Art Therapy
Nishima, M.A., LPC-AT, ATR-BC, is a Board Certified Art Therapist, an artist working across multiple media, and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. Nishima received her M.A. in Art Therapy and Counseling from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana.
I work as both a fine artist and a clinical art therapist; I feel deeply that these jobs complement each other. My personal art practice grounds, nurtures, heals, and inspires me, giving me the strength and joy to help others through art therapy. My work with clients as an art therapist likewise inspires my artwork and provides opportunities to connect with people, be of service, and grow my artist identity. I believe it is essential for art departments to support art therapy as an important aspect of working as an artist.
I am teaching these courses at UT San Antonio
Course Description:
ART 2923/4953. Introduction to Art Therapy, 3 Credit Hours
CRN for registration: 49023
Students will be introduced to the Art Therapy profession in this course. Topics will include the history and development of art therapy in the United States and internationally; the therapeutic value of art materials, processes, and imagery; the professional identity and roles of a working art therapist; and the impact of art experience on development, psychological healing, and rehabilitation. These topics will be explored through lectures, readings, discussions, and experiential exercises.
This course prioritizes hands-on art making activities that allow students to experience the processes of self-awareness, mindfulness, grounding and wellbeing, catharsis healing, and change that are facilitated through art therapy directives. Readings and lectures provide knowledge, while personal experimentation with materials, assignments, and emergent images that connect to intellectual learning are the key to growing understanding. I also prioritize assignments that empower students to take ownership of their learning.
ART 3923 Art Therapy Methods and Practice, 3 Credit Hours
Class begins in the spring of 2027
