Rachel Brandoff, PhD, ATR-BC, ATCS, LCAT, LPAT
Associate Professor
Coordinator, Art Therapy Concentration
Contact Information
4201 Henry Avenue
East Falls Campus
Philadelphia, PA 19144
215-951-2943
215-951-2907 fax
Associate Professor
Coordinator, Art Therapy Concentration
Biography
Dr. Brandoff is a board-certified, registered, New York State-licensed art therapist and supervisor. She has a doctorate in Expressive therapies and a masters in Mental Health Counseling and Art Therapy from Lesley University and has experience working in a variety of settings with many different populations experiencing trauma and major life changes. In addition to her clinical work, she has taught psychology and art therapy in several undergraduate and graduate programs since 2004. She was a founder of the Expressive Therapies Summit, an annual professional conference launched in NYC in 2010, and served for a decade as the Ethics Chair on the board of the New York Art Therapy Association (NYATA). She has maintained a private clinical practice for 12 years and provides supervision and consultation to art therapists at all stages of career.
Publications
Selected Publications
Recent
- Czerny, A. & Brandoff, R. (2024). The Empowerment Wheel: Healing from Relationship Abuse. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN-13: 978-1839977664 Brandoff, R.
- Brandoff, R. & Johnson, J. (2023). Art Therapy with Incarcerated Women. In N. Silton (Ed.), Exploring the Benefit of Creative Arts Therapies for Children, Adolescents, and Adults (pp. 49-79). IGI Global.
- Brandoff, R. & Sanchez, M. (2023). Art Therapy with Latin-American Immigrant Women. In N. Silton (Ed.), Exploring the Benefit of Creative Arts Therapies for Children, Adolescents, and Adults (pp. 23-48). IGI Global.
Peer-Reviewed
- Brandoff, R. (2022). Racial Bias in Paint and Art Materials. Art Therapy, 39(1), 50-53.
- Brandoff, R. (2021). Complicated Grief and Art Therapy. In V. Huet & L. Kapitan (Eds.), International Advances in Art Therapy Research and Practice: The Emerging Picture. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
- Brandoff, R. & Lombardi, R. (2016). Technology-Facilitated Art Therapy Supervision. In R.L. Garner (Ed.), Digital Art Therapy: Materials, Methods and Applications. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Brandoff, R. & Lombardi, R. (2012). Miles Apart: Two Art Therapists’ Experience of Distance Supervision. Art Therapy, 29(2), 93-96.
Non-Peer-Reviewed
- Brandoff, R. (2022, October 11). A voice for the incarcerated. Creative Connections.
- Brandoff, R. (2020). PAATA and Telehealth in the age of COVID-19. Pennsylvania Art Therapy Association Newsletter.
- Brandoff, R. & Kepic, M. (2020). Counseling Women with Body Image Concerns. In S. Degges-White, M., Kepic, K., Hermann-Turner, & W. Killam (Eds.), Counseling the Contemporary Woman: Interventions and Strategies across the Lifespan. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
- Brandoff, R. (2019). The Art of Grief. In C. Heilbrunn (Ed.), What Happens When the Analyst Dies: Unexpected Terminations in Psychoanalysis. New York, NY: Routledge.
- Brandoff, R. & Thompson, A. (2019). Quick & Creative Art Projects for (Very) Limited Budgets. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- Brandoff, R. (2016). Creativity in Art Therapy. In N. Silton (Ed.), Exploring the Benefits of Creativity in Business, Media and the Arts. Hershey, Pennsylvania: IGI Global.
Guest Editing
Peer-Reviewed
- Brandoff, R. (2022). Guest Editor on Frontiers Journal Article. Haeyen, S., Ziskoven, J., Heijman, J., & Joosten, E. (2022). Dealing with opposites as a mechanism of change in art therapy in personality disorders: A Mixed methods study. Frontiers in Psychology
- Brandoff, R. (2022). Guest Editor on Frontiers Journal Article. o Wei, Z. & Zhong, C. (2022). Museums and art therapy: A Review of the potential of museum art therapy. Frontiers in Psychology.
