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Contemporary Art Therapy
As the field of mental health care continues to shift, art therapy must embrace policies and practices that take into consideration:
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Creative placemaking and the need for “third spaces.”
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The neurodevelopmental basis for art therapy.
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Social prescribing to address the crises of loneliness, disconnection, and anxiety.
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Building bridges between health/mental health (health equity), education systems (education equity), and community services (social work).
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Creating connections and opportunities for cross-pollination between therapists and educators.
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De-stigmatizing therapy through humanistic and holistic practices.
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Scaling-up and widening-out of art therapy services for greater community impact.
An arts-centered, place-based, systems-thinking approach helps to humanize mental health care, nurture family relationships, and strengthen individual and collective wellness.
Research & Teaching Philosophy
Dr. Snyder’s research, teaching, and consulting are grounded in critical disability theory, critical race theory, and a feminist ethic of care. She approaches art therapy through a constructivist, pragmatist lens, looking to shape real-world solutions that address complex factors. Through humanistic research design and participatory arts-based models, she examines the integration of art therapy into community spaces.
Place-Based Art Therapy
In her clinical practice and research, Dr. Snyder has seen that when art therapy takes place in community spaces — such as early childhood education centers, school systems, cultural institutions, or health care settings — children and families gain greater access to essential resources that support developmental learning and growth.
By integrating art therapy into the places where families already spend time, art therapists are able to reduce stigma and expand child-centered and family-centered models of care. When art therapists partner with educators and health care providers, we can collectively foster a continuum of care that is trauma-informed and proactively builds resilience.
The ripple effect extends beyond individuals or family units — it supports community development on a holistic level.
Key Questions
How can art therapists break through the barriers that limit and inhibit mental health care?
Dr. Snyder’s work revolves around three key questions:
What role can art therapy play in place-based learning landscapes, such as schools or museums?
How can art therapy practices be integrated into larger systems to support holistic wellbeing?
