Kristine Bella

Kristine Bella serves as an Instructor and Clinical Coordinator in the Department of Counseling, Therapy, and School Psychology at Lewis & Clark College. With over two decades of clinical experience as a licensed and board-certified art therapist, she specializes in adolescent therapy and community-based arts interventions for social change across diverse populations and settings.

Her educational foundation includes a graduate degree from Marylhurst University's art therapy program (1997) with credentials as a Licensed Clinical Art Therapist (LCAT), Art Therapist-Registered Board Certified (ATR-BC), and Art Therapy Certified Supervisor (ATCS).

Bella's professional focus centers on the healing power of creative processes through person-centered art therapy. Key research and practice areas include:

• Therapeutic applications of art for trauma and violence recovery
• Adolescent addiction counseling and prevention strategies
• Arts-based community organizing for social justice
• EcoSomaArts integration in therapeutic settings
• Creative interventions for underserved youth populations
• Legislative advocacy for creative arts therapies

A tireless advocate, Bella co-founded Free Arts NW (2009) serving Portland's underserved youth and spearheaded the Portland Creative Arts Therapies Association (CATA). She was instrumental in passing Oregon's landmark art therapy licensure law (HB 2432) in 2017. Bella also owns Arte Soleil, a community art space supporting local artists in SE Portland.

In her teaching role, she mentors graduate students in art therapy counseling with emphasis on ethical practice, clinical supervision, and translating therapeutic theory into community action while championing dignity and transformative potential in every interaction.