In an article entitled “Ensuring Cultural Awareness in Your Professional Activities,” Marital and Family Therapy program alumna and faculty Ruth Xilomen Rios writes how her work as a credentialed art therapist allows her conduct deeply personal and meaningful work volunteering with immigrant families. She finds that the work both connects her to her own past as a member of an immigrant family, while exposing her to a wide variety of lived experiences. The article appeared in the Art Therapy Credentials Board blog.
She writes, “I continue to work with clients and families whose cultural experiences are similar to my own. Making artwork, including response art, helps me connect with my clients while differentiating and reflecting on my own experiences and cultural identity. My current volunteer work exposes me to a multitude of perspectives on the issue of immigration, which in turn helps define my professional approach.”
