Hillary Verçosa-Kaufman (she/her/hers) is a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). She received a Masters's Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Hillary was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and has lived and worked in various US cities.
Hillary has worked as an art therapist for over 10+ years and worked in a variety of settings including the Employee Assistance Program at Los Alamos National Laboratory, a transitional living shelter for youth, community support for adults with chronic mental illness, public school systems, and an art gallery empowering artists living with disability and/or homelessness across the US. She had the opportunity to start and build various art therapy programs including the first art therapy program at Thresholds, one of the largest mental health agencies in Chicago.
Hillary’s approach to art therapy is a collaborative process between the client, therapist, and the art media– no previous art experience is required. She meets each client where they are to provide a safe, nurturing space and guide them with materials and ideas in support of therapeutic goals and personal exploration.
As an artist, Hillary maintains a practice focused on “Altered Books” (using an old or discarded book as an art material to transform) and mixed media arts. Studying art therapy ignited Hillary’s own self-exploration through the art process and she brings this wisdom and depth of experience to meet each client in their unique journey.
