Dr. Girija Kaimal (EdD, MA, ATR-BC) is a Professor in and the Interim Chair of the Creative Arts Therapies department at the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions and was the former Assistant Dean for the Division of Human Development and Health Administration. In her Health, Arts, Learning and Evaluation (HALE) research lab, she examines physiological and psychological outcomes of creative visual self-expression. Girija currently leads studies examining arts-based approaches to health among cancer caregivers and active duty military service members and veterans (currently funded by the US Department of Defense and the National Endowment for the Arts). She has led longitudinal evaluation research studies examining arts-based approaches to school leadership development and teacher incentives and won national awards for her research. Girija has served on the Board of Directors and was the former President of the American Art Therapy Association. She also serves as an advisor and editorial board member of several arts and health journals and practices as a visual artist. Her art explores the intersection of identity and representation of emotion.
Published Books
Her most recent book Arts-Based Approaches to Promote Mental Health and Well-Being as well as its predecessor The Expressive Instinct: How creative works and imagination help us survive and thrive are available here:
The books are also available here:
Arts-Based Approaches to Promote Mental Health and Well-Being
The Expressive Instinct: How Imagination and Creative Works Help Us Survive and Thrive