During National Eating Disorder Week, February 25 to March 4, current students and alumni of the Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling (MAATC) program worked with the Albertus Magnus College Counseling Center to organize “Feeding Hope and Recover Through Artwork”, a collection of artwork from clients at Walden Behavioral Care in Guilford, CT.
Walden Behavioral Care specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. They provide inpatient and outpatient services for teens and adults of all genders and eating disorder diagnoses at all levels of care.
Current MAATC students, Courtney Duff and Rachel Cataudella, are interns at Walden and are supervised by alumni of the program. Nicole Pipitone ATR-LPC, Assistant Director at Walden, graduated from the program at Albertus Magnus College in 2012. Katy Highland, adult clinician, also graduated from the program in 2018.
The collection of artwork represents different aspects of how each artist is battling through or recovering from an eating disorder. Each artist battles and recovers in their own way. The term “eating disorder” is highly stigmatized and is frequently misunderstood. The art show aims to open the eyes of the audience and help them become more comfortable around the topic and discussion of eating disorders. Viewers are invited to challenge their current views and understanding of eating disorders. We hope they become more aware of their true nature and those who have or are in recovery.
Artwork was presented in the Sun Room and Segerman Room of Rosary Hall. Pieces included Unworn T-Shirts, a collection of t-shirts representing how each artist wants to be perceived, not how others perceive them and their eating disorders. The collection also included Scraping Away, paintings representing their current state of mind and mood. Artists applied and scraped away layers of different colors. They repeated the process over and over until the final product was formed. The show included many more profound and moving pieces of artwork.
Thank you to Courtney Duff, Rachel Cataudella, and the Counseling Center for organizing such a powerful and eye opening exhibition.
Katrina Casey ’21 is a graduate student of the Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling Program at Albertus Magnus College and currently works as a graduate assistant for the program.