Michelle L. Dean, MA, ATR-BC, LPC (AL & PA), CGP, PAATA HLM is a Board-Certified Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and Certified Group Psychotherapist with nearly 30 years of clinical and academic experience. She holds a BFA in Illustration with a concentration in Art Therapy from The University of the Arts and a Master's degree in Creative Arts in Therapy - Art Therapy from Drexel University. She is currently completing her Certification in Sex Therapy at Widener University and was recently inducted into Iota Iota Iota (Triota) in recognition of her academic and advocacy work on gender and women's issues.
Ms. Dean has served as Director of the Graduate and Undergraduate Art Therapy Programs at Cedar Crest College and Undergraduate Art Therapy Director at The University of the Arts. She has taught at multiple institutions and has presented at national and international conferences.
Her clinical expertise includes treating trauma, eating disorders, addictions, and psychosomatic concerns, with a focus on women's mental health. She has held leadership roles at The Renfrew Center and Delaware County Women Against Rape, and co-founded The Center for Psyche & the Arts, LLC.
An active scholar-practitioner, Ms. Dean is the author of Using Art Media in Psychotherapy (Routledge), and a recipient of the American Art Therapy Association's Pearlie Roberson Award. In 2012, she received the Pennsylvania Art Therapy Association's highest honor: Honorary Lifetime Membership.