- Brandoff, R. (2021). Guest Editor on Science Direct / Elsevier Journal Article. Metzl, E. & Shamai, M. G. (2021). I carry your heart: A dialogue about coping, art, and therapy after a profound loss. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 74:101801.
- Brandoff, R. (2021). Guest Editor on Frontiers Journal Article.
- Haeyen, S. Jans, N, Glas, M. & Kolijn, J. (2021). VR health experience: A virtual space for arts and psychomotor therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 12:704613.
- Brandoff, R. (2021). Guest Editor on Frontiers Journal Article.
Xu, J. & Zhang, J. (2021). Art therapy: A complementary treatment for mental disorders. Frontiers in Psychology, 12:686005. - Brandoff, R. (2020). Guest Editor on Frontiers Journal Article.
Haeyen, S. & Staal, M. (2020). Imagery Rehearsal based Art Therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. 628717. - Brandoff, R. (2020). Guest Editor on Frontiers Journal Article.
Doron, E. (2020). Art therapy with Jewish ultra-orthodox children: Unique characteristics, benefits and conflicts. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. 02949. - Brandoff, R. (2019). Guest Editor on Sage Open Journal Article.
Beerse, M.E., Van Lith, T., & Stanwood, G.D. (2019). Is there a biofeedback response to art therapy? A technology-assisted approach for reducing anxiety and stress in college students. SAGE Open, 9(2). - Brandoff, R. (2018). Guest Editor on Frontiers Journal Article.
Haiblum-Itskovitch, S., Czamanski-Cohen, J., & Galili, G. (2018). Emotional response and changes in heart rate variability following artmaking with three different art materials. Frontiers in Psychology.
- Brandoff, R. (2015). Guest Editor on Sage Publications Textbook. Juntunen, C.L. & Schwartz, J.P. (2015). Counseling Across the Lifespan: Prevention and Treatment. Sage Publications
Mentoring
Dr. Brandoff actively promotes the value of mentoring within the counseling field and the CTC program. Dr. Brandoff mentors current and former CTC students and new professionals, by working with them on writing towards publication, inviting their participation on her research initiatives, and encouraging their own research.
Supervision
Dr. Brandoff has taken the following formal educational and clinical courses (in addition to regularly ongoing continuing education in supervision as required by her supervisory credential in art therapy) to be prepared to serve as a clinical supervisor to mental health professionals and trainees in counseling:
Relevant Courses Taken
- GEXTP 8005: Supervision in Expressive Therapies
Lesley University, Spring 2010, Doctoral Level Course - GEXTP 7999: Independent Study in Counselor Supervision
Lesley University, Fall 2010, Doctoral Level Course
Experience
- Graduate Level: Internship II in Community and Trauma Counseling
Thomas Jefferson University, Spring 2018, CTC Program - Graduate Level: Internship I in Community and Trauma Counseling
Thomas Jefferson University, Fall 2017, CTC Program - Graduate Course: Internship II field experience
College of New Rochelle, Spring 2009, 2010, Mental Health Counseling & Art Therapy - Graduate Course: Supervision in Practicum field experience
College of New Rochelle, Spring 2009, Mental Health Counseling & Art Therapy - Graduate Course: Internship I field experience
College of New Rochelle, Fall 2008, 2009, Mental Health Counseling & Art Therapy - Undergraduate Independent Study: Internship Supervision
Marymount Manhattan College, 2008 – 2012, Art Therapy Minor in Psychology Program
Teaching
Courses Taught at Jefferson
- Art Therapy Assessment
- Ethics, Orientation and Professional Standards in Art Therapy
- Human Growth & Development
- Studio Techniques and Materials in Art Therapy
- Practicum II - Theory and Practice of Counseling
- Internship I - Theory and Practice of Counseling
- Internship II -Theory and Practice of Counseling
- Groupwork in Counseling and Art Therapy)
- Counseling and Art Therapy Assessment
- Undergraduate course: Introduction to Art Therapy
- Health and the Art Experience (University-wide course electi
Research & Scholarship
Areas of Interest: Grief & bereavement, Tele-supervision & distance supervision in counseling and art therapy, Art in healthcare, arts in healing, Ethics in practice, Immersive art experiences as tools in healing and accessibility, Narrative therapy, storytelling, graphic medicine, and comics in therapy, Enhanced creativity for healing and functioning, Advocacy in education and clinical practice, Clinical approaches to working with survivors of traumatic abuse, Editorial review in my subject areas, Art therapy and Neurodiversity (including ASD), Clinical interventions with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and Relationship violence (including DV/IPV)
Grants
- Thomas Jefferson University, Nexus Learning Grant - $6,000 funded
Project Title: Health and the Art Experience- Course Development
Leadership & Advocacy
Leadership & Service
Local
- Chair, Academic & Professional Standards (APS) Committee, CTC Program at Thomas Jefferson University, 1/2017- present.
