The mission of the Helen B. Landgarten Art Therapy Clinic is to serve the community by offering clinical art therapy interventions to underserved children and families who have experienced trauma or are facing very serious obstacles in life. Thanks to the generosity of donors to The Campaign for LMU, the clinic has been able to do just that.

“We are not building a building, we are building a community of art therapists” is how Helen B. Landgarten described the clinic named in her honor at its inauguration last year. Landgarten is a pioneer art therapist and founder of the Graduate Department of Marital and Family Therapy at LMU. The clinic also serves the educational needs of the department’s graduate students by providing opportunities to participate in and observe art therapy services.

Paige Asawa Named Clinic Director

Paige Asawa, Ph.D., LMFT, ATR-BC is the clinic director.  Paige's experience as a skilled clinician and an able administrator qualify her for this important role.  She has designed a comprehensive Trauma Response Program with two tracks:  trauma training for alumni and students, and direct services for traumatized individuals, children, families and communities.  Participants in the training will be qualified to apply to the cohort of responders to be deployed by the clinic in the event of community disasters.   Paige received her Master's degree in Marital and Family Therapy from the LMU program where she was the Helen Landgarten Scholar of 1992. 

---

Trauma Training Opportunities for LMU MFT Alumni

Four modules have been designed for LMU MFT alumni and students to learn best practices for trauma treatment.   No cost to LMU MFT alumni and students, but space is limited.  Please contact the department for information, lgloyd@lmu.edu

American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Training
Saturday, January 24, 2009, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Art Therapy Studio, University Hall #2504, on the LMU Campus.
Trainer:  Sandra Stark Shields, MA, ATR, LMFT
Supports participants' learning of the key concepts required of anyone assigned to Disaster Mental Health (DMH).  Prepares licensed mental health professionals to respond across the continuum of disaster preparedness, response and recovery.  Unlicensed alumni are welcome; however, only licensed alumni can become certified with the American Red Cross.

Critical Incident Stress Management Training
Saturday, February 28, 2009, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Art Therapy Studio, University Hall #2504, on the LMU Campus.
Trainer:  Bobbi Stoll, M.A., ATR., LMFT
Prepares participants to understand a wide range of crisis intevention services.  Fundamentals of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) are outlined as well as group crisis interventions, including demobilizations, defusing and the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD).

In the Eye of the Storm Training
Saturday and Sunday, March 21-22, 2009, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Art Therapy Studio, University Hall #2504, LMU.
Trainer:  Diane Myers
Provides participants with knowledge and skills for intervening with mental health needs in the complex aftermath of disaster, risk groups, and the phases of disaster.  Self-care and prevention of secondary traumatization for professionals is emphasized.

Trauma Art Therapy
Saturday, May 16, 2009, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Art Therapy Studio, University Hall #2504, LMU campus.
Trainer:  Paige Asawa, Ph.D., LMFT, ATR-BC
Provides participants with an understanding of art in trauma treatment on the continuum of traumatic events.  Topics include utilizing art therapy in disaster settings in the field, art therapy assessments for trauma, and best-practice models for trauma art therapy. 

---

Art Therapy with Pregnant and Parenting Teens

In the clinic's initial endeavor, Landgarten and other volunteer therapists have become frontline supporters to a group of adolescent single mothers. The teens visit the clinic weekly to learn how to become better communicators, manage their anger and enhance their parenting skills. So far, 20 young women have benefited from the program, which includes transportation to and from a high school in South Los Angeles.

All participants are at a great risk of dropping out of high school. Judy Flesh, volunteer therapist, says the girls are confronting an emotional and challenging growing process, and some give birth while in the program.

“It is rewarding to know how our services have empowered them,” says Flesh, “Being at LMU has made all of the adolescents want to go to college and imagine new possibilities.”

“The program resonates with LMU’s mission, because it is service-oriented and serves the disenfranchised members of the communities we live in,” says Debra Linesch, chair and professor of the Department of Marital and Family Therapy. “It is getting really well-known, and we are acting on opportunities to expand our outreach.”