Joanne Ramseyer

Joanne Ramseyer is a Senior Lecturer in the Art Therapy Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). With over 30 years of experience, she specializes in trauma-informed, relational-cultural, and anti-oppressive approaches to art therapy. Currently, she serves as an art therapist and clinical supervisor at a therapeutic school, developing programs for adolescents with internalizing disorders, including transgender youth. She has held leadership roles such as Director of Art Therapy Services at a mental health center and ran a private practice community art studio.

Her teaching spans institutions like the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University. She emphasizes a studio-based approach focusing on transformative metaphors in creative processes and symbolic imagery. Her art practice includes mixed-media narrative paintings, altered books, and three-dimensional works incorporating text and found materials.

Joanne co-facilitates expressive arts groups for veterans and older adults, integrating art as a tool for healing, resilience, and social action. Though no specific scientific awards are listed, her work demonstrates significant contributions to community-based art therapy initiatives.

Her courses at SAIC, such as 'Creative Process as Art Therapy,' blend Eastern traditions, Jungian psychology, and experiential learning to explore the intersection of art, self-awareness, and community. She advocates for art as both a personal discipline and a means of societal engagement.