Join host Andrea Schneider with her guest, Berenice Badillo, discussing community art therapy.

How is art transformative in the communities in which you work?
Why is a disiplinary approach to art therapy necessary?
How can you utilize art in trauma informed practice?
How do we assist in supporting art therapists to contribute to a social justice agenda?
How can art be used in political discussions regarding subjects such as immigration?

Berenice Badillo, MA, LMFT, ATR-BC. PhD Candidate is a bilingual dynamic and creative therapist and artist with over sixteen years of experience in working with at risk youth. She has created art therapy programming and has experience in grant writing and community organizing. She is a pioneer and hopes to continue her path in creating new programming with youth and disenfranchised communities.

Specialties: Art Therapy, Complex Trauma, EMDR (eye movement desentsitization reprocessing) 1 and EMDR 2, (TFT) Thought field therapy, Bereavement,Specialty mental health, Adolescents and Individuals, Dual Diagnosis, Anxiety and Anger Management.

Bio: Art saved my life, it was the only thing that redirected my rage, changed my life trajectory and gave me a voice. Art was my escape, the one thing that I excelled in and the only place where I could express myself freely. Art calmed me amid the chaos and would propel me into a path that seemed insurmountable to achieve. I grew up straddling two worlds as a first generation immigrant, balancing the intertwined cultural and subcultural identities that were my daily reality. At an early age I found myself in negotiation of identity, power and self-worth. Identifying as a Chicana/Xican@ helped me reclaim my identity and gave me a purpose. Art became my platform; a vehicle of change where we could disseminate the stories and struggles of the community on a grand scale. Intuitively, I utilized art as a tool for diffusion and de-escalation, to unite and to empower. I refined the skill of organizing and taught people that they too had something to contribute to their community through art. It is through these experiences that I began to see art and its potential to transform society. I utilize the experience of being a community artist, board certified art therapist and activist in my current work serving low-income adults with severe and co-occurring mental health issues. I provide an alternative forum to safely express and process trauma.

I collaborate with my clients to develop client led art shows, three-dimensional sculptures and installations immediately changing their environment to reflect their stories, struggles and successes. This core group of clients in turn, teaches other participants in the community to participate in the art process.
Art can provide a collective platform to explore inequalities, create dialogue and validate other cultural perspectives not belonging to the dominant society. In this current climate of colorblindness or passive racism, art has the ability to create ripples of change by bringing awareness to social issues; challenging the status quo, creating cultural development and reinforcing a positive identity for marginalized people of color and their communities.

As an over-educated Chicana, I realize that my own life has changed drastically as education has allowed me to enjoy a different socioeconomic status, provide resources and distinct opportunities. In acknowledging my privilege, I am cognizant that holding true to my roots assists in the telling of my own story in my own voice and provides a platform for the shared voices of my community. This amplification of the stories and struggles of others enriches and breaks through the confining walls of the ivory tower of academia. I take refuge in knowing that although I no longer take off my earrings and fight you in the street, I can still throw down using the pen as my sword and my paintbrush as my beacon.