LIVE LIFE WITH LOVE, LIGHT, AND LAUGHTER-
Dr. Elva Anderson's personal mission is to assist in empowering people to transform their lives from the inside out. Her treatment style blends the expressive arts therapies (art, music, dance /movement, poetry, and psychodrama/improvisation ) with clinical treatment. Dr. Anderson is a board certified /registered art therapist, a licensed professional counselor, and a certified Mindfulness Meditation teacher.
Dr. Anderson has conducted workshops and presentations with the Smithsonian Institute’s Anacostia Community Museum, the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of African Art, the American Art Therapy Association, the George Washington University Graduate Art Therapy Program, the Howard University School of Social Work, Columbia University’s Teachers College, the University of District of Columbia, Luminis Health Medical System, the National Center for Creative Aging, Sasha Bruce Youth Center, the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation, and more.
Dr. Anderson has a B.F.A in Communication Arts and Design from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, a M.P.S in Creative Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and a Ph.D. in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Dr. Anderson has received post graduate educational work with The Washington School of Psychiatry in Washington, DC.
In 2008, Dr. Anderson was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Potomac Art Therapy Association (PATA) for making a significant contributions to the community.
In 2015, Dr. Anderson recieved the Patient and Family Advisory Council Excellence in Family -Centered Award in recognition of professional and outstanding service to children and families at Childrens National Health System in Washington, DC.
In 2018, Dr. Anderson was a recipient of the Salute to African Americans in Medicine Award presented by the Harlem Fine Arts Show.
Elva Anderson, Ph.D., ATR-BC, LPC
Board Certified / Registered Art Therapist
Licensed Professional Counselor