Drexel University Ph.D. in Creative Arts Therapies

08/26/2026

Congratulations Dr. Stickley on your successful defense and culmination of your doctoral journey! We also commend you on your award for Creativity and Innovation from the College of Nursing and Health Professions! We are so proud of you!

Dissertation title: An Arts-Based Phenomenological Inquiry into the Lived Experiences of 2020/2021 Twin Cities Black Lives Matter Activist Artists

Thank you also to your committee members Dr Kaimal (Chair), Dr .Bryant K. Alexander, Dr. Ashley Gripper, Dr, Elizabeth Hlavek and Dr. Kristal Brown.

07/10/2026

We are so excited to see Lynn Gumert, PhD Candidate, present their work at the World Congress of Music Therapy in Bologna this afternoon!

07/09/2026

What started as a "small scale" project in our Music, Creativity, and Wellness lab ended up being a major project presented at a world stage! Jannatul Khawsar, Lynn Gumert, and Sarah Biedka presented this afternoon at the World Congress of Music Therapy in Bologna, Italy, on the inclusion of creative arts therapies in clinical/medical practice guidelines across the globe.

07/09/2026

An exciting publication out of the Music, Creativity and Wellness Lab. Congratulations to Sarah Biedka, PhD candidate, for leading this wonderful analysis and publication!

Purpose Many cancer survivors experience long-term cancer-related psychosocial effects like anxiety, depression, and isolation, yet their ongoing needs for effective supportive care are frequently unmet. Songwriting during music therapy sessions can help cancer survivors process and communicate thei...

07/09/2026

Congratulations to Lynn Gumert, PhD candidate, for being awarded the World Congress of Music Therapy Student Scholarship!

06/18/2026

🎉 Please join us in congratulating Monica Gaydos on the successful defense of her doctoral dissertation, "Dancing Across the Bridge: Women Exploring Midlife Transitions Through Dance/Movement Therapy."

Under the guidance of her dissertation advisor and committee chair, Dr. Minjung Shim, Monica's thoughtful research explores women’s lived experiences of midlife and the ways dance/movement therapy can support reflection, connection, personal growth, and well-being during this important life transition.

We also gratefully acknowledge Monica’s dissertation committee members - Drs. Sherry Goodill, Helen Teng, Sara Schultz, and Tomoyo Kawano - for their guidance and support throughout the dissertation process.

Congratulations, Dr. Gaydos, on reaching this significant milestone! We celebrate your dedication, perseverance, and meaningful contribution to the field of dance/movement therapy. 💃📚

06/11/2026

Congratulations to Drs. Kristen Stickley and Monica Gaydos! We were so excited to celebrate your graduation with you!

03/19/2026

Congratulations to Sarah Biedka for being awarded the MAR Research Award for their research "Young Adult Cancer Survivors’ and Music Therapists’ Perspectives on Addressing Relationship Challenges Through Music Therapy: A Qualitative Inquiry Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis." To read more about this exciting study or to participate: https://drexel.edu/cnhp/research/participate/sbstudy/

03/19/2026

Happy CAT week from the Drexel PhD in Creative Arts Therapies Program! Proud to look back at the past 15 years!

03/04/2026

We are excited to share a new publication by Lynn Gumert, PhD candidate: An Arts-Based Inquiry into Autistic Meltdown. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v26i1.4463
Congratulations, Lynn, on this wonderful article! We encourage everyone to watch and listen to the multimedia collage included in the article, created by Lynn to express their experience of meltdown.