ILLINOIS ART THERAPY ASSOCIATION CONTINUING EDUCATION EVENT
Bridging Modalities: How Art Therapy Supports Trauma,
Disability, and Youth Care
DATE and Time: SUNDAY MARCH 1ST, 2026, 11AM-12 pm cst
Instructor names and credentials:
Amber Przybyla, LCPC, ATR-BC
Julie Ludwick, ATR-BC, LCPC
Shan Ru Lin, ATR-BC, ATCS, LCPC
Place/location:
Online Virtual Meeting place: IATA zoom
Link will be sent prior to event
1 CREDIT HOUR of CEs Approved for National Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Ticket Price:
$18 non-member,
$10 IATA member.
TARGET AUDIENCE: LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Illinois Art Therapy Association has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education
Provider, ACEP No. 7429. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Illinois
Art Therapy Association is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Provider, ACEP No. 7429. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Illinois
Art Therapy Association is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Program content description:
This 1-CE continuing education course explores how art therapy can be adapted across
diverse clinical settings and populations—from children and teens in agency
environments to adults with disabilities and trauma survivors engaged in telehealth care.
Led by three experienced art therapists—Amber, Julie, and Shan—participants will gain
a broad understanding of art therapy’s flexibility and effectiveness in addressing
developmental, emotional, and neurological differences.
Through case examples and discussion, attendees will identify at least three ways art
therapy can be applied in both in-person and virtual contexts to support clients of
varying ages, diagnoses, and abilities. Shan will highlight the unique advantages of
telehealth art therapy in treating adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while
Amber and Julie will offer perspectives from youth and disability-focused practice.
Together, they illustrate the creative, inclusive potential of art therapy to meet diverse
client needs in evolving clinical landscapes.
Course Objectives:
AFTER THIS CE COURSE, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO…
1. Participants will be able to name at least three different applications of art therapy in
both in-person and telehealth clinical settings for a diverse range of client populations,
including different age groups, clinical diagnoses, abilities, and neurodivergence.
2. Participants will be able to identify 3 ways to refer to an art therapist.
3. Participants will be able to compare up to three unique benefits of telehealth art
therapy to talk therapy, and its application to the adult population with PTSD.
4. Participants will be able to identify three ways art therapy can reduce treatment
resistance and refusal with children, adolescents and teens.
5. Participants will be able to identify three ways art therapy supports individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Presenter Bio:
Amber Przybyla is a Board-Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Clinical Professional
Counselor. She has experience working with individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety,
depression, ADHD and trauma. Amber specializes in treating children, adolescents and teens
struggling with emotional regulation, issues with behavior, and managing life stressors. Amber
provides ongoing and collaborative support to any client who has a 504 or individualized
education plan (IEP). She also provides consultation for parents whose child is refusing to
attend school. Ms. Przybyla is a relational therapist who integrates art therapy to develop
insight, reduce behavioral issues, teach coping and regulation skills. Amber offers parent
coaching or consultation for 504 plans, individualized educational plans and school refusal.
Julie Ludwick is a board certified art therapist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in
IL. She also holds an art therapy license in Wisconsin. The majority of Julie’s practice has
focused on work with children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities , neurodiversity, and
mood disorders. Currently, in addition to her private practice where she provides individual and
group art therapy services as well as clinical supervision to art therapy graduate students and
professionals, she is an employee at Treehouse Center for Growth and Learning, Long Grove,
IL. She authored a brief report in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association
in 2020 titled, “Professional Considerations for Art Therapists Supporting the Work of People
with Intellectual Disabilities”. She is the current secretary of the Illinois Art Therapy Association
and Chair of the Art Shared Interest of the American Art Therapy Association. She holds a BHA
from Carnegie Mellon University and a MAAT from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Shan Ru Lin is a Certified Sexual Assault Counselor, a board certified art therapist and Licensed
Clinical Professional Counselor, and a certified art therapy supervisor in Chicago, Illinois. She is
an EMDR therapist in private practice working with adult survivors of complex trauma. Shan is
the founder of Spring Advisory, a mental health consultancy providing therapy, supervision, and
continuing education for mental health professionals. She holds an MA in Creative Arts in
Therapy degree from Drexel University and a BFA from the University of the Arts.
This 1-CE continuing education course explores how art therapy can be adapted across
diverse clinical settings and populations—from children and teens in agency
environments to adults with disabilities and trauma survivors engaged in telehealth care.
Led by three experienced art therapists—Amber, Julie, and Shan—participants will gain
a broad understanding of art therapy’s flexibility and effectiveness in addressing
developmental, emotional, and neurological differences.
Through case examples and discussion, attendees will identify at least three ways art
therapy can be applied in both in-person and virtual contexts to support clients of
varying ages, diagnoses, and abilities. Shan will highlight the unique advantages of
telehealth art therapy in treating adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), while
Amber and Julie will offer perspectives from youth and disability-focused practice.
Together, they illustrate the creative, inclusive potential of art therapy to meet diverse
client needs in evolving clinical landscapes.
Course Objectives:
AFTER THIS CE COURSE, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ABLE TO…
1. Participants will be able to name at least three different applications of art therapy in
both in-person and telehealth clinical settings for a diverse range of client populations,
including different age groups, clinical diagnoses, abilities, and neurodivergence.
2. Participants will be able to identify 3 ways to refer to an art therapist.
3. Participants will be able to compare up to three unique benefits of telehealth art
therapy to talk therapy, and its application to the adult population with PTSD.
4. Participants will be able to identify three ways art therapy can reduce treatment
resistance and refusal with children, adolescents and teens.
5. Participants will be able to identify three ways art therapy supports individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Presenter Bio:
Amber Przybyla is a Board-Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Clinical Professional
Counselor. She has experience working with individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety,
depression, ADHD and trauma. Amber specializes in treating children, adolescents and teens
struggling with emotional regulation, issues with behavior, and managing life stressors. Amber
provides ongoing and collaborative support to any client who has a 504 or individualized
education plan (IEP). She also provides consultation for parents whose child is refusing to
attend school. Ms. Przybyla is a relational therapist who integrates art therapy to develop
insight, reduce behavioral issues, teach coping and regulation skills. Amber offers parent
coaching or consultation for 504 plans, individualized educational plans and school refusal.
Julie Ludwick is a board certified art therapist and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in
IL. She also holds an art therapy license in Wisconsin. The majority of Julie’s practice has
focused on work with children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities , neurodiversity, and
mood disorders. Currently, in addition to her private practice where she provides individual and
group art therapy services as well as clinical supervision to art therapy graduate students and
professionals, she is an employee at Treehouse Center for Growth and Learning, Long Grove,
IL. She authored a brief report in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association
in 2020 titled, “Professional Considerations for Art Therapists Supporting the Work of People
with Intellectual Disabilities”. She is the current secretary of the Illinois Art Therapy Association
and Chair of the Art Shared Interest of the American Art Therapy Association. She holds a BHA
from Carnegie Mellon University and a MAAT from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Shan Ru Lin is a Certified Sexual Assault Counselor, a board certified art therapist and Licensed
Clinical Professional Counselor, and a certified art therapy supervisor in Chicago, Illinois. She is
an EMDR therapist in private practice working with adult survivors of complex trauma. Shan is
the founder of Spring Advisory, a mental health consultancy providing therapy, supervision, and
continuing education for mental health professionals. She holds an MA in Creative Arts in
Therapy degree from Drexel University and a BFA from the University of the Arts.
