Faculty

Michael Franklin, PhD, ATR-BC
Registered, Board Certified Art Therapist, ATR 1982

Academic Degrees
PhD, Expressive Therapies, Lesley University,Cambridge, MA
Topic: Art as Yoga and Contemplative Practice
Title: “Aesthetic Mind—Meditative Mind: Reflections on Art as Yoga and Contemplative Practice”; Dissertation Chair: Dr. Shaun McNiff

MA, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., 1981.
Major: Art Therapy

BA, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, 1978.
Major: Studio Art, emphasis areas: photography, lithography, ceramic sculpture
Major: Art Education, certified to teach K–12

Academic Positions
Full Professor, Core Faculty, Transpersonal Counseling Psychology Department, Naropa University
Director, Graduate Art Therapy Program August 1997 to present.

Research Interests

• The relationship between the art-making process, meditation practice and yoga philosophy
• Maintaining active involvement with studio art efforts.

Publications

Franklin, M. (2010). Global Recovery and the Culturally/Socially Engaged Artist. In Peoples, D. (Ed.), Buddhism and Ethics. Ayuthaya, Thailand: Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.

Franklin, M. (2010). Affect regulation, mirror neurons and the 3rd hand: Formulating mindful empathic art interventions. Art Therapy: The Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 27 (4), 160-167.

Franklin, M.; Siemon, T. (2008). Towards an understanding of the fundamental healing and therapeutic qualities of art. Journal of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. 6 (3), 269–273.

Franklin, M. (2008). Art as contemplative practice: Ethics and social action. In Peoples, D. (Ed.), Buddhism and Ethics, 376–382. Ayuthaya, Thailand: Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.

Franklin, M. (2007). Contemplations of a middle man: Anima rising. Art Therapy: The Journal of the American Art Therapy Association.24 (1), 4–9.

Franklin, M.; Rothaus, M.; Schpock, K. (2005). Unity in diversity: Communal pluralism in the art studio and the classroom. In Kaplan, F. (Ed.), Art therapy and social action: Treating the world’s wounds. London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Moon, B. & Schoenholtz, R. (2004). Word pictures: The poetry and art of art therapy. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas.

Franklin, M. (2001). The yoga of art and the creative process: Listening to the divine. In M. Farrelly-Hanson (Ed.), Spirituality and art therapy: Living the connection (pp. 97–114). London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Franklin, M.; Farrelly-Hanson, M.; Marek, B.; Swan-Foster, N.; Wallingford, S. (2000). Transpersonal art therapy education. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 17(2), 101–110.

Franklin, M. (1999). Art practice/ psychotherapy practice/meditation practice: Sitting on the dove’s tail. Guidance and Counseling. 15(3), 18–22.

Franklin, M. (1999) Becoming a student of oneself: Activating the witness in meditation and super-vision. American Journal of Art Therapy, 38(1), 2–13.

Franklin, M. (1996) A place to stand: Maori culture-tradition in a contemporary art studio. Art Therapy: The Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 13(2), 126–30.

Franklin, M. (1993). AIDS iconography and cultural transformation: Visual and artistic responses to the AIDS crisis. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 20(4), 299–316.

Franklin, M. (1993). The image as cultural messenger: Iconography of the AIDS crisis. In F. J. Bejjani (Ed.), Forum on arts and medicine. New York: Med Art Press.

Franklin, M., & Politsky, R. (1992). The problem of interpretation: Implications and strategies for the field of art therapy. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 9(3), 163–175.

Franklin, M. (1991). Art therapy and self esteem. Art Therapy: The Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 9(2), 78–84.

Franklin, M. (1990). Aesthetics and empathy: A point of convergence. American Journal of Art Therapy, 29(2), 42–47.

Franklin, M. (1981). Terminating art therapy with emotionally disturbed children. American Journal of Art Therapy, 20(2), 55–57.

Recent Presentations :

A. Presentations (International)

“The Clinical and Contemplative Application of Empathic Art Responses”
Visiting Instructor for SASANA, Bogota Columbia, January, 2011.

“Advanced Practices in Art Therapy”
Sasana, Bogota, Colombia, July, 2010.

“An Introduction to Transpersonal Art Therapy”
Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand, September, 2008.

"Art As Contemplative Practice: Ethics and Social Action"
First Summit of the International Association of Buddhist Universities on
Buddhism and Ethics, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU)
Ayuthaya, Thailand, September, 2008.

“Holding Multiple Perspectives: The Transpersonal Vision of Art as a Therapy”
Seoul Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea, June, 2007.
Designed and taught a 4 day workshop for faculty and graduate students.

