Nicole Nepote (she/hers), MA, LPC, ATR

Nicole has served as Chapter Delegate, communicating information between COATA and AATA and represents COATA at the AATA National Conference. Now, she serves as Government Affairs Chair, working at the local level to support Art Therapy advocacy efforts in Colorado.

Nicole is an Art Therapist and doubles as a Mental Health Counselor in both Illinois and Colorado. She earned a master's degree in Counseling; Art Therapy from Adler University in Chicago, Illinois in 2019 and is currently with LifeStance Health of Lakewood, Colorado.

Nicole counsels from a gentle balance of Dialectical Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral therapy and incorporates art therapy into her sessions. She believes that you do not need to be artist to engage in Art Therapy only that you keep an open mind in creatively self-reflecting. She finds inspiration from natural elements, spontaneity, and the act of being curious. In session, she advocates touching base with one's body to promote mindfulness, physically moving to shift energy, and breathwork to bring you to the present moment. While she utilizes art and creativity in session, she also does so in her free time to explore, learn, and promote personal development.

Kerry Jessup (she/hers), MA, LPC, LCAT, ATR-BC

Kerry is an art therapist with the Marcus Institute for Brain Health at CU Anschutz Medical Campus. She works with military veterans and first responders with traumatic brain injuries and related psychological health conditions. She is also a therapist with Peak Interactive Wellness, where she primarily works with young adults. She joined the CO-ATA board in 2020.

Kerry earned a BFA from Indiana University in 2012 and an MA from New York University in 2015. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado and is board-certified by the Art Therapy Credentials Board. Prior to joining the Marcus Institute, Kerry most recently worked at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan - a state psychiatric hospital in Denver - where she established art therapy as a clinical discipline. In her spare time Kerry enjoys climbing, yoga, and spending time with her friends and loved ones.

Rachel Cimino (she/hers), MPS, LPC, ATR-BC

Rachel began her career and her education in New York City, obtaining her Master's Degree in Art Therapy from Pratt Institute in 2013. She worked in various settings, including hospitals and schools, before moving to Colorado in 2019. She worked as an art therapist and a supervisor for the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo, before transitioning to private practice in 2023.

Rachel is passionate about advocacy, and helping healthcare professionals fight burnout. She believes in the power of art to bring wellness, explore trauma, and help people connect to others and themselves.

Erika Molina Poling (she/hers), MA, ATR, LPC

Erika is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist who has practiced for over a decade with individuals and groups in Chicago, Illinois, central Kansas, and as of recent, Louisville, Colorado. Originally from the border city El Paso, Texas, Erika received her BA at Texas State University in San Marcos, then completed her Master of Arts in Art Therapy program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Erika first worked as a caseworker and art therapist at Thresholds, a community mental health non-profit organization, where she provided therapy and art shows at a community art gallery and studio. After moving to Kansas Erika founded a full-time art therapy program at Saint Francis Ministries’ Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility where she spent 7 years administering art therapy services as well as supervising Bachelor’s- and Master’s-level interns. 

Erika is a member of the American and Colorado Art Therapy Associations, and she has facilitated didactic trainings and guest lectures for the University of New Mexico, Bethany College, Salina Regional Health Center, Kansas Association of Masters in Psychology, Salina Arts and Humanities, Spencer Museum of Art, and Brighton Cultural Arts Commission. She has also been featured in the Salina Journal for her work at Saint Francis Ministries. 

As an art therapist, Erika works from a combination of trauma-informed, relational, and psychodynamic approaches to help those struggling with mental and emotional challenges discover how art materials and metaphor can lead to a deeper understanding of one’s journey and healing. She currently owns and operates Story Within, LLC, her private practice located in Louisville, Colorado.

Diana Dykyj (she/hers) LPC, ATR-BC, EMDR Certified Therapist

Diana is a Board-Certified Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor with passion and experience using art therapy to help folks heal from trauma. She comes to the Board with experience engaging in both regional and national art therapy organizations, including positions as the AATA Short Film Festival Co-Chair, the Missouri Art Therapy Association Art Show Co-Chair, and the SIUE Student Art Therapy Association Art Show Chair during her graduate studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Diana has also served on the AATA Conference Committee and the COATA Conference Committee.

