Faculty

About ATI

Admission

Registration

CEUs

Faculty and Supervisors

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, INSTRUCTOR: Linda Lea McCarley, MSSW, LCSW, ATR-BC, RPT-S, founded the Art Therapy Institute in 1996. She practices in Dallas and specializes in art and play therapy. She also works with The Salvation Army in the Katrina Aid Today program. As Past President of the North Texas Art Therapy Association, she assisted with bringing about licensure for the specialty designation of Licensed Professional Counselor-Art Therapist (LPC-AT). She also served on the Education Program Approval Board of the American Art Therapy Association. Her education includes a MSSW from the University of Texas at Arlington and post-graduate studies in art therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois, and the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California. In addition to being a Registered Art Therapist -Board Certified, she is a Registered Play Therapist with Supervisor designation (RPT-S) and an approved supervisor for Marriage and Family Therapy Interns in Texas.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATE INSTRUCTOR: Maria LaVorgna-Smith, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT, ATR-BC is a Registered Art Therapist - Board Certified and a Family Therapist at Family Wellness Center in Lewisville, Texas. She serves as President of the North Texas Art Therapy Association. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Ph.D. in Family Therapy in 1996, and graduated from the Art Therapy Institute, Dallas, Texas, with a Certificate in 2000. Dr. LaVorgna-Smith is a supervisor for interns for Licensed Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Art Therapists.

ASSOCIATE INSTRUCTOR: Carol Lark, Ph.D., ATR-BC, has practiced art therapy in hospital, community arts, and independent practice settings since 1985. Her areas of expertise include group work with adults; trauma, post-trauma stress disorders, and dissociative processes; Social Dream Matrix, Dialogue; and women’s issues in psychotherapy, including the lesbian population. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Psychology and Art Therapy from the Union Institute, serves on committees of the American Art Therapy Association and is adjunct faculty of several colleges and universities.

ASSOCIATE INSTRUCTOR: Anita Mester, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, provides art therapy at Children’s Medical Center and is in private practice in Dallas. She has experience in psychiatric, substance abuse and medical settings. She is Past President of the North Texas Art Therapy Association and Past President of the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). She graduated from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, with a MA in Art Therapy.

APPROVED SUPERVISORS

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