Supervised by Margaret Whitehair, ATR-BC, LPC-S and Heidi Tournoux, LPC‑AT/S, ATR‑BC

Deborah Trejo (she/her) is a provisional registered art therapist and licensed professional counselor associate currently practicing in the state of Texas. She earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy at Lesley University where she studied alongside other creative arts therapists.

Deborah’s connection to arts and healing was first sparked during her five summers of volunteering as an Arts in Medicine volunteer at children’s hospitals where she witnessed the joy and comfort art can bring even during such difficult times. Inspired by the resiliency of the little hands that touched her heart, she went on to study art therapy to become a practicing art therapist. During her program, she gained experience during her first internship at a residential facility which works alongside those navigating substance use challenges. There she ran the weekly art therapy groups for all clients, traditional talk therapy support groups, individual art therapy sessions, and had a client caseload. During her practicum/internship year, she went on to work at a local outpatient non-profit organization that offers low cost services to the Austin area community. There she held a client caseload which was mixed with in person sessions and telehealth depending on client preference. Deborah went on to create an in person weekly art therapy group for adults where clients processed life transitions through altered bookmaking.

Before becoming an art therapist, Deborah spent ten years in public schools as an art educator. She worked at the elementary and secondary levels where she gained experience in working with diverse populations. Deborah has experience founding and running art clubs as well as community outreach through projects such as Empty Bowls.

Her passion for advocacy and inclusion started way before becoming a caregiver for her daughter. During her undergraduate studies, she interned at The Arc of The Arts in Austin which provides a beautiful studio space for adults with differing abilities to express themselves, gain independence, and lifelong skills. Deborah went on to collaborate with the special education department at her first school to make sure all students within the life skills classroom had meaningful art experiences. Additionally, Deborah has years of experience creating artwork on the streets of downtown Houston, Texas to raise money for the Center for Hearing and Speech. Her passion and drive has increased two-fold with her daughter’s lifelong diagnosis of Angelman Syndrome. In 2022, she co-coordinated a walk which raised $15,000 towards the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, research, and support for families.

Deborah is committed to honoring the identities and cultures of her clients, takes part in ongoing cultural humility, and believes in inclusion for all abilities. She celebrates individual’s uniqueness and is committed to empowering her clients and making sure their voices are always heard.