Visiting instructor for Lesley University for their Expressive Therapies graduate
program in Natanya Israel. Taught GEXTH 5023, Symbolic Processes of
Psychotherapy, May 2005.

B. Presentations/Universities and Keynote Addresses (Invitational)

“Affect Regulation, Attachment Theory, and the 3rd Hand: Formulating Mindful Empathic Art Interventions."
Keynote address Buckeye Art Therapy Association, Columbus, OH, September, 2010.

“An Applied Transpersonal and Contemplative View of Art Therapy.”
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL, October, 2009.

“Using Art to Work With Countertransference in Supervision.” Naropa
University Counseling Center, Boulder, CO, February 2009.

“Teaching to Connect the Heart and Mind.”
Georgetown University, Washington DC, December, 2008.

“Art Based Empathic Methods for Cultivating We-Centric Space.”
Keynote Address, Illinois Art Therapy Association. Chicago, IL, January, 2008.

“An Introduction to Transpersonal Psychology and Transpersonal Art Therapy.”
Weekend workshop at Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, WI, February, 2007.

C. Refereed Papers/Presentations

“Art Therapy, Yoga, and Tantra: Are There Connections” (2010).
Annual Art Therapy Association National Conference, Sacramento, CA.

Video: “Clay and Charcoal: A Collaboration with Fire, Cancer…and earth, water, air, and space…” (2010)
Annual Art Therapy Association National Conference, Sacramento, CA.

“Inspiring Empowerment with Art Exhibition and Art Therapy: An Art Committee Presentation” (2009).
Annual Art Therapy Association National Conference, Dallas, TX.
Co-presented with Geoffrey Thompson ATR-BC, Randy Vick ATR-BC, Josie Abbenante ATR-BC, and Janis Timm-Bottos PhD, ATR-BC.

Art Therapy, Mindfulness, and Meditation: Personal, Clinical, and Educational Reflections” (2009).
Annual Art Therapy Association National Conference, Dallas, TX.
Co-presented with Patricia Isis PhD, ATR-BC.

“Seeing and Knowing the Mind Through Contemplative Approaches to Art.” (2009).
Contemplative Heart in Higher Education, Amherst College, Amherst, MA, April.

“Reflections on Social Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and Art Based Approaches to Empathy” (2008).
Annual Art Therapy Association National Conference, Cleveland, OH.

“Art Therapy and Visual Literacy: Cultivating Sensitivity to Provocative Public Imagery.” (2007).
Annual American Art Therapy Association National Conference, Albuquerque, NM.
Co-presented with Linda Chapman ATR-BC.

“Investigating the Role of Art Criticism in Art Therapy: An Art Committee Panel Presentation.”(2007).
Annual American Art Therapy Association National Conference, Albuquerque, NM.
Co-presented with David Henley PhD, ATR-BC, Geoffrey Thompson ATR-BC, Robin Valicenti ATR-BC.

“Reciprocal Paths: The Gifts and Challenges of Female and Male Art Therapists.” (2007).
Annual American Art Therapy Association National Conference, Albuquerque, NM.
Co-presented with Randy Vick ATR-BC, Jossie Abenante ATR-BC, and Cathy Moon ATR-BC.

“The Social Nervous System and Its Correlates to Community Based Art Therapy.” (2006).
Lesley University, Body, Mind, and Spirit annual conference, Cambridge, MA.

“The Social Nervous System and Its Correlates to Community Based Art Therapy.” (2006).
Annual American Art Therapy Association National Conference, New Orleans, LA.

“Generosity in Action: A continuing Artistic Exchange.”(2005).
Annual American Art Therapy Association National Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Co-presented with Cathy Moon ATR-BC, Lori Vance ATR-BC, and Randy Vick ATR-BC.

Exhibitions

"Art For Life: The Practice of Imagination," The Naropa University Nalanda Gallery, May, 2006

"The Naropa University Faculty Art Show," The Naropa Institute Gallery, Boulder, CO, June 1997, 1998, 1999 (Regional invitational).

"The Healing Imagination," Wasmer Gallery, Urusline College, Cleveland, OH, May 1996, (Juried Regional) 2 pieces

"Positive/Negative: Artists React to AIDS," Artspace/Lima Center for the Visual Arts, Lima, OH, November 1993, (regional invitational)

"Toledo Area Artists 75th Annual Exhibition," Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH, 1993, (juried regional) l piece Jurors: Joseph Ketner, Director, Washington University Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri; Louis Marinaro, sculptor, Ann Arbor; Jose Roderio, painter, Frostburg State University, Maryland. Entries: 800.