UWSP Art Therapy Club Begins First Year With Focus on Connection

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Art Therapy Club held its first meeting at the Noel Fine Arts Center on Friday, Sept 18. With a new team and mission to help students, the Art Therapy Club began its first year.

ATC is not a substitute for professional counseling or therapy, but it offers students an introduction to art therapy and raises awareness of the practice. “It’s a new way to be able to talk about things in different ways, talk about what they’re feeling in a different way,” said co-President Jay Julius. “I just think it’s a great opportunity. It’s an opportunity to be that person that I needed when I was growing up and it’s an opportunity to help the future generations.”

Pre-Art Therapy is a 24-credit major that comes before entering a future master’s-level program. The program only offers classes during the spring semester, making it difficult for students in different year levels to connect. ATC gives students in the major an opportunity to connect with their peers and build relationships before entering the professional world.

The Pre-Art Therapy program is only contracted for the spring semester and has low enrollment, raising concerns about its future and the possibility of declining student participation.. “Because there are only seven of us, bringing more people in is important,” said Janyssa Johnson. “Trying to secure it as something that will continue forward is a very big thing for us.”

UWSP supports students’ mental health and well-being by providing resources such as the Counseling Center and Health and Wellness Center. ATC provides another outlet for UWSP students to express themselves.

“Art is a medium I know, in my experience, has been one of the greatest outlets, and I to be able to have a medium in which you can convey what you are currently expressing and dealing with is so important and crucial,” said co-President Jenna Clark. ” Especially now when mental health isn’t always a topic that is liked to be talked about.”

ATC creates an authentic space for students to connect and express themselves with other students. At ATC’s first meeting, they had a musical art activity, where individuals listened to music and drew their emotions during the song.

Students expressed themselves through art and were able to vocalize their feelings after each song was done playing. 

The ATC has been in the process of becoming an organization since the 2025-26 academic year, assigning students positions such as co-presidents Julis & Clark, vice president Katelyn Eilbes, treasurer Johnson, and secretary Aaliyah Bezenyei.

As well as working on writing a constitution and organizing meetings. It launched as an official organization at the start of the 2026-27 academic year. 

For meeting dates and more information, you can find Art Therapy Club on SPIN and Instagram and contact their co-president Jay Julius, at jjuli541@uwsp.edu. 

Abigail Holmes

News Reporter

aholm452@uwsp.edu

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