Diana received her MA in Art Therapy Counseling at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2013. She began her career as an art therapist in community mental health in Metro East St. Louis and the experience formed the foundation for her current work at Wild Haven Art Therapy, her solo private practice in Colorado. Diana is a strong believer in the role of connection and relationship for healing, both in our personal relationships and our community. This is woven into her therapeutic, organizational, and community engagement.

Rachel Duncan (she/hers), MA

Rachel is a Denver-based Certified Financial Social Worker and Art Therapist, who promotes financial healing through a mental health lens for adults. She co-founded the Money Healing Club, a membership experience for anyone yearning for a safe space to process the emotional impacts of money. She also offers one-on-one therapy as well as workshops and presentations. She has previously served on COATA as Chapter Delegate and Vice President, and also chairs the board of Dream Big Wellness, an Art Therapy collective based in Seattle, Washington.

Kerri Hernandez (they/she), MA, LPC, ATR

Kerri earned her MA in Transpersonal Art Therapy from Naropa University in 2020. She moved to Colorado in 2017 from Illinois where Kerri received a BDes in Graphic Design and a BFA in Photography from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Kerri works full-time as an outpatient Therapist at The Raleigh House. Kerri provides effective, collaborative, and client-centered treatment to a diverse community. 

As Public Relations Chair, Kerri is honored to serve the COATA community and share creative communications through various platforms.  

In her free time, Kerri enjoys hiking with her two dogs, attending Colorado Avalanche games, and filling her home with plants. 

Jennifer Jarret (she/hers), MAET, ATR

Jennifer is a Registered Art Therapist (ATR), Stress Reset Facilitator and Intuitive Artist. In partnership with Summers Way Foundation, Jennifer directs the Healing through the Arts program initiated at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. Jennifer offers Art Therapy interventions to Pediatric Oncology patients and their families.

A 1997 graduate of Lesley University, Jennifer has led a prestigious career including 13 years of Art in Medicine program development and direction for Adult Oncology patients. Her quality of care and clinical expertise has been recognized by The National Endowment for the Arts as Best Practice. As a former Board Member for National Organization for Arts in Healthcare (NOAH), Jennifer understands the importance of treating the whole person and not just the disease.

Jennifer enjoys being in nature, mountain biking, spending time with her family and friends.Description goes here

Janis Alicia Wille (she/hers), LPC, ATR, RYT

Janis is an Expressive Arts Therapist at her private practice called Creative Conscious Connections, LLC. She works primarily with women/womxn and offers Expressive Arts Therapy and Empowerment Mentoring. Janis is also adjunct faculty at Boulder Prep Highschool where she teaches Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Expressive Arts skills to teens. In 2020 Janis created a women’s online program called WEWILDE: Women Empowering Women via Intuition, Love, Dance & Expression. Currently Janis is most passionate about facilitating Integral Sound Healing & Vocal Toning Circles to help reduce stress and increase confidence. In her free time she and her husband facilitate bohemian style picnics and disco dance parties with their family business Boho Disco, LLC.

Jenni Lillie (she/hers)

Jenni is a graduate student at Saint May othe Woods College in the Master of Art Therapy with an emphasis in Counseling Program. Her background includes working with a non-profit, owning a photography business and founding an organization to fight human trafficking in he Denver area.

Her undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. She has worked in the corporate world as a brand designer and marketer for many years. Currently, Jenni works full-time as a Marketing Consultant while completing her graduate degree.

She loves spending time with her husband of 21 years, traveling and exploring. In her free time, Jenni also enjoys spending time with her teenagers and cheering them on in their various interests and sports.

As Student Liaison, she is excited to help Colorado Art Therapy Association grow and bring Art Therapy awareness to other students in the State of Colorado.

Kristin Owens (she/hers)

Kristin Owens is a graduate student at Prescott College in the Master of Science in Counseling Program with a concentration in Social Justice in Counseling. She is also pursuing a postgraduate certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy, on the track to obtaining her REAT. Kristin was the Chapter Delegate with the Iowa Art Therapy Association and looks forward to collaborative development with the Colorado Art Therapy Association. Kristin works as a Clinical Case Manager - HITT at WellPower, where she is also a member of the Safety and Equity Committee and advocates for social justice. She enjoys making music and art, dance, drama, writing, nature, and mindfulness-based meditation.