Transform yourself.

Transform the World.

Professor | Chair, Graduate Art Therapy Program
Core Faculty

Programs

MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology
Art Therapy

Education

PhD in Expressive Therapies, Lesley University
MA in Art Therapy, George Washington University
ATR-BC, The American Art Therapy Association
BA in Studio Art and in Art Education, University of South Florida

From the heart

If I were to sum up the essence of the graduate art therapy program at Naropa University, it is this: contemplative wisdom and compassionate action informed by the freedom of artistic inquiry combined with quality clinical training. This view describes our commitment to meet the intellectual curiosity and diversity of any student who chooses to study in our program.

Creative activity summary

My orientation as an artist, art therapist, and psychotherapist is to blend the viewpoints of the depth psychologies and expressive therapies with the humanistic principals of transpersonal psychology and client centered therapy. In 2001 I created the Naropa Community Art Studio (NCAS), a research project training socially-engaged art therapists. My research includes applications of the NCAS as well as the following topics:

• Community-based, socially engaged approaches to art therapy
• Art-based research methods
• Art as contemplative practice and the intersection with meditation and Hindu-Yoga-Tantra traditions

Courses I teach

• PSYT 369/569 Perspectives of Art Therapy
• PSYT 604 Foundations of Art Therapy: Studio and Practicum
• PSYT 624 Art Therapy Studio: Process and Materials
• PSYT 634 History and Theory of Art Therapy
• PSYT 665 Civic Engagement Studio Practicum
• PSYT 668 Counseling Practicum
• PSYT 814 Professional Orientation and Ethics I
• PSYT 864 Professional Orientation and Ethics II

What's next?

My goal as a teacher is to help my students to fall in love with their minds and unique talents, and to always strive for personal excellence.

What book do you find yourself regularly pressing into the hands of students? 

I encourage students to read Cixous, Irigaray, and Kristeva. I've been lately heralding all of Maggie Nelson's books, especially The Argonauts and Bluets, as well as Claudia Rankine's Don't Let Me Be Lonely and Citizen. 

Honors/Awards

Distinguished Service Award. American Art Therapy Association National Conference. November, 2018.

Distinguished Educator Award. American Art Therapy Association National Conference. November, 2016.

Practice Day speaker. “Locating Art as Contemplative Practice in The Studio, Clinical Work, & Social Engagement with Communities,” Naropa University. October, 2015.

Master of ceremonies for the presidential inauguration of Charles Lief, Naropa University. February, 2013.

Faculty speaker, Naropa University graduation. May, 2012.

Selected by the Naropa faculty to offer the opening convocation for the academic school year. August, 2004.

Award for the best paper in the "Arts as Medicine" category at the 1992 International World Congress on Arts and Medicine.

'Il Magnifico Award for excellence in teaching, Medici Circle, BGSU, April l992.

Award for service to the Program Committee for the National Conference of the American Art Therapy Association, l990, l99l, l992.

Award for service to the Education Committee of the American Art Therapy Association, l990, l99l, l992.

'Il Magnifico Award for excellence in teaching, Medici Circle, BGSU, April l990.

Received a Teaching Excellence Award from the College of Arts and Sciences, BGSU, May l988.

Recent Publications/Exhibits

Franklin, M. A. (2017). Art as contemplative practice: Expressive pathways to the Self. Albany New York: SUNY Press. 

Franklin, M. A. (2019). Widening the lens of ethical practice in art therapy: Visual free speech and the inclusive studio environment. In A. Di Maria (Ed.), Exploring ethical dilemmas in art therapy: 50 clinicians from 20 countries share their stories(pp. 292-298). New York and London: Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Franklin, M. A. (2018). Understanding lineage, difference, and the contemplative dimensions of Edith Kramer's art as therapy model. In Gerity, L. A. & Anand, S. (Eds.), The Legacy of Edith Kramer: A Multifaceted View(pp. 205-213). New York and London: Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Franklin M.  A. (2016). Imaginal mindfulness-imaginal intelligence: Musings on the languages of shadow and light in art, meditation, and clinical practice.  In F. J. Kaklauskas, C. J. Clements, D. Hocoy, & L. Hoffman (Eds.), Shadows & Light: Theory, research, and practice in transpersonal psychology (Vol. 1: Principles & Practices; pp. 101-121).  Colorado Springs, CO: University Professors Press.

Franklin, M.  A. (2016). Hanging chads, buoys, and clay: Finding what was never lost.  In Thayer-Cox, C & Harrison, W.  A (Eds.), Saying goodbye to our mothers for the last time (pp. 11-17). Bracey, VA: Lisa Hagan Books. 

Franklin, M. A. (2016).Contemplative approaches to art therapy: Incorporating Hindu-Yoga-Tantra and Buddhist wisdom traditions in clinical and studio practice. In Rubin, J. A. (ed). Approaches to Art Therapy (pp. 308-329). New York and London: Routledge/Taylor & Francis.

Franklin, M. A. & Grossenbacher, P. G. (2016). Empathy examined from perspectives of neuroscience and artistic imagination. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 58:3, 251-255, DOI: 10.1080/00029157.2015.1102702

Franklin, M. A. (In Press). Essence and art: A contemplative - transpersonal view of art therapy. In Gussak, D. E. and Rosal, M. L. (eds.). The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Art Therapy.

Franklin, M. A. (2014) Mindful considerations for training art therapists: Inner friendship - outer professionalism. In Rappaport, L. (ed.), Mindfulness and the arts therapies: Theory and practice (pp. 264-275). London: Jessica Kingsley.

Blandy, D., Franklin, M. A. (2012). Following the Siren's Song: Scott Harrison and the Carousel of Happiness. Wexler, A. (Ed.), Reframing art education beyond the classroom. Palgrave Macmillan.

Franklin, M. (2012). Karuna – Ahimsa – and relational aesthetics: Empathic art interventions for contemplative approaches to psychotherapy. In de Silva, P. (Ed.), Buddhist Psychotherapy, 145-154. Ayuthaya, Thailand: Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University.

Franklin, M. A. (2012). Know thyself: Awakening self-referential awareness through art-based research. Journal of Applied Arts and Health: Special Issue on Art-Based Research: Opportunities & Challenges. 3(1), 87- 96.                  

• This article was re-republished in: Art as Research: Opportunities and Challenges; Intellect Books Know thyself: Awakening self-referential awareness through art-based research. **Artwork selected for the cover of the book.

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

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.

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.

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