OVERVIEW
Having been raised by a mother who is a skilled artist and a father who is a critical thinker, it is not a surprise that Dr. Fotopoulos found herself pursuing a career in the arts and psychology. She was raised to understand the value of a challenge while respecting herself and others within her community.
Having graduated from Adler University, Dr. Fotopoulos feels strongly about advocating for others through community engagement and social interest. As an instructor, clinical counselor, and registered art therapist, it is at her core to empower others to critically explore concepts within their daily lives and clinical practice, and take action against oppressive constructs. Intellectual freedom, mutual respect, and collaboration are approaches she strives to achieve in each of her classrooms, as she believes there is great importance to her students taking ownership of the material that is being taught.
She is a hands-on experiential learner by nature. She makes every effort to incorporate this dynamic into my instruction with reflexivity to support the whole self of her students. She believes in exploring complex concepts using both literature discussion and shared experience to encourage relevance in learning that is tangible and applicable. A goal of hers is to help facilitate continuity between class material and practical application so that each student will gain a sense of self-efficacy and be ready to apply their knowledge to their professional work.
Dr. Fotopoulos is a professional who uses both counseling and art therapy techniques, and she is a proponent of art therapists being skilled professionals in both. Through her instruction, her students will gain knowledge in the areas of counseling and art therapy so that they feel ready to fully serve their clients in a clinical setting, in which they could be diagnosing, completing clinical documentation, and processing art, as well as feel competent to facilitate art within an open studio setting.
MEMBERSHIPS + ASSOCIATIONS
- American Counseling Association (ACA).
- American Art Therapy Association (AATA).
- Illinois Art Therapy Association (IATA).
- Creative Therapy in Counseling.
Presentations
Kintsukuroi Bowl Meaning: Discovering Meaning in Life’s Imperfections, Art in Response to Violence, 2018.
Kintsukuroi Bowl Meaning: Discovering Meaning in Life’s Imperfections, Illinois Art Therapy Association Annual Conference, 2019.
Dissertation Research Presentation: The Effect of Art-Based Supervision on Reflexivity and Subsequent Development of Non-Art-Based Counselors, Illinois Art Therapy Association Annual Conference, 2019.
Kintsukuroi Bowl Meaning: Discovering Meaning in Life’s Imperfections, American Art Therapy Annual Conference, 2019.
LEADERSHIP + ENGAGEMENT
- Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB), Board of Directors.
- ATCB, exam writer.
- Adler University’s IRB 2017-2023, committee member.
