Talk

MPS Art Therapy presents a talk with Raquel Chapin Stephenson, PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT, on how art therapy and creative aging can advance health and well-being.

As populations age, the need for creative, evidence-informed approaches to wellbeing grows more urgent. This presentation examines how art therapy and creative aging practices can address key challenges faced by older adults, including social isolation, cognitive shifts, and inequities in care. Drawing on current research and emerging interdisciplinary collaborations, we explore the expanding role of art therapists in shaping responsive, human-centered aging services. Participants will gain practical frameworks, insights from recent studies, and strategies for integrating creative aging principles into diverse settings. The session invites attendees to imagine more connected, dignified, and creative futures for aging populations. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify key challenges and unmet needs facing aging populations and explain how art therapy and creative aging practices can address these issues.

2. Evaluate emerging research and evidence supporting the role of art therapy in promoting cognitive, emotional, and social well-being among older adults.

3. Apply innovative approaches and frameworks to integrate creative aging principles into clinical practice, program development, and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Raquel Chapin Stephenson, PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT Raquel’s work centers on the intersection of arts and aging, guided by a deep commitment to improving the lives of older adults through creative engagement. She is a professor at Lesley University and coordinator of the Graduate Art Therapy program. Raquel is also the founder of Creative Aging Solutions, a consultancy that partners with organizations to design innovative programs integrating the arts with health and aging. She co-founded the Creative Approaches to Healthy Aging program in Brookline, Massachusetts, twice funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, and established New York University’s Creative Aging Therapeutic Services. With support from the Estonian Ministry of Social Services and the U.S. Embassy, Raquel co-developed Estonia’s first art therapy program for people with dementia. This initiative grew out of her work as a Fulbright Scholar. Her ongoing engagement in Estonia as a Fulbright Specialist continues to advance creative aging practice and research. Dr. Stephenson is the author of Art Therapy and Creative Aging: Reclaiming Elderhood, Health, and Well-being and is internationally recognized for her scholarship.

The MPS Art Therapy Department at the School of Visual Arts is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0054.

1.5 CE hours available for LCATs.

SVA wants to ensure persons with disabilities have access to this event. If you are a person with a disability who requires accommodations to access or participate in this event, please reach out to the department at arttherapy@sva.edu or to SVA Disability Resources disabilityresources@sva.edu at least seven business days prior to the event.