Board Certified Art Therapist | Educator

EDUCATION
The George Washington University, Washington DC — Master of Arts in Art Therapy, January 2011
Spelman College, Atlanta, GA — Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, May 2008
 
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Registered and Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC #14-188)
Power Pilates Mat Level 1 Certification
 
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education, 2021-present – Practitioner member
American Art Therapy Association, 2008-Present — Credentialed member
American Art Therapy Association, 2020-Present — Multicultural Committee member
Florida Art Therapy Association Board, 2020-Present — Multicultural and Social Justice Committee Chair
Florida Art Therapy Association Board, 2015-2020 — Website & Publications Chair
Florida Art Therapy Association Board, 2013-2015 — Governmental Affairs Chair
Georgia Art Therapy Association Board, 2011-2012 — Web Communication Chair, Programming Co-chair
 
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA- Adjunct professor
August 2021 - present
  • Immerse students in the history and theories of art therapy through art lecture and art experiential
  • Activate cultural humility within the future generation of art therapy practitioners
  • Lead weekly virtual seminars, and assess and evaluate students’ academic performance
  • Develop and deliver engaging and culturally-sensitive curriculum to art therapy graduate students
 
URGENT, Inc, Miami, FL- Certified Teacher
September 2018 - 2019
  • Assess students oral reading fluency and reading comprehension
  • Perform data entry and analysis of assessment results
  • Lead 1-1 and small group interventions for targeted readers and provide technical assistance and coaching for reading sessions and homework
  • Develop differentiated instruction plan for each group of readers
 
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami, FL- Certified Art Teacher
August 2014-June 2018
  • Instructed elementary students in the visual arts using innovative art instruction
  • Encouraged self-expression and creativity using the elements of art and the principles of design
  • Initiated exploration in art to increase student autonomy, problem-solving skills, and fine motor skills
 
Spelman College, Atlanta, GA- Reader/Editor
August 2011- November 2012
  • Assist psychology professors to read and grade 1st and 2ndyear students’ papers
  • Provide student feedback: grammar, mechanics, and APA style writing
  • Cultivate students’ academic growth by encouraging and upholding high standards of scholarly writing
 
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
 
Artspiration/ALLUMA, Miami, FL- Founder & Board Certified Art Therapist
October 2016-Present  
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami, FL- Clinical Art Therapist
November 2012- June 2014
  • Delivered therapeutic interventions for students in the Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities Program
  • Facilitated individual and group sessions to assist students in meeting goals outlined in their Individual Educational Plan
  • Promoted developmental, emotional, and educational growth by focusing on students’ strengths within a positive, creative and enriching environment
 
Family Intervention Specialists, Inc., Hiram, GA- Assessor/Art Therapist
September 2011-July 2012
  • Conducted psychological assessments with children, adolescents, and adults to determine the level of care needed
  • Provided therapeutic services for disenfranchised children and families
  • Incorporated art activities and person-centered therapy to enhance the well-being of children, adolescents, adults, and families
 
Summit Ridge Hospital, Lawrenceville, GA- Art Therapist
  • October 2011-July 2012
  • Led art therapy groups for adolescents, adults, and senior citizens with mental illness and co-occurring disorders
  •  Implemented art directives to improve patients’ self-awareness, insight, and development of positive   coping skills
  • Supported patients’ using empathy, encouragement, and exceptional patient care
 
The Banyan, Chennai, India- Art Therapy Intern
July 2009
  • Co-led art therapy groups for homeless women with mental illness
  • Provided art therapy education for the facility’s staff
  • Established the foundations for an art therapy program at the site
 
The Ivymount School, Rockville, MD- Art Therapy Intern
October 2008- June 2009
  • Pioneered the creation of an art therapy internship/art therapy treatment program
  • Facilitated individual and group art therapy sessions for students ages 4-18 with various disabilities and autism
  • Co-led art classes using a therapeutic approach
 
OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
 
All Kids Included - Youth Arts in the Park, Miami, FL- Site Manager
September 2013-July 2016
  • Managed daily functions and staff to maintain program’s effectiveness and to ensure program goals are met 
  • Supervised daily activities to ensure safety for all participants, their families, and staff
  • Maintained organized program records (i.e., participant attendance, staff timesheets)
 
PROJECTS & EVENTS
Blooming Names Public Art Installation, 2020 – Art Therapist & Collaborator
North Beach Elementary Arts and Culture Day, 2014-2019 — Event Organizer & Graphic Designer
RAW POP-UP Art Basel, 2017 — Brand activation & collaboration with The Vision Book
AKI Art for Wellness Day, 2016 & 2017 — Community art-making sessions for children and families
MDCPS Annual ARTWORKS Exhibition, 2014 — Curator and Event Organizer
 
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS & TRAININGS
Blooming Names. Professional development presentation for the American Art Therapy Association’s Annual Conference. October 23, 2021, Online.

Therapeutic Art Online. Lecture/Workshop presented for Intercultural Academy: Center for Educational Partnership. June 26, 2021 & March 19, 2021, Online.
 
Changing the Narrative Series. Workshop presented for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Detroit. Sept/Oct 2020, Online.
 
Using Therapeutic Arts in Counseling. Training for Beach Stone Counseling. April 23, 2019, Pompano Beach, Florida
 
Recreational Art-making for Individuals with Mental Illness. Lecture presented at KROME Behavioral Health for US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Behavioral Health. September 12, 2018, Miami, FL.
 
 Improving Emotional Health and Wellness through Creative Expression. Webinar presented for Art
Therapy Consulting and Services, Creative Arts Therapy in Action Online Symposium. October 14, 2017, Online.
 
Establishing Inspirational Self-care Practices. Webinar presented for Art Therapy Consulting and Services,
Expressing Wellness Online Symposium. October 2016, Online.
 
 
PRESS
"What is Art Therapy?" on CWC Talks: The College Mental Health Podcast - UF Counseling and Wellness Center, June 17, 2021
Listen Here
​
Career Conversations: The Profession of Art Therapy with Dr. Cheryl Doby-Copeland and Deanna Barton. Talk
for The Atlanta University Center Art History and Curatorial Studies Collective, March 11, 2021
View Here
 
Anti-racism and Allyship in Art Therapy Practice. Talk for Florida Art Therapy IG Live Series, June 18, 2020
View Here
 
The Creative Psychotherapist Podcast, Episode 12 on March 25, 2020
Listen Here
 
Teachers Leaving Classroom Based Partly on Low Pay: Art Teacher to Art Therapist. Interview for Miami NBC 6, August 21, 2018
View Here
 
Miami’s Most Inspiring Stories: An Interview with Deanna Barton of Artspiration, LLC. Interview for VoyageMIA, November 16, 2017
Read Here
 
Palm Beach Music Therapy (PBMT) Connections: Interview with Deanna Barton. Interview for PBMT Institute, September 21, 2016
View Here
 
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
North Beach Elementary Rookie Teacher of the Year, 2015
George Washington University Art Therapy Program Fellowship Recipient, 2008-2009 & 2009-2010
Outstanding Leadership Award from Hands on Atlanta, 2007