Faculty Focus: Susan Ridley

Catherine Southworth had the pleasure to interview Dr. Susan Ridley today about her profession in Creative Arts Therapy. Dr. Ridley has many degrees behind her name including a PhD in Expressive therapy, an MA in Health Counseling and Art therapy, and many more. In this interview, Dr. Ridley goes into detail on what Creative Arts Therapy is about and what they do. She explains that this form of therapy is used for people who have trouble talking about their emotions to feel more vulnerable by expressing their feelings through art work. Dr. Ridley explained this process as putting a puzzle piece together because you have to really look into the art to understand what that person may be feeling. Outside of her job, Dr. Ridley has always loved art and has used her talent to create amazing friendships. Some of her favorite art pieces to work on are seascapes, murals, landscapes, and she has just picked up on weaving baskets. Sitting down with Dr. Ridley was a rewarding experience for both Catherine and other viewers who want to pursue a career in Creative Arts Therapy.