National Association for Poetry Therapy

Board and committees.

2024-2026 NAPT Board Member Roles

President: Laura Santner
Vice President: Cynthia Holloway Kelvin Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair: Eric Kreuter
Secretary: Jazmin Hamilton
Conference Chair: Catherine Tanguis
Inclusion, Equity and Social Justice Committee Chair: Jenna Robinson
Marketing and Public Relations Chair: Tim Kelly

Membership Chair: Beth Couture

Education Chair: Ashley Schaff

Board Member(s) at Large: Sherry Reiter

Publications Chair: Karen "Ren" vanMeenen

Journal of Poetry Therapy Editor: Nicholas Mazza

NAPT Liaison to IFBPT: Laura Santner and Beth Couture

Awards Committee (Standing Chair): Karen vanMeenen
IFBPT Liaison to NAPT:

NOTES: The Publications Committee Chair and the Journal of Poetry Therapy are “permanent positions” held by the editor of the Museletter and the editor of the Journal of Poetry Therapy.

Committee members can be drawn from membership and do not need to be Board Members. We encourage your participation!

2024-2026 BOARD MEMBER BIOS

President

Laura Santner, LCSW, PTR-CM, CCATP, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional, a Certified Poetry Therapist, a Registered Poetry Therapist, and a Certified Mentor in Poetry Therapy. Laura Santner has been a clinical therapist and supervisor for New York State since 2006 and opened up a private practice in 2019. She has presented on poetry therapy at her work place to staff, psychology externs, social work interns, and undergraduate volunteers in addition to Poetry Therapy conferences, retreats, and local colleges. Ms. Santner has been involved with NAPT on various committees and board roles since 2006. Ms. Santner has a published chapbook of poetry, The Earth and I, Nature Healing Poetry, and is co-author to a chapter on Group Poetry and Writing Therapy with Adolescents in Creative Arts-Based Group Therapy with Adolescents Theory and Practice 1st edition. Ms. Santner is also co-author to a research study “Linguistic Dimensions of Psychopathology: A Quantitative Analysis” in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. She is a New York Regional Representative, and works closely with the National Coalition of Creative Art Therapies Associations Inc.

Vice-President

Cynthia Holloway Kelvin, Psy.D.RDT/BCT, CPT, is a clinical psychologist, registered drama therapist, certified poetry therapist, and creative workshop facilitator in private practice in California. Cynthia's dedication to the realm of creative therapy led her to serve on the board of the National Association of Poetry Therapy, a leading organization that promotes the use of poetry, symbol, and story for healing and self-discovery. As a board member, she hopes to contribute to developing best practices and awareness campaigns to support the ongoing advancement of the field of poetry therapy. You can read more about Cynthia here: evolvingstage.com.

Treasurer

Eric Kreuter serves as Treasurer on the Board of the National Association for Poetry Therapy. He has contributed articles to the Journal of Poetry Therapy and has presented at NAPT’s Annual Conferences. Dr. Kreuter is a partner with the accounting and advisory firm of Marks Paneth LLP, providing forensic and litigation support services to a broad range of clientele. He has a doctorate in clinical psychology and has published books and articles on a variety of topics.

Secretary

Jazmin Hamilton, MA, MFT, currently serves as Secretary on the NAPT Board. She is a Marriage & Family Therapy Registered Intern in the state of Oregon. She is the recipient of the Al Stiefel award from George Fox University. Jazmin is a member of the AAMFT and NAPT and is the NAPT regional representative for Oregon. She focuses on working with couples, families, and adult individuals using Emotionally Focused Therapy integrated with aspects of Internal Family Systems Theory. Interpersonal Neurobiology research and Attachment Theory serve as the foundation of her work with clients. Jazmin has her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and infuses poetry into her work with clients wherever possible.

Conference Committee Chair

Catherine Tanguis, MA, NBCT, CAPF, worked for over 30 years in the Greater New Orleans area, as both a high school English teacher and community college adjunct instructor. She graduated with a master’s degree in English from the University of New Orleans, with concentrations in Rhetoric and Composition and American Literature and has been a National Board-Certified Teacher since 2005. Along the way, her passion for encouraging creative writing with both adults and young people led to her to serve as Co-Director of the Greater New Orleans Writing Project, founding and serving as Co-Director of the Southeast Regional Affiliate of the Scholastic Writing & Arts Awards, as well as working in various capacities for the National Council of Teachers of English Writing Recognition Programs. She also is a Fulbright Program Alumni. Her love for encouraging creative writing with young people led her to found and sponsor the award winning student art & literary magazine Prism for a decade. Since completing her CAPF, Catherine has facilitated poetry therapy groups in the Greater New Orleans area. She has served as NAPT conference chair in 2021 and 2023 as well as currently and is an Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Poetry Therapy.

Inclusion, Equity, and Social Justice Committee Chair

Jenna Robinson (she/her), MA, LMFT, PTR is a queer biracial expressive arts therapist and performance poet located in the Bay Area. Jenna is a steadfast advocate for empowering people at the margins to author their stories of resistance and resilience using written and oral traditions. She has been performing and teaching spoken word workshops to youth and adults since 2011. She received her M.A.in Expressive Arts Therapy from the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS), where she developed an approach melding narrative therapy, expressive arts, and spoken word poetry. Jenna has piloted and facilitated trauma-informed writing workshops with individuals, youth, and families throughout the Bay Area and Hawai'i, including survivors of intimate partner violence and system engaged youth. She currently runs an intergenerational therapeutic writing program for youth, families, and intergenerational community groups through Bay Area Creative. She is a professor in the Expressive Arts Therapy department at CIIS and at the Wright Institute's Counseling Psychology Program. Jenna currently serves as Inclusion, Equity, and Social Justice Chair and hosts our virtual Open Mics. She is the Regional Representative for San Francisco/Northern California. empowerednarrativestherapy.com

