2018 Board of Directors
Melissa J. Hedlund Nelson, President & Co-Founder
Dr. Hedlund Nelson is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Board-Certified Registered Art Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner©, and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She has a Ph.D. in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University and a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology: Art Therapy from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. She is past Speaker of the Assembly of Chapters for the American Art Therapy Association and past President of the Illinois Art Therapy Association. She developed and founded The Light of The Heart: A Community Art Therapy Project.
Her professional interests include: furthering the field of art therapy and counseling through education and research, creating heartfelt connections nationwide within the field, and expanding access areas of inclusive art therapy and mental health programming. Her clinical approach involves integrating Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Somatic Experiencing© with art therapy and counseling psychology. She views the body as integral to the artmaking process and as a holder for healing.
She has experience working with diverse populations, diagnoses, and treatment environments. Her expertise involves working with adolescents and adults affected by trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, panic disorder, substance abuse, and those seeking wellness. Her current research interests are slow, gentle, and repetitive painting movements and the body’s role in artmaking and healing. On the non-clinical end, she has experience in not-for-profit development, leadership, supervision, curriculum development, grant writing, program development, conducting research on community disparities, fund development, education, and management.
Her professional interests include: furthering the field of art therapy and counseling through education and research, creating heartfelt connections nationwide within the field, and expanding access areas of inclusive art therapy and mental health programming. Her clinical approach involves integrating Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Somatic Experiencing© with art therapy and counseling psychology. She views the body as integral to the artmaking process and as a holder for healing.
She has experience working with diverse populations, diagnoses, and treatment environments. Her expertise involves working with adolescents and adults affected by trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, panic disorder, substance abuse, and those seeking wellness. Her current research interests are slow, gentle, and repetitive painting movements and the body’s role in artmaking and healing. On the non-clinical end, she has experience in not-for-profit development, leadership, supervision, curriculum development, grant writing, program development, conducting research on community disparities, fund development, education, and management.
April S. Hedlund, Treasurer & Co-Founder
April earned her MBA from Southern Illinois University and her MHRM from Keller Graduate School of Management. She currently works at a local university as the Assistant Director of Admissions.
April has taken several courses in Accounting, Finance, Management, and Marketing during her MBA. While obtaining her MHRM, she has taken several courses in Training and Development, Staffing, Managing Organizational Change, Benefits, and Compensation.
With the combination of her educational background and her experience in management, April is very excited about the opportunity to contribute to The Light of The Heart. In her spare time,
April enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.
Elaina Whittenhall, Secretary
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Elaina Whittenhall, MA, MS, LCPC, ATR, is an art therapist and photographer who believes in the power of finding meaning and making life meaningful through creative expression. She has a Master of Science degree in Art Therapy from Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, WI. She completed her clinical internship at The Light of The Heart in 2014 and volunteered at TLOTH throughout 2015. She also has a Master of Arts in Theology from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL.
Elaina spent over a decade working as an editorial and administrative assistant, and she currently works as an art therapist with women with eating, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. |
Jessica Mascenic, Director of Marketing
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Jessica Mascenic, MA, LPC, is an art therapist that works in private practice. She has also worked at an alternative high school with adolescents with behavioral and emotional disorders.
Jessica has a passion for community outreach and artistic expression. She has found a love for art therapy and has been fortunate to incorporate this love of art while working with diverse populations all over the Chicagoland area. She is very excited to be on the TLOTH board! |
Erika Rios, Director of Outreach
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Erika Rios has been working in the social work field for six years, providing case management and counseling services. She is passionate about creativity and is an active wreath maker. She was instrumental in bringing a documentary film called Innocente to TLOTH and the City of Aurora and has been an active volunteer for TLOTH. She has two amazing children and enjoys spending time with friends, crafting, traveling and watching sports. Go Cubbies! |
