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Where Art Holds the Weight: Restorative Classrooms, Clear Boundaries, and the Role of Art with Dr. Lisa Kay
Season 3 Episode 17
đź”— Show Notes
In this episode, Dr. Joey Weisler sits down with Dr. Lisa Kay—art therapist, professor, and national leader in art education—to unpack why classrooms can feel restorative but are not therapy rooms.
Dr. Kay breaks down the essential differences between therapeutic spaces and clinical spaces, offers four pillars that make classrooms safer (predictability, flexibility, connection, empowerment), and explains how art-making helps students hold stress, regain control, and express what words can’t.
She also draws a clear boundary between art facilitation and art therapy, while sharing practical, classroom-ready art practices like “Stress/De-Stress” and “Scribble It Out.” A must-listen for educators navigating dysregulation, creativity, and care—without crossing into clinical territory.
đź”— Show Resources
Lisa Kay – Faculty Profile (Temple University)
Learn more about Dr. Kay’s academic work as Professor and Chair of Art Education & Community Arts Practices at Temple University, where she also directs graduate studies in Art Therapy and leads national research at the intersection of art, trauma, and education.
Dr. Lisa Kay's Official Website
Explore Dr. Kay’s full body of work, including her publications, research projects, courses, speaking engagements, and resources designed for educators, art therapists, and community practitioners.
Restorative Practices in Education Through the Arts (Book)
This edited collection shows how restorative principles and the arts work together to build connection, agency, and resilience in classrooms and community spaces. It offers real-world strategies for nurturing supportive, choice-based environments for learners of all ages.
Therapeutic Approaches in Art Education (Book)
Dr. Kay’s foundational text for educators who want to integrate therapeutic art-making into their classrooms without crossing into clinical practice. The book outlines trauma-sensitive approaches, explains key distinctions between art education and art therapy, and offers practical, classroom-ready activities.
MA in Art Therapy – Temple University
This graduate program prepares students to become credentialed art therapists through intensive studio practice, supervised clinical training, psychological theory, and ethical community-based work.
đź”— Referenced "Classroom Narratives" segments in this episode
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