Who we are.

Juliet L. King PhD, ATR-BC, LPC, LMHC is a Professor of Art Therapy at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Neurology at Indiana University School of Medicine, and is on the faculty at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She is author and co-editor of Art Therapy and the Neuroscience of Trauma (2nd edition, 2024). Dr. King is the creator of the BrainPalette™ Toolkit, an evidence-based resource designed to support clinicians, educators, and researchers in applying neuro-informed arts-based therapeutic interventions.

I translate neuroscience into evidence-based theory, education, research, and clinical practice in the creative arts therapies.

I specialize in turning neuroscience evidence and principles into therapeutic arts-based practices.
Together we advance the profession by building the scientific evidence for art therapy theory, pedagogy, research, and clinical care through collaboration and camaraderie!

A woman in black overalls is standing on a step ladder in a room decorated with numerous sheets of paper covered in handwritten notes, diagrams, and sketches, creating a cluttered and creative environment.

Mary Ellen Ruff, PhD, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS, BC-TMH

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
Mary Ellen is a Board-Certified Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Approved Clinical Supervisor, who brings 30 years of experience with adolescents, adults, and families in a variety of clinical, educational, and forensic settings. In addition to her private practice, Mary Ellen is also an adjunct professor in the Art Therapy Department at the George Washington University.
Erin Rafferty-Bugher ATR-BC, LPCC

SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
Erin is a board-certified art therapist and licensed professional clinical counselor. Erin received her MA Degree in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has been actively engaged in the mental health field, using art therapy and creativity in healing, since 1998. Erin's experience includes trauma-focused art therapy with a wide variety of populations including children and adolescents in long-term educational/ therapeutic hospital settings and clinical art therapy services for adult and geriatric mental health inpatient psychiatric patients. In addition to her clinical work, Erin has been engaged in providing supervision as a board-approved supervisor since 2014 and has been active in art therapy education and training for over 16 years holding various faculty positions, including adjunct, full-time faculty and associate faculty. Erin is currently adjunct faculty for Drexel University's Creative Art Therapy Department.
Ellen Smithey ATR-BC, LPC

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Ellen, MA, is an Austin, TX-based art therapist and counselor with a graduate degree from George Washington University. She owns a private practice where she sees clients all over the world utilizing intersectional, feminist based and neuroscience approaches to trauma therapy. She integrates her background in museum exhibition and tech design to create optimized, visually engaging therapeutic virtual spaces. To learn more about Ellen’s practice, Click here.
Jennifer Burkett, ATR-P

CONTENT DEVELOPER
Jennifer Burkett is a Resident in Counseling (VA) and ATR-P with experience working with children and adults across school, community arts, partial hospitalization, and community clinic settings. She earned her Master’s degree in Art Therapy from The George Washington University in 2025. Jennifer embraces a client-centered approach rooted in connection and is committed to providing culturally humble therapy. She is passionate about the expressive therapies continuum and incorporating neuroscience into her sessions. To learn more about Jennifer and her practice, Click Here.
Sarah Barakat

PROJECT MANAGER
Sarah is currently an art therapist and is passionate about advancing the field of art therapy. She is especially committed to broadening the reach of art therapy by making creative expression more accessible as a form of healing and self-discovery. She believes neuroscience is an important development in art therapy research, offering new insights into how creative processes can support health and wellbeing for everyone.
Georgia Baltimore, MA

ADMIN/RESEARCH SUPPORT
Georgia graduated with her MA in Forensic Psychology from George Washington University in 2023. Currently, she teaches psychology courses at Southeastern Community College and works in an admin/research support role for Dr. Juliet King.