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About Patricia Welch
As a staff member of the Art Therapy program, I provide mentorship to Art Therapy students, work with various internship sites, and work to connect various communities with the Art Therapy program.
I believe that Art therapy and Expressive therapies provide the space for the invisible to become visible promoting healing and thriving in life.Throughout over 30 years of work my focus has been to utilize therapeutic culturally relevant expressive therapy, promoting the healing of the traumatic outcomes related to historical and intergenerational trauma within the indigenous Native community. I am also a practicing artist working in sculpture, making Japanese paper and theater.
Tell us about your background.
I am a registered art therapist and licensed marriage and family therapist. I have worked for more than 30 years in the Indigenous urban community, specifically with at-risk adolescents. My focus has always been addressing and healing the traumatic outcomes related to historical and intergenerational trauma within the Indigenous Native community. I am also a practicing artist working in sculpture, making Japanese paper, and theater.
What is your position within the Art Therapy department?
I provide mentorship to art therapy students. I work with internship sites and connect various communities with the Art Therapy program.
What unique perspective do you bring to working with adult students?
I started my own academic career at 51 years old, beginning at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and graduating in 2014. From there, I immediately began the Art Therapy program at Adler Graduate School, graduating in 2017.
How would you describe the AGS culture?
I have found everyone that I have met supportive and welcoming. I feel grateful to be part of a program that has the Adlerian concept of community and encouragement embedded in it.
Tell us some surprising facts about you.
I grew up wanting to be a pirate (a good one of course), which my mother was resigned to accepting. I am also a complete football geek — both my dog and I wear football jerseys during games. Yes, I’m one of those people.