Black Art Therapists Speak Out

Welcome!

You are invited to participate in a doctoral research study that explores the experiences, visions, and hopes that Black Art Therapists* and Black Art Therapy Practitioners* hold while navigating today’s sociopolitical climate.

This study utilizes a Participatory Action Research approach; your knowledge shapes the direction of this study.

This study is currently recruiting Black Art Therapy Practitioners*.

If you identify as a Black Art Therapy Practitioner*, are practicing (or have practiced) art therapy and are open to sharing your professional experiences - we want to hear from you!

How This Study Works

This study creates space for Black Art Therapists* to share experiences and insights through multiple forms of engagement.

This study gathers insight in four ways:

through an online survey, interviews, art making, and a final validation poll.

The study starts with a survey. After taking the survey, you can decide if you’d like to volunteer for additional parts of the study.

You may choose one, more than one, all, or none of the additional options. All participation is voluntary and deeply appreciated.

*For the purposes of this study, Black Art Therapy Practitioners refers to Black Art Therapists, Black Art-As-Therapy Practitioners, Black Art Therapeutic Practitioners, and Black Mental Health/Healing Practitioners who responsibly and deliberately use visual, narrative, symbolic, or material forms of art as part of a guided therapeutic process to support reflection, emotional processing, meaning-making, healing, and therapeutic change with clients and/or communities. In this study, these terms may be used interchangeably unless otherwise specified.

Want to engage further?

The survey is the first step. After completing the survey, decide if you’d like to volunteer to participate in any of the other engagement options.

Start Here!

Survey

All participants begin here. By taking the survey, you help identify key topics and shape the direction of the study.

Approximately 30 minutes online

Start Here
Take the Survey

Optional ways to participate further

Choose any additional ways you want to participate

After completing the survey, you may choose one, two, all, or none of these additional options.

Open

Interview (Zoom)

Share your thoughts and experiences in greater depth with a casual conversation with the researcher.

60–90 minutes on Zoom

Let’s Chat!
Schedule Interview

Open

Art Activity (Zoom)

Participate in a guided art-based activity to express your insights.

60–90 minutes on Zoom

Let’s Make Art!
Schedule Art Activity

Coming Soon — September 2026

Final Validation Poll

After findings are gathered, participants will have an opportunity to respond to and prioritize initial findings.

15-minute poll in September

Notify Me

Questions?

Joelle Crepsac Researcher Dominican University of California Study@BlackArtTherapistsSpeakOut.com

Amy Backos, PhD, ATR-BC Committee Chair Dominican University of California amybackos@dominican.edu

Thank you for joining us!

Keep in Touch

Use this form to let us know how you would like to stay connected.

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