Clarissa Greguska, LPCC, ATR-BC

president@socalarttherapy.org

President 

Clarissa Greguska (she/her/hers) works at Take Root Therapy, a group private practice, where she specializes in couples and adults who might need support around anxiety, depression and getting unstuck in life and/or relationships.  She is a board certified art therapist, licensed professional clinical counselor and is currently in the process of obtaining an Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy certification.  She is also a proud dog mom, lover of nature, hiking, plant-based cooking, and has completed two marathons.

Clarissa has been with SoCalATA for five years and has previously served as the Governmental Affairs Chair and Secretary.  Currently, she is the President and volunteers at SoCalATA because she loves art therapy, believes in the power of art therapy, and feels strongly about mental health advocacy.  

“I am passionate about working with others through creative expression as a way to foster personal and community agency, healing and growth. Art is life but I love research and being physically active too! In my work, I strive to cultivate therapeutic and professional relationships through creativity, art and play!"

Other current positions: Governmental Affairs Committee Chair,  California Art Therapy Advocacy Initiative Committee Member, Program Committee Chair

Joyce Yip Green, PhD, LMFT, ATR-BC

secretary@socalarttherapy.org

Secretary

Joyce Yip Green earned her PhD in International Psychology, Organizations and Systems concentration at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and received her Masters degree in Marital & Family Therapy/Clinical Art Therapy at Loyola Marymount University. For over 20 years, she has worked as an art therapist serving individuals and families across the lifespan. Her extensive experience includes program oversight of community-based programs serving children 0-5 and their families as well as the mental health programs at several community college health centers in LA County. Her current role is as assistant professor and research director at Loyola Marymount University Graduate Art Therapy Program. Her current research utilizes arts-based methodologies to examine the experiences of immigration and acculturation, particularly of those who have been impacted by war and displacement from Laos and South Korea. She is committed to further the work of art therapists in California and connecting to the larger national AATA. She hopes to support the integration of the art therapy community across all levels of the profession, from student to professional and retired members. She envisions SoCalATA to be a driving force in improving the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Her passions and skills in effective organization, thorough record-keeping and clear communication suits her of Secretary.

Nicole Sylvia Imhof Sherrod, LMFT, ATR

treasurer@socalarttherpy.org

Treasurer 

Nicole Sylvia Imhof Sherrod is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Art Therapist who graduated in 2015 from Phillips Graduate Institute with an MA in Psychology with emphasis in MFT and art therapy. Nicole went to California Lutheran University for her BS degree in Math and Physics. After seeing the power of art in her own life, Nicole decided to pursue a profession to offer art therapy in other’s lives. Nicole acquired her clinical experiences in community mental health and with non-profit agencies. Currently, Nicole works with the Cedars Sinai Share & Care program offering group support to students in schools and incorporating art experiences. Also, with the LMU art therapy clinic and Cedars Sinai, Nicole works as a clinician providing group art therapy for people who have had a cancer diagnosis. Additionally, Nicole teaches an introductory art therapy undergraduate course at Biola University. Nicole loves seeing the process of creating make a positive impact in other’s lives. Nicole in interested in growing professionally and enjoys  combining her love of numbers with her love of art therapy to serve as the treasurer for SoCalATA.

Jessica Schulman Edelstein,

LMFT, ATR-BC, CDP

delegate@socalarttherapy.org 

Chapter Delegate

A Hollywood native, Jessica has been a visual thinker her whole life. Her passion for creativity & understanding how the brain works, is part of everything she does. An alumna from both UCLA and ArtCenter College of Design, (including ArtCenter Europe), Jessica spent decades as an Art & Design Director building brands and creating alongside some of the brightest minds in the business world such as Saul Bass, Lee Clow and Steve Jobs. Spending almost 19 years at Chiat\Day & TBWA\ advertising she was an asset to almost every client in the agency. Most often, helping to build the brand of the agency itself as Global Director of Art & Design. Jessica is most proud of her lead creative work on the “Think different” campaign for Apple Computer, which won many awards, but more importantly set a new path for how the world today creates & communicates.

Today, with a Masters degree in Psychology/Art Therapy in her toolbox, she is a licensed and board-certified clinical Art Therapist. In her private practice, affectionately called "The Limbic Lounge,” Jessica builds on her years of experience working in school, business, senior respite, assisted living or grief camp settings to help heal minds that are still developing, overwhelmed, or experiencing the difficulty of decline or loss. She uses creativity and neuroscience to help people of all ages navigate the personal life-stage challenges of Parenting, Adulting, Aging, & Grieving. Jessica uses art making and a gentle hand to help unlock cognitive barriers, while employing the language of visuals to relieve anxiety and to understand how her client’s unique brain works.  She helps develop understanding, coping skills and useful tools so creative individuals, families or business teams can get to calm in their hectic lives. 

“I have joyfully taken on the role of Chapter Delegate as I have been a SoCalATA and national AATA member in the background for some years and felt it was time for me to give back and share what I have learned, yet also to develop stronger and deeper ties to the incredible artful humans that choose to walk the path of the Art Therapy profession.”