Education Chair

Ashley Schaaff (she/her), MA, APCC, is a poet and expressive arts therapist based in San Francisco, CA, an adjunct Master's in Counseling Psychology program instructor at the California Institute of Integral Studies, and currently training to become a Certified Poetry Therapist under the supervision/mentorship of Dr. Barbara Bethea. As a therapist, she is influenced by EXA, psychodynamic, Buddhist, and liberation psychologies. Ashley provides intensive case management and psychotherapy services to folks with severe mental illnesses, substance use challenges, and current or historic criminal legal system involvement. Passionate about prison abolition and amplifying the voices of those historically silenced, she has conducted poetry workshops in Michigan correctional facilities.

Marketing and Public Relations Chair

Tim Kelly, LCSW, BC-TMH, PTR, is a clinical social worker. He graduated Rutgers University in 2018 with his MSW and has been working in Private Practice, IOP, and Hospital based clinical work. Tim works to merge poetry and journaling with Internal Family Systems Theory, DBT Skills, and nature based work for creative and wholesome healing.

Publications Committee Chair

Karen (Ren) vanMeenen, MA, MA, CAPF, is NAPT Publications Chair, Museletter Editor, and Book Review Editor for the Journal of Poetry Therapy. She is a Senior Lecturer at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she teaches classes in Writing, Creative Writing, Literature, and Contemporary Art. She is the longtime Editor of the media arts journal Afterimage as well as the Director of Special Projects at the literary center Writers & Books, where she organizes large community reading programs such as Rochester Reads. She is a Principal Lecturer at Rochester Institute of Technology, where she teaches classes in Writing, Creative Writing, Literature, and Contemporary Art. She is the longtime Editor of the media arts journal Afterimage and facilitatea writing for personal growth and healing workshops in the community.

Membership Chair

Beth Couture (she/they), PhD, LSW, was the Director of the Counseling Center at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA, until the University's closure in June 2024. Her clinical interests include grief and loss, LGBTQIA+ concerns, neurodivergence, existential issues, transitions, and creative concerns. Before working at UArts, she worked in community mental health and with adults with autism. Beth is also a fiction writer. Her novella Women Born with Fur was published by Jaded Ibis Press in 2014, and she has stories in Gargoyle, Drunken Boat, The Yalobusha Review, and other print and online journals. She is currently in training for her PTR under the supervision/mentorship of Nancy Scherlong.

Board Members-at-Large

Sherry Reiter, PhD, LCSW, is a Registered Poetry and Drama Therapist and Founder of The Creative “Righting” Center, a distance poetry therapy training program leading to certification. She is also the creator of Poets-Behind Bars. Her book Writing away the Demons: Stories of Creative Coping through Transformative Writing is co-authored by clients and colleagues. Sherry is past President of The National Association for Poetry Therapy and The International Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy. She most recently served as Education Chair.

Journal of Poetry Therapy Editor

Nicholas Mazza Ph.D. PTR is Professor and Dean Emeritus at the Florida State University, College of Social Work, Tallahassee, FL. In 2024, he was appointed Poet-in-Residence at the College. Dr. Mazza holds Florida licenses in psychology, clinical social work, and marriage and family therapy. He has been involved in the practice, research, and teaching of poetry therapy for over 50 years. In addition to poetry therapy, Dr. Mazza has expertise in the areas of crisis intervention, death and trauma, family therapy, group work, clinical theories and models, and the arts in community practice.

Dr. Mazza is the founding (1987) and continuing editor of the Journal of Poetry Therapy: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Practice, Theory, Research, and Education. He is a widely published scholar and poet. Among his publications, Dr. Mazza is the author of Poetry Therapy: Theory and Practice, 3rd Edition (2022). He is past president and current board member (since 1985) of the National Association for Poetry Therapy (NAPT). In 1997, Dr. Mazza received the “Pioneer Award” and in 2017, the “Lifetime Achievement” award from NAPT.

Standing committees.

Education Committee makes recommendations to the Board about the development and implementation of the educational outreach of the Association and its membership.

Conference Committee plans and implements the annual NAPT conference, and engages in long-range conference planning.

Inclusion, Equity and Social Justice Committee expands both the diversity of membership, as well as that of conference attendees. This committee is dedicated to promoting the involvement, within the Association membership, of practitioners and/or professionals of diverse ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, linguistic, socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds.

Finance Committee oversees and reviews the funds of the Association and presents a proposed budget for approval at the annual meeting of the Board.

Membership Committee makes recommendations regarding membership procedures and focuses on recruitment, retention, marketing, and member services — in support of NAPT’s vision of cultivating poetry therapy throughout the world.

Public Relations Committee develops communications as deemed desirable for the general public, which explain the role, purpose, and objectives of the Association. The Committee’s responsibility is to increase public awareness and acceptance of poetry therapy and related forms of expressive writing.

Regional Representative Chair helps to connect regional reps with each other and with their communities and encourages and assists in the implementation of local events in order to promote the healing effects of poetry therapy.

Social Media Committee posts and monitors materials and responds to or fields inquires emerging from various social media sites and platforms relevant to poetry/bibliotherapy/expressive writing.

Publications Committee oversees the publication of the NAPT e-newsletter, The Museletter, and coordinates any other publications that the Board initiates.

Current Ad Hoc Committees include Nominating Committee, By-Laws Committee, Awards Committee and Website Revision Committee.

"NAPT" The National Association for Poetry Therapy

is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization

19001 S Richfield Ave, #20

Green Valley, AZ 85614