Rebecca Wilkinson

Rebecca Wilkinson is a graduate of the George Washington University Graduate Art Therapy Program ('95). She is the co-founder of Creative Wellbeing Workshops, which provides consultation and training for individuals and organizations. She also develops and conducts professional development and continuing education for mental health professionals in Ethics, Art Therapy and Positive Psychology, and Art Therapy in inpatient psychiatric settings, and Art Therapy with individuals with life-threatening illnesses and their caregivers.

Clinical Background

Rebecca has worked in psychiatric inpatient and outpatient care for most of her career. She recently served as Coordinator the Expressive Therapies Department of the Washington Adventist Hospital psychiatric unit, leading a team of expressive therapists and training graduate art therapy and counseling students in providing therapeutic interventions with patients in crisis. In 2010, she was awarded Clinician of the Year by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) for her work with adults and her commitment to training students.

Rebecca is core faculty for the Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC, a resource for clients affected by life-threatening illness and the professional providers working with them. She oversees their continuing education department.

Her focus has been in crisis stabilization and it is through this work that she has developed an appreciation for the power of the human spirit to prevail even in the darkest moments.

Professional Involvement

Rebecca served as Chair of the Distance Learning Committee for the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) and was instrumental in developing Institute for Continuing Education-Art Therapy, AATA's online venue for continuing education. She also helped the Potomac Art Therapy Association gain NBCC provider status and coordinates their continuing education programming. She served as President of AzATA, the Arizona Art Therapy Association.

Publications

"Positive Art Therapy: The Synergy of Positive Psychology and Art Therapy," American Journal of Art Therapy (2013)

"Positive Art Therapy: Envisioning the Intersection of Art Therapy and Positive Psychology," Australian New Zealand Journal of Art Therapy (2009)

Classes Taught

• Practicum Supervision
• Advanced Issues in Psychotherapy and Art Therapy: Positive Psychology