Art therapy is where creativity meets mental health, unlocking new ways for individuals to express emotions and find healing. Jiani, with her educational background in Fine Arts and Psychology, has developed a deep connection between her personal creative journey and her professional dedication to art therapy.
Jiani’s passion for art began during her early life. “I’ve always found the process of creating art to be incredibly relaxing and therapeutic,” she shares. This realization led her to pursue art therapy, a decision rooted in her desire to blend her artistic background with therapeutic practices. It was through her own creative experiences that she recognized the healing power of art—a concept that now drives her work with clients across diverse cultural backgrounds.
Her research goals now focus on observing the effects of art therapy within school and community center settings. Jiani is particularly interested in collaborating with laboratories and institutions specializing in biomedicine, psychology, and public health. This partnership approach aims to integrate art therapy into broader clinical studies and community health research, contributing to the academic exploration of art’s role in mental health interventions.
In addition to her clinical work, Jiani has also partnered with ALT Alliance and the New York Public Library Riverside for a series of art therapy workshops, such as the hand account activity this summer. This collaboration merges her artistic background with her therapeutic approach, allowing participants to engage in creative activities that support emotional well-being.
Looking forward, Jiani is set to collaborate with OliOli next year to develop an art therapist’s craft kit, which will be marketed as part of the growing art therapy market. This craft kit will be designed specifically to meet the needs of both professional art therapists and individuals interested in self-guided creative healing. It will include materials such as clay, yarn, and beadwork, which are commonly used in art therapy sessions for their tactile, calming properties. These materials will be carefully curated to address specific therapeutic goals—such as emotional regulation, sensory engagement, and non-verbal expression—making the kit a versatile tool in therapeutic settings.
In the field of art therapy, such craft kits could be particularly useful in working with clients who struggle with verbal communication, such as those on the autism spectrum or individuals facing trauma. By offering alternative modes of expression, the kit will enable therapists to guide clients in processing complex emotions in a safe, creative environment. Additionally, the kits could be utilized in group therapy sessions, fostering social connections through collaborative art-making while allowing participants to explore their emotional landscapes at their own pace.
Beyond clinical use, the craft kit also holds potential for educational settings, such as schools and community centers, where it can serve as a resource for teachers and facilitators to incorporate therapeutic art activities into everyday learning. By introducing art therapy into these environments, Jiani envisions a future where mental health support becomes more integrated into daily life, particularly for children and adolescents navigating emotional or behavioral challenges.
Throughout her career, Jiani has seamlessly blended academic research with practical projects, using art therapy as a bridge between creative expression and mental health. Her work with children, teens, and adults is grounded in a research-driven approach, aiming to observe and measure the therapeutic effects of art in real-world settings. Jiani’s focus extends beyond clinical practice, as she consistently seeks to explore the science behind art therapy’s impact, collaborating with schools, community centers, and research institutions.
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