New York, NY – March 2025, An engaging group of art healing professionals convened to discuss the importance of cultural diversity in healing practices at a recent panel discussion hosted by ALT Alliance. Natasha Green, Ashley Resurreccion, Xingyi Li, and Yu Rong were invited to the panel, bringing unique perspectives on how to integrate cultural awareness into therapeutic art practices.

 

Implementing Cultural Competence in Practice

Natasha Green started by emphasizing that art therapy is inherently inclusive. She recognizes the power of art therapy in fostering connections and self-awareness in nonverbal communication by displaying artworks done by her clients and herself, including a cultural identity doll representing her Black American and Japanese heritage.

Natasha shared a comment from her client: "There's so much stigma regarding seeking mental health services within the black community art therapy, and the ability to communicate nonverbally and creatively express myself seemed like a safe way to begin my healing journey."

 

Navigating Cultural Settings in Art Therapy

Xingyi, a Ph.D. candidate in Art Therapy Research and Practice at Florida State University, delved into the themes of cultural settings by sharing her way of navigating them, especially in China and the US. For example, Li shared her experience that most of her clients in China had minimal experience with art-making and often hesitated to use creative materials. To solve the challenge, she designed play therapy, board games, and easy-to-control art materials like colored pencils and markers, introducing her clients to more complex art techniques and tools.

"We need to be sensitive to cultural differences and norms, keep learning, and incorporate cultural elements in the design of activities and material preparation," said Li.

 

Community Engagement and Accessibility

Yu Rong, a New York-based art educator, uses recycled materials and traditional techniques for her approach. This approach makes the healing experience more inclusive and relatable for the minority community. Her methods include marble art, printmaking, origami, and interactive projects. The experience of working with minority communities helps her to recognize the meditating power and self-validation within art therapy, and it can be budget-friendly.

"Art should be a tool accessible to all," Yu Rong stated. "By using materials familiar to participants, we create culturally relevant and financially viable therapeutic experiences."

 

Art Therapy as a Validation Tool

Ashley Resurreccion, a Filipino-American creative healer with a background in education, mental health, and art, concluded the discussion by highlighting the role of identity and cultural frameworks in therapy. She encourages art therapists to visit their clients' communities, observe their settings, and design targeted approaches.

"How do we put those frameworks into practice as a therapist? I like to acculturate by learning about my participants, interests, values, and traditions and look at what's normal and celebrated in their communities. What that means is I might go out and learn the language. I might go out to their events. I might try to help and volunteer in their community settings to understand where the people I'm working with come from." Ashley said.

 

A Call for Holistic Healing

The panel concluded with a discussion on encouraging fellow therapists to shift from individual-focused models to community-centered healing spaces and incorporating art therapy into public programs for connection to identity, culture, and well-being.

​

Yue Feng, Program Lead at ALT Alliance, closed the session by emphasizing the power of art in community healing. "Art can bridge gaps between communities, and that's what we're here to embrace."