Work

SIMONE B. ALTER-MURI, Ed.D. ATR-BC, ATCS, L.M.H.C.

Summary of Qualifications

Over thirty years of extensive and wide-ranging experience in post graduate, graduate, undergraduate and elementary/early childhood teaching, organizational administration and consulting, supervision, program development, counseling, art therapy, art education and psychotherapy.

Education

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA — Ed.D., Creativity and Child Development
1990
Psychosynthesis Training, Synthesis Center, Amherst, MA
1981–82
Lesley University, Cambridge, MA — M.Ed., Art Therapy/Counseling
1979
University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA — B.A., Psychology and Art
1976

Certification

  • Art Therapy Certified Supervisor, Art Therapy Credentials Board — 2011
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor for Independent Clinical Practice (with individuals diagnosed with psychosis), Commonwealth of Massachusetts — 2001
  • Board Certified Art Therapist, Art Therapy Credentials Board — 1997
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts — 1992
  • Registered Art Therapist, Art Therapy Credential — 1981
  • Paneled Therapist; Blue Cross Blue Shield — 2022–present

Teaching Experience

Developed and taught graduate and undergraduate courses in Art Therapy, Art, Art History, Art Education, Counseling, Psychology, Human Development, Sociology, Human Services, Special Education, Child Development, and Early Childhood Education.

Springfield College — Full Professor; Director, Graduate Art Therapy/Counseling Program; Director, Undergraduate Art Therapy and Art Education Program (selected administrative roles listed)
1986–present
Adjunct Professor and other adjunct positions (Our Lady of the Elms College, Lesley University, University of Massachusetts/Amherst, etc.) — listings available on request
1986–2014 (various)

Supervision

University supervisor of art therapy, counseling and art education student teachers and internship students at Plymouth University, Springfield College, University of Massachusetts, Vermont College in elementary education, moderate special needs, Art Therapy/Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Early Childhood Special Needs, secondary and elementary art education, private ATR and LMHC supervision.

Workshops

Taught workshops, lectures and symposiums both nationally and internationally on art therapy, art education, psychology, resilience, trauma, post historical and generational trauma, art of genocides, tattoos and healing, microaggressions, creativity and visual art.

  • The Arts and Psychotherapy Center, Athens, Greece
  • American Art Therapy Association
  • Expressive Therapies Summit, New York City & Los Angeles
  • Jung Association of Western Massachusetts, Northampton, MA
  • Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Alanus University, Bonn, Germany
  • Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
  • L’atelier, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Touro College, Brooklyn, NY
  • Elizabeth Stone Program, Torino, Italy
  • Hochshule der Kunst, Berlin, Germany
  • University of New Hampshire, Keene, NH
  • West Springfield Schools, Professional Development
  • Springfield Public Schools, Professional Development
  • Preschool Enrichment Team, Holyoke, MA
  • Nordic Seminar in Art Therapy, Denmark
  • Hatikvah Holocaust Center, Springfield, MA

Museums

  • Guild Studio Art Center
  • Worcester Art Museum
  • Art Institute of Boston
  • Framingham Art Museum
  • Danforth Museum of Art
  • DeCordova Art Museum
  • Fitchburg Art Museum

Community Settings (selected)

  • Northampton Senior Center, Northampton, MA
  • Northampton Public Schools, Project Challenge Program
  • Talented and Gifted Program, Greenfield Community College
  • Arts Extension Service, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
  • Jewish Community Center, Springfield, MA
  • Brookline Public Schools
  • Cambridge Arts Council
  • Somerville Community Schools

Awards and Recognition

  • Fogle Grant on Holocaust Studies — 2023
  • Outstanding Applied Creative Therapy Practice Award, American Art Therapy Association — 2021
  • The Denis Diderot [A-i-R] Grant, Orquevaux, France — 2020
  • Faculty Research Grant — 2017
  • Deans Research Grant — 2016
  • Artist in Residence, Vermont Studio School — 2005
  • … (more awards listed in original PDF)

Additional Professional Duties

Lesley University — Undergraduate Art Therapy Program Reviewer (2016); Thesis Advisor (1999); Smith College Art Museum — Community Board Member (2011–2013); Department of Secondary and Elementary Education, Commonwealth of Massachusetts — MTEL Visual Arts Content Reviewer and Advisory Council (2008–2010) and other institutional roles. See full PDF for extended listings.

Art Therapy Practice

Private practice and supervision — 1983–present. Selected sites and organizations include Mentor Inc., Horizons School, Valley Programs, Springfield Adolescent Day Treatment Center, Northampton Center for Children and Families, Family Counseling Center, and many others (full list in PDF).

Consulting Experience (Selected)

  • Community Support Institute
  • United Cerebral Palsy
  • Temple Israel, Greenfield
  • Springfield Art Museum
  • Guild Studio Art Center
  • Institute of Contemporary Art
  • Springfield Public Schools
  • Hospice of Greater Springfield
  • Tufts University
  • Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

Presentations

Lewis & Clark University, Portland, Oregon
2022
Expressive Therapies Summit, Virginia
2024
Expressive Therapies Summit, Los Angeles, CA
2021 / 2023
American Art Therapy Association (national)
1992–present (selected years)

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