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Ara Parker
Associate Professor, Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy
Luther brings together many of my interests - clinical, pedagogical, research, arts-based practice and community engagement - in a spiritually informed community of learning that
integrates the arts, psychotherapy and spiritualities. It has been a pleasure (since arriving in 2021) developing undergraduate and graduate coursework and programming in the areas of Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Drama Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Art as Therapy, alongside teaching the Professional Studies & Ethics and Practicum courses and guest lecturing in undergraduate and graduate courses related to arts-based inquiry. I enjoy advising PhD students on their research and supporting colleagues and students involved with both the MA and PhD programs in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy, especially in Arts-based Research. As Department Coordinator, I have a keen interest in nurturing and promoting existing and new initiatives in interdisciplinary programming on campus in the areas of arts-based research and arts and spiritualities programming. I am interested in advising students in their professional goals through practicum to clinical practice. I sit on the Senate for Wilfrid Laurier University as a representative of Martin Luther University College.
Previously, I was a core Expressive Arts Therapy faculty member in Expressive Therapies (Clinical Mental Health Counseling), Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA (2018-2021) and Chair of the Department of Spirituality and Psychotherapy (Master's degree programs in Art Therapy and Clinical Counseling) and Art Therapy teaching faculty at St. Stephen's College affiliated with the University of Alberta (2012-2018).
As Advisor to the Board and Program Director of Creative Arts Therapy for Whitecliffe University (Canada, New Zealand), I have provided direction for the establishment of graduate programs in Creative Arts Therapy (2024-).
As Canadian ambassador for the global humanitarian organization The Red Pencil International since 2018, I have also served on missions to Thailand as an Expressive Arts Therapist, Consultant & Trainer and clinical supervisor.
My Doctor of Ministry (2019) at St. Stephen's College focused on the formative and spiritual aspects of art therapy education and practice, reflecting on arts-based research methods. I earned my Master of Arts (1997) degree from Lesley University, concurrently with clinical studies at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts (York, 1980), as well as a Bachelor of Journalism (Carleton, 1982).
Prior to my work in Expressive Therapies and higher education, I enjoyed a substantial career in arts management and produced and hosted arts-based educational television for TV Ontario, Knowledge Network and CBC.
I maintain a private practice as an arts and health research/education consultant and provide clinical supervision for art therapists, expressive arts therapists and
psychotherapists. I am a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) with the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) and a Registered Art Therapist (RCAT) with the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA).
I enjoy teaching, researching and consulting with various communities, agencies, institutions and individuals to support engagement in the arts for mental health.
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· Interview with Dr. Michael Conforti “The Role of Psyche in your Psychotherapy Practice”, Continuing Education, Martin Luther University College @ Wilfrid Laurier University 2025
· Programmer, “The Voice of Psyche” 4-part lecture series and retreat with Dr. Michael Conforti, Continuing Education, Martin Luther University College @ Wilfrid Laurier University 2025-2026
· “Art Therapy-informed Community Practice: Conference Poster Presentation and exhibition”, Martin Luther University College @ Wilfrid Laurier University 2023
· Lesley University, Virtual exhibition: Can You Make Hair for Me? https://lesley.edu/virtual-exhibit/can-you-make-hair-for-me (2020-2025)
· Editorial Board/ Reviewer for the “Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal”, Routledge, Taylor & Francis (2013 - ).
· Parker, A. (2021). “Can You Make Hair for Me?” and “Art for Life”. Expressive Therapies Research Quarterly, Lesley University, Winter 2020/2021.Parker, A. (2019).
· Spiritually-informed art therapy: An inquiry into formation. St. Stephen’s College. Doctoral dissertation: University of Alberta
· Parker, A. (2018). Art and Artist Statements, Envisage, Vol. 1. CATA on-line magazine
Conference Presenter and Community Scholarship Practice
· Podcast Interview: “Bridges and Boundaries” University of Toronto (July 2025)
· “Synchronicity and Intuition: Exploring Meaningful Coincidence and Inner Knowing” London Arts-Based Research Institute Conference (July 2025)
· Assisi Institute: The International Center for the Study of Archetypal Patterns: Conference media production (June 2025)
· Various Arts & Spiritualities programming initiatives, “Open Door”, Martin Luther University College (2021-)
· “Bridges and Boundaries: Religious Diversities in the Twenty-First Century Classroom” Conference, University of Toronto (January 2025)
· Faculty Supervisor, “Art Hives”, Martin Luther University College @ Wilfrid Laurier University (2023- )
· “Integrating the Expressive Therapies for Higher Educational Professional Renewal”: San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (2024)
· “Community Practice – Mental Health in Waterloo, ON”, Martin Luther University College @ Wilfrid Laurier University (2023)
· “Art for Life: Art Therapy for doctors during times of Covid-19”. Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA) Virtual Conference (2020)
· “ExAT Pedagogy”, International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, Lesley University, Cambridge MA (2018, 2019)
· Integrative Health Institute Scholar, University of Alberta (2014-2018)
· Complementary & Alternative Medicine Fair, Faculty Supervisor/ Presenter, University of Alberta, Edmonton AB (2012-2018)
· ; “Pediatric Rounds”, Art Therapy Presenter and Workshops Organizer, University of Alberta (2014-2018)
· Providence Retreat Centre, Art Therapy for Self-care”, Edmonton, AB (2016-2018)
· Instituto Allende, “Introduction to Art Therapy” workshops/ course, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (2016)
· Edmonton School Board, Professional Development workshops, Teachers K-12, Edmonton, AB (2014-2018)
· “Loss and Remembering through Art”, Workmen’s Compensation Board, Edmonton, AB (2016)
· Retired Teachers of Alberta, “Expressive Arts and the Educator”, Edmonton, AB (2015)
· “Palliative Care and Art Therapy”, Palliative Care Society, Alberta (2012)