About Us
Mark Dean, MFA, MA, ATR-BC, LPC is an art psychotherapist with credentials as a Registered, Board Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor (PA) with nearly twenty years experience. He has been an Adjunct Professor at Arcadia University since 1990. Previous work experience includes providing addiction treatment at the Charter Fairmount Institute, Clinical Case Management for the Adult Day Program, and serving as the Clinical Coordination of the Geriatric Outpatient Programs at Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment as well as his private practice. His volunteer work includes providing clinical intervention with violent and displaced youths in the Violence Postvention Program and at The Northern Home for Children in Philadelphia. Mr. Dean has been the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Award for Artistic Excellence and has twice received the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts Award. Prior to his graduate training as an art psychotherapist, Mr. Dean was a professional artist. His work is featured in several prominent private and public, national, and international collections. He is currently an analytic training candidate with the Interregional Society of Jungian Analysts through the Philadelphia Association of Jungian Analysts.
Awards:
National Endowment for the Arts Award
Twice the recipient of the Pennsylvania Endowment for the Arts Grant
Delaware Valley Art Therapy Associations’ Innovations in Art Therapy
Michelle L. Dean, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, CGP is an art psychotherapist with credentials as a Registered, Board Certified Art Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor (PA) and Certified Group Psychotherapist. Michelle is a nationally recognized expert in treating individuals who have eating disorders, complex trauma, and relationship issues. Her work history includes nearly twenty years with eating disordered programs and private practice. Michelle is passionate about educating and mentoring students and professionals and has been an Adjunct Professor at Arcadia University, instructing undergraduate art therapy courses since 1997, and as a supervisor for graduate students, ATR and LPC candidates, and clinicians wanting to further their knowledge about art therapy, the therapeutic uses of art, eating disorders, and other related topics.
As a highly regarded national presenter, Michelle assists in the advocacy of art therapy and therapeutic art-based therapeutic and educational programs helped The Center to become an approved continuing education provider from the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) #6302 for both live programs and traditional home-study courses. She is regularly invited to speak on the radio, television, at schools, colleges, and numerous local, and at national conferences. She has served the Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association as a board member for seven years and is one of the Ambassadors of The American Art Therapy Association’s Ambassadors Program, serves on AATA’s Executive Board as Secretary, and is liaison to AATA’s Social Media Committee (SMC) and four local Chapters, and is the Chair of AATA’s Policy and Procedures Committee.
Michelle is the author of the children’s book, Taking weight problems to school (JayJo Press, 2005), the chapter, “Preserving the self: Treating eating disordered individuals who self-injure with art therapy” in Creative arts therapies with patients who have eating disorders, edited by S. Brooke (Charles C. Thomas, 2008) and two recent chapter publications: “Cultural Considerations of Eating Disorders Through Art Therapy” in P. Howie, S. Prasad and J. Kristel (Eds), Using Art Therapies with Diverse Populations: Crossing Cultures and Abilities, (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2013) and “Printmaking: Reflective and Receptive Impressions in the Therapeutic Process” in M. Rosel and D. Gussak (Eds). Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. Her work has earned two Faculty Development Grants from Arcadia University as well as been awarded the Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association’s Innovations in Art Therapy Award (2007), The Ronald E. Hays Presenter’s Award (2009 & 2015), and the Honorary Life Member Award (2012). In 2015, she earned The American Art Therapy Association‘s Pearlie Roberson Award in order to aid in the procurement of images for her forthcoming book, Using Art in Psychotherapy: Bringing the Power of Creativity to Practice (Routledge).
Awards:
2015 Pearlie Roberson Award bestowed by The American Art Therapy Association
2015 The Ronald E. Hays Presenter’s Award bestowed by The Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association
2012 Honorary Life Member of The Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association
2007 Delaware Valley Art Therapy Associations’ Innovations in Art Therapy
Two Faculty Development Grants – Arcadia University (2005 & 2009)
2009 The Ronald E. Hays Presenter’s Award bestowed by The Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association
Selected Publications:
Dean, M. L. (2016). Using Art Media in Psychotherapy: Bringing the Power of Creativity to Practice. London & New York: Routledge.
Dean, M. L. (2015). Printmaking: Reflective and Receptive Impressions in the Therapeutic Process. In Gussak, D. and Rosel, M.(Eds).Wiley Handbook of Art Therapy. London: Wiley-Blackwell.
Dean, M. L. (2013). Cultural Considerations of Eating Disorders Through Art Therapy. (pp. 277-288). In Howie, Prasad and Kristel (Eds), Using Art Therapies with Diverse Populations: Crossing Cultures and Abilities. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Dean, M. L. (2008). Book Review of Drawing from within: Using art to treat eating disorders. Hinz, L. (2006). London: Jessica Kingsley Press. In Art Therapy: Journal of American Art Therapy Association. (pp. 91-92).
Dean, M. L. (2008). Preserving the self: Treating eating disordered individuals who self-injure with art therapy (pp. 56-82). In Brooke, S. (Ed). Creative arts therapies with patients who have eating disorders. New York: Charles C. Thomas.
Dean, M. L. (2005). Taking weight problems to school. New York, NY: JayJo Publishers.
Groups - Currently Enrolling

Dream Group
Sundays, 2 - 3:30 p.m.
The goal of the dream group is simple: To bring our dreams, to share them, and to reacquaint ourselves with their intriguing and poetic language.
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A Dream Group for Clinicians – Now Enrolling
Fourth Sunday of the Month, 6:30- 8:30 p.m. for four weeks
Explore the dream material and learn about its structure, symbolism, and relevance to the current context of the dreamer.
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Professional Supervision Group
First and Third Sunday of the Month, 6 - 9 PM, On going - Lansdowne Location
Use your own art, active imagination, personal imagery of dreams and fantasy, as well as creative writings, to deepen your understanding of your clinical work and professional relationships. This unique bi-monthly supervision group is for mental health professionals who are seeking to enrich their work through the use of depth psychology practices, including art making, active […]
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Art Therapy Support Group for Men and Women Struggling with Eating Issues
Fridays, 7 - 8:30 PM - Lansdowne Location
Support group for men and women struggling with eating disorders and food issues in Philadelphia area
Details & Registration >