This summer at the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) Annual Conference in Baltimore, Marital and Family (Art) Therapy faculty member Dr. Paige Asawa, PhD, ATR-BC, received the 2016 Distinguished Clinician in Family Service Award. This honor is bestowed on those who serve as models of excellence in art therapy.
As an art therapist, art therapy educator, and artist who has been engaged in the art therapy community for over 25 years, Asawa is currently the director of LMU’s Helen B. Landgarten Art Therapy Clinic, where she developed seven programs ranging from trauma and disaster response, and practicum support, to providing building resiliency and consultation utilizing family art assessments. Her work has contributed to programs that are unique to the local community and to the art therapy profession.
Asawa is a committed and essential educator, teaching family track courses that integrate family therapy principles with art therapy approaches. The clinical programs that have grown under her vision and tenacity demonstrate the impact of her work on clients, families, communities, students, and the art therapy profession. She is known as an inspired and caring professor, serving as a role model for using art therapy when working with families.
At the same conference, Asawa was also elected Treasurer of the the AATA Board of Directors.
