Participant Biographies and Project Descriptions

Anita Carter
Anita is a visual artist interested in the healing power of art. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Counseling, as well as a Professional Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy. Six years ago Anita discovered the benefits of art making as she grieved over her mother’s death. She decided to pursue training and volunteer work as expressive arts therapist. Anita discovered the profound impact painting, music, and poetry had for patients who were dying when she volunteered her time at San Diego Hospice. She says, “It never ceases to amaze me to see faces that, thirty minutes earlier, had been frozen masks of sadness and struggle from the conflicts of life, suddenly transformed by the medium of artistic expression into that of wonder and hope.”

Anita is providing expressive arts programs to clients served by four organizations in North County San Diego – New Resolve, St. Claire’s Home, Elizabeth Hospice Center for Compassionate Care, and Sunset High School. All of these agencies provide a sense of community, emotional support, education, and an opportunity for people to transform their lives. Whether their client’s struggles stem from the trauma of war, drug addiction, childhood trauma, domestic violence, or a life changing illness, Anita’s expressive arts program will promote healing and recovery for clients of these organizations through the language of arts.