ashley samson

Facilitation of experiential therapy as well as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy groups with children and adults in the OCD/Anxiety, Eating Disorder and Depression Programs.

Facilitation of group and individual art therapy with women with mood, anxiety and eating disorders.

Once a week group art therapy for children 4-6 years old with social, emotional or cognitive difficulties.

Facilitate Art Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with groups and individuals in the MAP, Inspire and Merit programs.

Facilitate group and individual art therapy in pediatric, adolescent and adult inpatient units as well as the residential and partial hospitalization program

Provided art therapy services to individuals and groups age 3yrs to 18yrs in the Hephzibah group home and diagnostic shelter as well as in Family Based Services foster care program.

Intern: 2006-2007 Employment 2007-2008 Facilitated individual art therapy bedside as well as in home visits to children and teens with serious medical illnesses. Provided the therapeutic use of art to parents, siblings and patients in 4 Chicagoland hospitals including Rush, UIC, Loyola and Lutheran General Hospitals. Creation of electronic newsletter through Kintera Sphere. Contributed therapeutic art directives to the creation of an activity journal for Children with serious medical illnesses in conjunction with BeadsofCourage.org

Our bodies are not the only parts of ourselves that need a tune up from time to time. The mind is a powerful tool that can benefit from supportive counseling services. Whether it’s a job change, loss, relational issues, living with physical pain or just day-to-day stress, a supportive ear can mean the difference between just getting through the day and living the life that you deserve. At the Chicago Institute of Natural Health, I offer traditional counseling, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as well as Art Therapy to individuals, couples and families.

http://www.saic.edu/degrees_resources/gr_degrees/maat/ Thesis abstract: This paper reviews the literature regarding self-injury with particular attention to clinician responses from 1900-present. Common misconceptions including the comparison of self injurious behaviors to suicide and attention seeking behaviors are explored. The author also looks at the impact of western culture on the female gender and co morbidity between self-injury and eating disorders. Treatment methods are explored including interviews with a Chicago psychologist, Niquie Dworkin, PhD, and editor of the 2006 film “Cut,” Wendy Schneider. Finally, a strong emphasis on the benefits of art therapy are discussed including an interview with art therapist Lucille Herman, MA, ATR, LCPC, who has extensive experience working with those who self-injure. The thesis concludes with examples of therapeutic art interventions for art therapists to use while treating self-injuring clients.

Activities and Societies: ECATS Art Therapy club, Residents Life- RA 2003-2004, Founder of "Attitude" Studio Dance club, Peer Helper, 20 hr Practicum at the Golden House Family Violence Shelter in Green Bay Wi, Semester Internship with Family Services Steps to Success PHP Program, Art Therapy volunteer- Food Bourne Illnesses Conference,