- Member, Faculty Advisory Council, Thomas Jefferson University Committee, 3/2021-present.
- Member, University Art Committee, Thomas Jefferson University Committee, 2/2022-present
- Member, Faculty Affairs Committee, College of Health Professions at Thomas Jefferson University, 7/2019- 6/2021; 7/2023- 6/2025.
- Member, Ad-Hoc Faculty Affairs Committee, College of Health Professions at Thomas Jefferson University, 7/2021- 6/2022.
Regional
- Member, Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA), 2017 – Present.
- Member, Pennsylvania Art Therapy Association (PAATA), 2017 – Present.
- Founder/Administrator, Philadelphia Area Coalition for Creative Arts Therapists (PACCAT), 2018 – Present.
- Ethics Chair, New York Art Therapy Association (NYATA), 2009 – 2017.
- Member, New York Art Therapy Association (NYATA), 2004 – Present.
- Recording Secretary, New York Coalition of Creative Arts Therapists (NYCCAT), 2004 – 2007.
- Member, New York Coalition of Creative Arts Therapists (NYCCAT), 2004 – Present.
- Taskforce member, NYC Regional Arts in Healthcare (Chapter of SAH), 2011-2012
- Member, Strategic Task Force on Trauma and Mental Health, US DHHS Region II, Office of Women’s Health, 2008-2012
- Student Liaison, New England Art Therapy Association (NEATA), 2003-2004
National
- Member, American Counseling Association (ACA), 2018 – Present.
- Member, Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC), 2018 – Present.
- Member, American Art Therapy Association (AATA), 2002 – Present.
- Scholarship Committee, American Art Therapy Association (AATA), 2021 – Present.
- New Media Committee, American Art Therapy Association (AATA), 2012 – Present.
- Conference Committee, American Art Therapy Association (AATA), 2008 – Present.
- Member, Coalition for Art Therapy Educators (CATE), 2010- Present.
- Job Analysis Committee, Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB), 2012 – 2013.
Advising
Dr. Brandoff has advised 10 to 15 counseling students each academic year in the Community and Trauma Counseling since 2017.
Counseling
Dr. Brandoff earned a doctorate degree from Lesley University’s Expressive Therapies Program in 2018, and a master’s degree in Lesley University’s Mental Health Counseling program with a specialization in Art Therapy in 2004. She is a licensed creative arts therapist (LCAT) in New York, and a licensed professional art therapist (LPAT) in New Jersey, and is credentialed as a registered, board-certified art therapist (ATR-BC) and a credentialed supervisor (ATCS) through the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). Dr. Brandoff has over 20 years of counseling experience, working with individuals, couples, and families from diverse backgrounds in healthcare, community mental health agencies, schools, and in private practice. Dr. Brandoff has primarily served adults who have experienced trauma and grief or are coming out of other crisis situations.