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ART THERAPISTS MAKING THINGS HAPPEN!

Toni Morley

Don’s Story:

Don had been a pilot for Pan American Airline and Flying Tigers Airline. He consistently painted tigers over the three-year period that I worked with him. I felt that it was a self symbol. As his disease progressed, the tigers became more elemental and sparse in detail, (see illustrations). Don also became less aware, and mirrored the tigers as they slowly disappeared.

Toni Morley, MFT, ATR-BC

I heard about the field of art therapy in 1985 when a friend suggested that it sounded like a good fit for me. I am an artist and my BA from Stanford was heavy on psychology. I went up to one of Doris Arrington’s educational evenings at Notre Dame de Namur University and was very interested. I started the next semester.

After graduation in 1987, my first job as an art therapist was in the psychiatric unit at El Camino Hospital. I was part of that team for 7 years and was able to train and supervise interns from various schools. I moved on to a private practice in Los Altos for some years, treating children and individuals using art therapy and other modes of treatment.

I was then offered a job at the Alzheimer’s Association as Support Group Coordinator for the South Bay. I loved being able to help caregivers and regularly visited the groups up and down the peninsula. I also ran groups for early stage individuals and really enjoyed working with the patients as well as the caregivers.

In 2001 I heard about Memories in the Making, which was an art group specifically for Alzheimer’s patients. My organization sent me to be trained and we began the program with 3 sites. In the next 7 years we expanded to 26 sites. Each year we had an artist’s reception for the participating members and a gala fundraising event where we sold the work. Included is a biography of one of the artists and 3 pictures of a tiger that faded as the individual progressed with the disease. I won the KRON Jefferson award for starting and maintaining this program.

I am currently involved with 2 other art therapists who are of different generations in a weekly accountability art project. I am also currently working at IPM doctors clinic as a psychotherapist treating chronic pain patients. I have been there 10 years this month and really enjoy the population.

Having regularly attended AATA and NorCATA conferences over the years, I am impressed by the quality of the newer generations of art therapists and their ways of exploring and enhancing the practices within art therapy.

This has been an amazing journey of discovery and growth. I feel fortunate for the good friends I have made in the art therapy community.

Fun in Covid times is quite different than what I normally would be doing. I do try to walk in a lovely preserve near where I live and try to stay connected with friends and family.

Biography:

ANTOINETTE T. MORLEY MFT, ATR-BC

851 Fremont Ave., Suite 214

Los Altos, CA, 94024

408-564-4258

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

Registered Art Therapist, Board Certified #063323
Marriage, Family Therapist, MFT #30061
Certified Hypnotherapist, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA
Certified EMDR Practitioner
Certified Mindfulness, Stress Reduction Facilitator, El Camino Hospital
Master’s Degree Art Therapy and Counseling Psychology CND, 1987
B.A. Degree, Stanford University 1960

EMPLOYMENT

El Camino Hospital, Mt. View, CA 1988-1995
Art therapist for the Older Adult Transitions Program
Art Therapist for Department of Psychiatry
Facilitator for Alzheimer’s Support Group, Seizure Group, Stress Management Group
Clinical member of Human Support Department
Stanford Older Adult Program, Stanford, CA 1990-1993
Sequoia Hospital, San Carlos, CA 1990-1993
Art therapist in the Mental Health Department
Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Nevada 1998-2006
Coordinator of the Support Groups for the California bay area
Facilitator of Early Stage Alzheimer’s Groups
Founder of the Grief and Bereavement Groups
Director of the California Memories in the Making Groups. These groups now number over thirty. They help access memories and help with depression and ability to focus
Bay Area Pain and Wellness Center. Los Gatos, CA 2011-2013
Psychology pain counselor

SUPERVISION OF INTERNS AND THERAPIST

1994 to present

PUBLICATIONS

Research paper “Emotion in Dementia Patients: Effects of a Fine Arts Group on Well-being."
Chapter in “Trauma and Art Therapy” Doris Arrington, Memories in the Making, How Memories are Accessed Through Art.

TEACHING

Member of adjunct faculty at JFK University, Campbell Campus
Summer faculty at CND, Belmont Campus

PRIVATE PRACTICE

Specializing in work with dementia clients, children, and adults 1994 to present

AFFILIATIONS

California Association of Marriage, Family, Child Therapists
Northern California Art Therapy Association
American Art Therapy Association

AWARDS

The Jefferson Award for implementing the Memories in the Making Program in Northern California. This award was first started in 1961 by Jackie Kennedy for individuals who had given special help to their communities.
Honorary Life Member, Northern California Art Therapy Association

REFERENCES

William Fisher CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada. Phone 650-962-8111

Dr. Elizaberh Edgerly PhD., Program Director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada. Phone 650-962-8111

Kathleen Taylor RN, MFT, OATS Program, El Camino. Phone 650-949-1449

Doris Arrington, Director of the Art Therapy and Counseling Psychology Program at NDNU, Belmont CA. Phone 650-343-4994

NorCATA's feature: "Art Therapists Making Things Happen", was envisioned by Robin Valicenti, and is currently curated by Abby Zimberg.

Please contact Abby if you know of a Northern Californian Art Therapist whose art and projects deserve mention in this space.

NorCATA
PO Box 460687
San Francisco, CA 94146-0661 USA

Contact:

+1 (650) 489-2258

call or text
or email us at

info@norcata.org

NorCATA is approved by the Internal Revenue Services as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that promotes the therapeutic use of art throughout Northern California, public awareness of art therapy, professional development through educational events, workshops, conferences, and more. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by law.

NorCATA does not and shall not discriminate, or allow discrimination against any person because of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or creed, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, military status, physical disability, medical condition, or special needs, in any of its activities or operations. Following the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), NorCATA is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone.