Ryan Golden Kirkpatrick

I am an assistant professor of art therapy, an interdisciplinary artist, researcher, and mental health professional. In my art therapy and counseling practice, I have supported Veterans and adults with serious mental illness (SMI). I practice an approach that emphasizes self-reflexivity, cultural responsiveness, and trauma-informed engagement. I am a person-centered professional, regarding people as the expert of their lives. My therapy and arts practice seeks collaborative relationships that are in service of growth, trust and safety. In my art therapy practice, I integrate art-based nomenclature within art-therapeutic discourse to support and encourage clients through an ongoing entrustment with valuable and empowering up-to-date art methodologies and concepts. As notions of the artist-citizen spread throughout contemporary art discourse, I believe that the therapeutic registers of meaning within art and the art-making experience will bring the artist-citizen into engagement with new parts of themselves, their mental health, and community wellness.

Education

2020-2023. MA Art Therapy and Clinical Counseling, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

2018-2020. MFA Painting, San Francisco Art Institute, SF, CA

Spring 1997. Art History Directed Study, University of Alicante, Spain

1995-1999. BA Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

Professional Employment / Fieldwork Experience

Assistant Professor of Art Therapy, School of Art, Arizona State University / Tempe, AZ

  • Building a comprehensive, inclusive, and generative undergraduate art therapy progrm

  • Researching the convergence of art therapy, contemporary art, social linguistics, art education and critical response process

  • Researching and exploring the therapeutic possibilities of sound art therapy

  • Teaching Expanded Arts and Art Therapy undergraduate courses (Spring ‘25)

Art Therapist & Clinical Counselor, Thresholds 2022-Current / Chicago, IL

  • Provided mental healthcare for adults with Serious Mental Illness in 1:1 and group formats

  • Designed, built and facilitated community art therapy groups

  • Co-facilitated art therapy open studio access

  • Provided community mental health outreach and support

  • Documented, charted, and outreached SMI populations for services

Art Therapist, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center 2021-2022 / Chicago, IL

  • Provided mental healthcare for Veterans in residential and outpatient care

  • Facilitated and co-facilitated art therapy group (directive-based intervention)

  • Facilitated strength-based open studio with an emphasis on creating community among Veterans

  • Documented, charted, and outreached Veteran populations for services

  • Co-facilitated interdisciplinary services with other wellness practitioners

Professional Musician 2003-Present / LA, CA

  • Proficient pianist, synthesist, bassist (upright/electric), and vocalist

  • Proficient in digital and analog recording techniques (Logic, Max 8, magnetic tape)

  • 15+ years studio recording experience in world-class studios (Real World, Henson, Sargent Recorders)

  • 15+ years experience writing and touring in America and Europe

  • Improvisationally-adept collaborator

  • Topline writer / producer