OKMHCA Winter Conference 2022

Art as Therapy

Attendees will be given the opportunity to interact with art materials, while receiving an overview of

utilizing art therapy as a tool in counseling. You will learn art therapy directives that can be used for

both self-care and client care.

Everyday Ethics

The conference ethics component will explore everyday ethical dilemmas through experiential art,

utilizing the Ethical Decision-Making Model and self-care as ethical practice. Attendees will examine the

benefits of consultation, learn to recognize signs of compassion fatigue, and identify the ethical edges of

blurred boundaries.

Supervision

Super is defined as over and above, and vision is the ability to see. Supervision is being able to see over

and above—sometimes trying to see from the supervisee’s point of reference, sometimes from the

client’s point of view, and many times combining both perspectives with the experience and knowledge

of the supervisory role. Is my supervisee on the right track with this client? Is my supervisee making

sound, ethical judgements? Is my supervisee practicing good boundaries with clients and colleagues?

Supervision encompasses many roles of supervising, teaching, modeling, encouraging, redirecting,

supporting, advising, etc. We will look at these varied roles and how each plays an important part in

successful supervision, as well as discuss the process of utilizing art therapy interventions and discussing

client artwork.

About the speaker:

Kris Newlin, LPC, ATR-BC, ATCS is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered

Board-Certified Art Therapist and Art Therapy Credentialed Supervisor. Kris has worked

in the mental health field for over 24 years. Her therapeutic experience is varied but

she tends to work with individuals who have experienced trauma. Sexual abuse,

trafficking, sex offending, homelessness, eating disorders, and grief are a few of her

focus areas.

Kris taught undergraduate and graduate art therapy and creative therapies courses at

the University of Oklahoma for 16 years. Kris recently completed Salt and Light

Leadership Training to help leaders emerge, igniting hope and facilitating positive

change in their field of practice.

As a mixed media artist, Kris utilizes her artistic skills and her knowledge as a counselor

to raise awareness and inspire empathy. She helped organize the show Unsolved

History: Forensic Science, Cold Cases, and Art Therapy at the Oklahoma History

Center. Kris has written and illustrated two children’s books. She is currently working

on a project called “People of the Prairie” depicting painted portraits and accompanying

stories of people across our state. It is her hope the project personalizes some of the

non-profit groups that benefit our community, raising awareness and funds.

Whether working with clients, colleagues, or organizations, Kris believes we are all

creators. Kris considers creativity to be a form of communication and specifically art

therapy to be a form of self-expression that can translate struggles into stories. 

She believes everyone has art inside them waiting to be created, stories looking for an

opportunity to be heard, and experiences to be shared. Kris is honored to walk

alongside others on their journey and help guide them on the path to where they want to

be.