Hannah White, MPS-AT, Art Therapist

Hannah’s professional mission is to hold a space for healing that is stocked with cool art materials! Her clinical focus for clients is often on self-discovery and empowerment through creative expression with visual art media. She brings curiosity, compassion, and a great sense of humor when creating a supportive therapeutic alliance with clients. Hannah was inspired to pursue a career in art therapy after recognizing the ability for creative arts therapies to provide modes of expression that transcend words. Being able to incorporate her interest in art was a natural fit. She strives to develop therapeutic relationships that feel safe and supportive enough to let creativity flow, while also valuing the power of playfulness and joy to encourage perspective, balance, and build self-esteem. 

Hannah has worked for 11 years in community adult mental health in Portland. She holds a Master of Professional Studies in Art Therapy from the Pratt Institute in New York, and interned in the Bronx at a skilled nursing facility and in Brooklyn at a community mental health clinic which hosted an open art studio. She is working towards her art therapy licensure under the supervision of Kris Bella, ATR-BC, and presented a research project on art interventions for mental health provider burnout at the 2019 Transcending Trauma Symposium. She is a staff volunteer at Free Arts NW, a local arts program for children.

Hannah usually has at least five knitting, sewing, woodworking or painting projects in the works at a time, and enjoys any and all forms of crafting, as well as gardening, cooking, playing board games with her husband and friends, reading, and cat cuddles.