Genia Young, LMFT, ATR-BC

multicultural@socalarttherapy.org

Multicultural Committee (Liaison), Honors Committee Chair

Genia Young (she/her/hers) is a Board Certified Art Therapist and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, specializing in art therapy, from Loyola Marymount University (LMU) as well as a Master’s Degree in Developmental and Educational Psychology from Boston College.

Currently, she provides clinical art therapy services and art therapy supervision in both her private practice and at LMU where she is a part-time faculty member.  She is also a member of the Active Cultural Explorations Committee (ACE) that advises the art therapy department on cultural considerations in education and community outreach, including professional development to alumni on cultural awareness. 

Genia has been a member of SoCalATA since she was an art therapy student.  A few years after graduation, she volunteered as Co-Chair of the Membership Committee, then was elected President-Elect and succeeded as President in 2020.  

“Over the years I have become deeply invested in art therapy education and practice and the welfare of art therapists.  I believe that if I want to see a difference I need to make a difference.”

Kathleen Fogel Richmond

MA, LMFT, ATR-BC

laliaison@socalarttherapy.org

Los Angeles County Regional Liaison

Kathleen is the Practicum Coordinator for Loyola Marymount University's Martial and Family Therapy/Art Therapy program. She is a 1995 graduate of LMU's art therapy program, and was an art therapist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Century City Hospital, Mission Community Hospital and Inter-Community Child Guidance Center where she specialized in working with older adults and their families, pervasive mentally ill clients, and abused children. She has supervised LMU students in their practicum since 1996 and has taught several courses.  She was also our 2021 AATA Conference Logo Artist.

Ventura County Regional Liaison

 Heidi Parker (she/her/hers) is the Community Initiatives Manager for UCLArts & Healing and is passionate about connecting with individuals and groups at the intersection of public health, expressive arts, and community. A Chicago native, she graduated from DePaul University with a B.A. in Studio Art and received a M.A. in Art Therapy from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. She previously worked as an LPC and art therapist at The Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois in Belleville, IL and the Center for Hope & Safety in Salem, OR. She relocated to Ventura in 2021 and is excited to connect with the southern CA art therapy network.

Jeannine Mackin-McGhee, LMFT, ATR-BC

OCliaison@socalarttherapy.org 

Orange County Regional Liaison

Jeannine Mackin-McGhee (she/her/hers) is a retired therapist who worked with individuals, families, children, groups, and persons who experience intellectual, developmental and/or medical disabilities.   Jeannine has been able to implement art therapy into her clinical therapeutic approaches, which are aligned with experiential and humanistic therapeutic modalities.

She has been a member of AATA and SoCalATA for 35 years, both as a student and a professional. Presently, Jennine volunteers as the Orange County Regional Liaison. 

“I believe there is a need for us, as art therapists, in OC, to network with each other, as well as with art therapists in the other regions of SCATA. I would like to encourage more SCATA members to meet and have more involvement opportunities.”

Teresa Grame LCSW, ATR-BC, RPT-S

SDliaison@socalarttherapy.org

santabarbara@socalarttherapy.org

Santa Barbara Regional Liaison

Stacey Thompson (she/her/hers) is a licensed marriage and family therapist and registered art therapist.  She works on a holistic treatment team at the Family Counseling and Trauma Healing Center in Solvang, serving adults recovering from addiction and trauma. Since 2020, Stacey has volunteered as the Regional Representative for Santa Barbara County. 

“I believe in building a strong community of art therapists, and I am happy to do what I can to support our volunteer board.” 

Madoka Urhausen, LMFT, ATR-BC

ethics@socalarttherapy.org 

Ethics Committee Chair

Madoka Urhausen (she/her/hers) works as a field instructor and art therapy supervisor in Loyola Marymount University’s graduate department of marital and family therapy with clinical art therapy. Additionally, Madoka is a program manager at the Guidance Center’s school-based program and runs a private practice offering intermodal expressive therapies. At SoCalATA, she was the Co-Chair of the Multicultural Committee, the Chapter Delegate, and is currently the Ethics Committee Chair.

Madoka volunteers at SoCalATA because she wants to help build a strong community of art therapists and make art therapy a viable choice of modality for consumers. 

“The leadership and learning opportunity I gained by serving in SoCalATA has been useful for my professional development. Inspirations and a sense of comradery with fellow art therapists are immensely satisfying. I hope to see more people get involved.”

Jackie Carson, LMFT, ATR

membership@socalarttherapy.org

Membership Committee Chair

Jackie Carlson received her Masters in Marital and Family Therapy with a specialization in Clinical Art Therapy from Loyola Marymount University and recently completed a certificate program in Integrative Nutrition Health Coaching. She expresses, "I'm very interested in addressing mental health through a holistic lens, which is what led me to study integrative nutrition health coaching."

Jackie currently works as an art therapist for Children's Hospital Orange County and has her own business that provides online coaching services. She has also worked at The Guidance Center, a community mental health clinic in Long Beach, providing school-based counseling services.

At SoCal ATA, Jackie is the Membership Committee Chair and has previously served as the Membership Committee Co-chair. Jackie volunteers at SoCal ATA to stay connected and build a community with local art therapists.