Kathrine M. Cays, MPS, ATR-P
Professional Summary: Creates art and presents nature-based therapeutic art programs to enrich the community and individuals; inspires others to connect with the natural living world, reach for personal goals, and develop new skills through creativity and positivity; brings more than 30 years of creative input, communication, and organizational experience while focusing on healing.
Education
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York
Master of Professional Studies, Art Therapy and Creativity Development, June 2023, awarded with Distinction
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
B.A., Studio Art, Creative Writing, August 2010, awarded with Distinction
Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, North Carolina
Associates of Arts 2008, awarded with Distinction
Honors
Environmental Sustainability Award, Pratt Institute (2023)
International Honors Society (2010)
National Deans’ List Two-year Colleges (2008)
Goal: It has been a lifetime goal of mine to inspire others through mentorship as a naturalist, an artist, and a writer in creative expression while engaging with positive reinforcement, to realize their potential, find their voice with confidence, stay curious, and be lifelong learners.
Experiences Related to My Goal
BRIDGES ART THERAPY, LLC, Art Therapist, 2023- present
Art Therapy Clinician: Child, Adolescent, and Adult, individual and group therapy that integrates a Humanistic Person-Centered approach and a Nature-based art therapy approach to allow participants to participate at their comfort level
Lead and Co-Lead school-based groups to create a safe and fun place to support acculturation.
Facilitate artwork creation, reflection of the art process, and connection to personal insights
NEW YORK CLIMATE EXCHANGE CONSORTIUM, K-12 Engagement and Creative Activation Working Groups, Spring 2023 – present
Share information about opportunities to create K-12 and other programming on Governor’s Island, NY.
Articulate criteria for K-12 Engagements
Develop and workshop ideas that emerge personally and internally within the workgroup.
Workshop and respond to ideas for engagements submitted to the work group from others in the Pratt community.
Support and track engagements that are launched
NC ART THERAPY INSTITUTE, Intern, Fall 2021 – Spring 2023
Facilitated and led experiential workshops for junior intern groups
Founded and led Adolescent Arts and Peers Group, provided high school students positive experiences and opportunities to share their life events while exploring many art forms (weaving, collage, sculpture, assemblage, photography, drawing, creative writing, and others) to build a sense of community and celebrate themselves as individuals and artists.
Co-led Exceptional Children’s Art Therapy Groups provided middle and high school students with positive experiences and opportunities focused on gaining a sense of mastery and flexibility while increasing their ability to communicate in a group atmosphere through the process of artmaking.
Co-led Arts and Peers Support Group that recognizes adult members as artists in the process of mental health recovery with a focus on care and healing while challenging them public stigma of mental illness.
Intern-clinician Child, Adolescent, and Adult Individual Therapy integrated a Humanistic, Person-Centered, Nature-based art therapy approach to allow members to participate at their comfort level.
Raleigh Review Literary & Arts Magazine, Art Editor (2014 – 2020)
Collaborated with the editorial staff
Facilitated new artists and their introduction to Raleigh Review
Followed Raleigh Review protocols of working relationship through artist payment
Managed artwork selection and delivery of artwork between artist and publisher
Authored cohesive placement of artwork in conjunction with creative writing content
INDEPENDENT ART WORKSHOPS, Teleios Studios, Artist, and Workshop Facilitator, 2014 –present
Develop curriculum focusing on connecting, positivity, healing, and continued personal growth.
Design artistic projects for workshop participants to construct, visually or through creative writing, a metaphor that supports the main focal point.
Provide dynamic artistic materials.
Guide participants through a four or more-hour workshop, maintaining the focal point in positivity and healing while creating the project.
Active workshops: Connecting with Nature: The Arrow, Connecting with Nature: Mandalas, Girls Night Art, Connecting with Nature, and Healing: A Box
Developing workshops: Seated At The Table, Movement & Art Journaling, Healing Cocoon
AS AN ARTIST
Lectures/Workshops:
2023:
“Workshop: Autumnal Art & Nature Expressive Arts” Online, October 4,11,18, 25.
“Workshop: New York Climate Exchange, Creative Activation, Four Elements,” New York, NY, August 26.
“Workshop: Duke Cancer Institute, Pink Ribbon Yoga,” Montreat, NC, August 18-
20.
“Workshop: Connecting With Nature Through Artmaking: The Arrow,” Teleios on
Topsail, NC, January 15.
2022:
“Workshop: Connecting With Nature Through Artmaking: Mandala,” The Arts Center, Carrboro, NC, November 10.
“Workshop: Connecting With Nature Through Artmaking: The Arrow,” The Art Therapy Institute, Carrboro, NC, November 5.
“Workshop: Duke Cancer Institute, Pink Ribbon Yoga,” Montreat, NC, August 17-20.
Lecture/Workshop, “What is Art Therapy/Finding Peace In Transition,” Ravenscroft High School, Raleigh, NC, December 15.
2021:
Lecture, Artist Talk, “Finding Confidence As a Creative,” St. Augustine University,
February 24.
