free
Open to: All members
Min/Max: no cap on attendees
Recorded session: Yes

Cancellation Policy:
When you register and pay to attend one of our events, you are holding a space on our calendar that is no longer available to other members. In order to be respectful of your fellow members and the presenter, please email us as soon as you know you will not be able to attend the event. We keep our events as affordable as possible and need to pay presenters the fee they request. While we understand sometimes urgent matters come up, if registrants cancel at the last minute, we struggle to pay presenters. A full refund will be given if the cancellation occurs more than 24 hours before the event. If the cancellation occurs less than 24 hours before the event, 50% of your registration fee will be refunded only to defray our costs.

This 3-hour online workshop will offer frameworks that have proven effective in working with diverse populations in group settings. In multicultural contexts, the 'how' of the relational approach is of equal importance to the 'what' of the intervention, and whereas archetypal approaches can effectively span the divides, sensitivity to the nuances of different cultural backgrounds needs to be an equally considered part.

Jungian theories will be explored from the perspective of an underlying rationale rather than an analytical lens. Contrary cultural theoretical perspectives will be considered in relationship to working with the archetypal, and solid grounds established as a platform for positive group dynamics and effective interventions. Creative and interactive responses will be an interwoven dimension of this journey of gaining experience of recommended practices.

Resources required by participants for the session

1. An object of significance: An object to share that signifies cultural identity or your personal story.
2. A range of media is advised, and particularly the preferred media of the arts therapist practitioner. The following are suggested:
   Dry media: pencils, pastels, colouring pens
   Wet media: paints, inks, and brushes
   Art papers: A4/ A3/ A2
   Optional: Glue, Items collected from nature, magazine cut-out images of interest, other mixed media materials

PRESENTER BIO

1. Describe 3 or more archetypal approaches which have proven effective in multicultural settings and how these have been combined with relational approaches for effective therapeutic outcomes.
2. Identify multimodal and material considerations in working with culturally diverse populations and biases which can hinder the development of effective interventions.
3. Explain why archetypal approaches need to be considered from both universal and culturally based perspectives in working cross-culturally and identify 3 or more considerations to apply in therapy.

PRESENTER BIO

Marion Gordon-Flower is a Registered Creative Arts Therapist working for Mauri Tui Tuia in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Aotearoa/New Zealand. She has a background in teaching and has also worked in youth justice and mental health youth respite. She utilises person-centred, holistic approaches which foster oranga (wellbeing), mana (self-esteem), and whakawhānaungatanga (community connection and confidence). Her primary modality is visual arts; however, she also incorporates music and aspects of drama and expressive dance movement into her practice, based on therapeutic needs and goals. She is an internationally published writer in creative arts therapies. Marion identifies as bicultural having grown up in a Tūhoe community in Te Urewera, Central North Island, and connection with Papatūānuku (nature) remains an important aspect of her lifestyle and work.

When: Saturday 20 September 2025
Time: 12-3pm AEST
2-5pm NZST (Presenter time)
10am-1pm AWST/HKT/SGT
Duration/CPD: 3 CPD hours
Where: Zoom
Cost: $40 (+GST for Aust. members)
Open to: Practising and On Leave members
Min/Max: 15/30
Recorded session: Yes

Cancellation Policy:
When you register and pay to attend one of our events, you are holding a space on our calendar that is no longer available to other members. In order to be respectful of your fellow members and the presenter, please email us as soon as you know you will not be able to attend the event. We keep our events as affordable as possible and need to pay presenters the fee they request. While we understand sometimes urgent matters come up, if registrants cancel at the last minute, we struggle to pay presenters. A full refund will be given if the cancellation occurs more than 24 hours before the event. If the cancellation occurs less than 24 hours before the event, 50% of your registration fee will be refunded only to defray our costs.

This training will contain theory, experiential learning, and opportunities for supervision practice, and can be used as either an arts-therapy based PD opportunity, or towards registration as an approved supervisor with ANZACATA.

It is best suited to experienced professional members, as it assumes a working clinical knowledge and experience in arts therapy.

The training will cover:

1. Definitions of supervision
2. A variety of models and approaches to supervision
3. Arts-based integration
4. Clinical practice
5. Ethics and Contracts

The course will be 40 hours over 5 sessions (including 15 hours of experiential practice) in keeping with ANZACATA policy requirements of Approved Supervisors. Participants will be expected to engage in supervision practice with other participants between the online sessions in order to complete the required number of hours to register as an ANZACATA supervisor. Please note only Professional Members can be on the ANZACATA Approved Supervisor listing.

PRESENTER DETAILS

Maggie trained at London University in Art Psychotherapy, graduating in 1990. She is a registered art therapist and has worked in several clinical and NGO settings. Her art therapy interests are currently cross-cultural art therapy group work, creative debriefing and supervision for mental health teams, practitioners, and art therapists.

Maggie has taught on the Masters of Mental Health Art Therapy at the University of Queensland (UQ) for 17 years. Currently in her private practice, the Art Therapy Studio, she conducts group and individual supervision for art therapists using Zoom as a carrier. She conducts a variety of art therapy workshops and training. She is a registered as a supervisor with ANZACATA. She facilitates supervision training for UQ placement supervisors. She has worked as a remote clinical supervisor for the Master's in Art Therapy, a post-graduate mental health program based in the School of Clinical Medicine at UQ for over 18 years. For four years, she worked as Placement Co-Ordinator for the UQ art therapy course.

Start Date: Saturday 1 November 2025
This event is run over 5 days. Sat 1 & Sun 2 Nov, Sat 22 & Sun 23 Nov, Sun 7 Dec 2025
Time: 1–6 pm AEDT (12–5 pm AEST/QLD)
3–8 pm NZDT
10 am–3 pm AWST/HKT/SGT
Duration/CPD: 40 hours (25 hours F2F + 15 hours experiential)
Where: Zoom
Cost: $470 (+GST for Aust. members)
Open to: (Experienced) Professional Members
Min/Max: 8/16 participants
Recorded session: No (Privacy Reasons)

Cancellation Policy:
When you register and pay to attend one of our events, you are holding a space on our calendar that is no longer available to other members. In order to be respectful of your fellow members and the presenter, please email us as soon as you know you will not be able to attend the event. We keep our events as affordable as possible and need to pay presenters the fee they request. While we understand sometimes urgent matters come up, if registrants cancel at the last minute, we struggle to pay presenters. A full refund will be given if the cancellation occurs more than 24 hours before the event. If the cancellation occurs less than 24 hours before the event, 50% of your registration fee will be refunded only to defray our costs.