2020:
“Various one-day workshops” for community members, Teleios Studios, NC, monthly.
“Workshop: Kids and Creativity” for children ages seven through fifteen Teleios Studios, NC, weekly (2019- March 2020)
“Retreat: Mother’s and Daughter’s,” Teleios Studios on Topsail Island, September 20-23.
2019:
“Workshop: Healing with Artmaking, A Box” Concord, CA, November 19.
“Various one-day workshops” for community members, Teleios Studios, NC, monthly.
“Workshop: The Arrow and Creativity” eight-week course, Ravenscroft Middle School, Raleigh, NC.
2017:
“Workshop: Appreciating Poetry, The Fletcher School, Middle School through High School group, Raleigh, NC.
“Workshop: The Arrow, Greensboro Public Library, NC, 2017, 2018, 2019
Publications
2023:
Graduate Thesis:
A Heuristic Exploration of Becoming a Nature-Based
Expressive Arts Therapist through Expressions of Awe and Love:
A Retrospective Narrative Synthesis, July 2023.
Artwork:
Beyond Words, International Literary & Art Magazine, Issue 37.
2021:
Artwork:
Beyond Words, International Literary & Art Magazine, Issues 12,14, 20.
2020:
Poetry:
Cradle of Moss, Hastings College Press, Plainsongs Poetry Magazine,
June.
2016:
Poetry:
Arboreal, Red Sky Literary Journal.
2015:
Poetry:
The Separation, N.C. State University Annual Poetry Contest runner-up.
2008:
Poetry:
In the Canyons of the Santa Catalinas, Wildacers Retreat Scholarship prize.
2006:
Poetry:
Motion, First Prize Poetry Award, Wake Technical Community College.
Artwork Exhibited:
2023:
Solo Exhibit: Seated At the Table with Mother Elm Tree, Town of Carrboro Arts
Committee, Earth Day, Town of Carrboro Day, April 21, and May 17.
2021:
Group Exhibition: Leaving, The Healing Place, Brooklyn, NY, June 25.
Group Exhibition: Enduring and Transforming, New Rochelle Art Association,
New York, Art in the Time of COVID-19, online exhibition, April 25.
2020:
Pratt Institute, Creative Arts Therapy End of Year Exhibit.
2017:
Group Exhibit: Writing Down the Inner Wild, The Halle Cultural Arts Center, Apex, NC
Group Exhibit: Leaving, The Halle Cultural Arts Center, Apex, NC
2012:
Solo Exhibit: Writing Down the Inner Wild, North Carolina Public Library, Franklin, NC.
Solo Exhibit: Writing Down the Inner Wild, The Wilderness Society, Sylva, NC.
2010:
Group Exhibit: Elevated, The Artery, Chapel Hill, NC.
2008-2010:
Selah, Women, and Light, Elevated, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
2005:
Group Exhibition: The Raleigh Art Exchange, Raleigh, NC.
Permanent Art Collection Acquisition:
2010:
SELAH II, 2009, 36 x 48 inches, multimedia on canvas, University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Skills
Proficient:
Facilitating Community Expressive Arts events, Facilitating Therapeutic Art Experiential events, Supporting individual clients as an Art Therapist, Creative Writing (Poetry), Drawing, Painting and Encaustic Painting, Bookmaking, Collage, Multimedia Art, Assemblage Art, Leather Craft, Beadwork
Certifications
End-of-Life Doula, International End-of-Life Doula Association, Trained Professional, 2024
SWAN (Supporting Wellness through Arts and Nature) Professional, 2022
Technical Writing and Communication, Duke University, 2015
Past Experiences
Member: Climate Psychology Alliance North America (2023 – present)
Member: New York Climate Exchange Consortium, K–12 Engagement working group and Creative Activation working group (2023 – present)
Member: North Carolina Art Therapy Association (2023 - present)
Donor: DooR To DooR Artist UNC Chapel Hill Hospital: Created and donated encaustic painting artwork to cancer patients (2020)
Participant: Rebus Artspace Poetry Workshop, Al Maginnes (2020)
Member: North Carolina Poetry Society (2019 – present)
Participant: North Carolina Literary Festival 2019
Participant: Gathering of Poets Poetry Event (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020)
Leader: Monthly Theological Study Fellowship (2016 – 2020)
Volunteer: Ronald McDonald House (2017), Habitat for Humanity House Build (2017), Habitat for Humanity Playhouse Build Team Leader (2018)
Board Member: Arts Council of Macon County, Franklin, NC (2011-2012)
Volunteer Writing Instructor: CoachWrite, Chapel Hill, NC (2009- 2010)
Volunteer Tutor: AventWest, Raleigh, NC (2007- 2008)
Staff position: ARTERY Student Art Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC (2009- 2010)
Member: Kappa Pi Art Honors Society (2009- Present)
National Dean’s List of Two-Year Colleges (2007)
High School Senior Class President (1978- 1979)
High School Class Senator Freshman, Sophomore and Junior years