[ UPDATED NOVEMBER 2025 ]
MALISSA MORRELL
MA, ATR–BC, ATCS, LMFT
Doctoral Student in Social Work
Curriculum Vitae
EDUCATION
Doctoral Student (2024–present). College of Social Work, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
MA in Marital and Family Therapy, Clinical Art Therapy (2005). Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California.
BS in Family Science: Marriage, Family, and Human Development (2002). Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONS
Utah Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: License # 8470183–3902, active.
California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist: License # MFC 47656, Inactive.
Board–Certified and Registered Art Therapist (ATR–BC): American Art Therapy Association, Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB), active.
Art Therapy Certified Supervisor (ATCS): American Art Therapy Association, Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB), active.
LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, HONORS, AND AWARDS
Approved Art Therapy Continuing Education Provider (pending 2025-present). Art Therapy Credentials Board.
Founding Member, Core Advisory Council for Creative Arts Therapies and Arts in Health; Lead Art Therapy Advisor (2025–present). University of Utah, College of Fine Arts.
Student Representative, PhD Committee (2024–present). University of Utah, College of Social Work.
Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society (2025–present). University of Utah, College of Social Work.
Outstanding Contract Faculty (2025). University of Utah, College of Social Work, Master of Social Work Student Association.
Judy Watts Brady Contract Faculty Award (2023). University of Utah, College of Social Work.
Outstanding Contract Faculty (2022). University of Utah, College of Social Work, Master of Social Work Student Association.
Breast and Gynecological Cancer Research Advocate (2021–2024). Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah.
ACATE (Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education) through CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) Council Member (2017–2021).
President, Founding Vice President of Utah Art Therapy Association (2012–2018).
Excellence in Service Award (2014). National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs.
Honors Society Distinction (2005). Graduation from the Department of Marital and Family Therapy, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California.
Educational Foundation Scholarship (2004). California Association of Marital and Family Therapists (CAMFT).
Graduate Assistant (2003–2004). Department of Marital and Family Therapy, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California.
Trustees Scholarship (1994–1998). Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Art Therapy Principles and Practices (2025, 1 semester). 3 undergraduate or graduate elective credits; College of Fine Arts, University of Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah.
Treatment of Trauma (2018–present, 22 semesters). 3 graduate (MSW) elective credits; College of Social Work, University of Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah.
Couples and Family Therapy (2017–present, 28 semesters). 3 graduate (MSW) elective credits; College of Social Work, MSW Department, University of Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah.
Overview of Creative Therapies (2016–2021, 8 semesters). 3 graduate (MSW) elective credits; College of Social Work, MSW Department, University of Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah.
EDINBORO UNIVERSITY (Erie, Pennsylvania)
Practicum Course (2018–2019, 2 semesters). 3 graduate (CMHC) required credits (including group supervision); MA in Counseling Department; Edinboro University, Erie, Pennsylvania.
WESTMINSTER COLLEGE (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Bust that Psych Myth (Psych 101) (2019, 1 semester). 4 undergraduate credits; Psychology Department, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Adolescent Development (2018, 2 semesters). 3 undergraduate credits; Psychology Department, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Intro to Art Therapy (2018, 2 semesters). 3 undergraduate credits; Psychology Department, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah.
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY (Los Angeles, California)
Practicum Instructor (2008–2010, 5 semesters). 3 graduate (MFT) credits (included individual and group supervision); MFT/Art Therapy Department, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Editorial Assistant, Journal of Experiential Education (2025–present). Sage Publications.
Research Assistant to Dr. Joanna Bettmann Schaefer (2024–present). University of Utah College of Social Work.
Research Assistant to Dean Philip Osteen (2024–present). University of Utah, College of Social Work.
Research Team Volunteer (2000–2002). Dr. Mark Butler, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
PUBLICATIONS
Herrmann, T., Brenneman, R.K., Park, A., Nazarenko, E., Velayutham, A.B.P., Reeder, A., Morrell, M., & Bettmann, J.E. (accepted, 2025). Evaluating a mindful eating intervention to improve veterans’ eating control. Psychological Services.
Lau, C., Morrell, M., Lundahl, B., Palmer, L. (resubmitted, 2025). United States mandated reporters’ perspectives on reporting child maltreatment: A systematic review. Child Abuse & Neglect.
Morrell, M. (accepted, 2025). A review of Outdoor Learning in Higher Education: Educating Beyond the Seminar Room. Journal of Experiential Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259251405788
Zarate, R., Williams, S. P., Giudici, F., Morrell, M., Maxfield, L., & Miller, J. (2025). Arts-Mix: A pragmatist approach and framework for researcher-practitioners in mixed-methods and arts-based intervention research. Methods in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2025.100208
Metzl, E., Morrell, M., & Field, A. (2016). A pilot outcome study of art therapy & music therapy with hospitalized children. Canadian Art Therapy Association Journal, Vol. 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/08322473.2016.1170496
Morrell, M. (2011). Signs and symbols: Art and language in art therapy. Journal of Clinical Art Therapy, 1(1), 25–32. : https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/jcat/vol1/iss1/8
Metzl, E., & Morrell, M. (2008). The role of creativity in models of resilience: Theoretical exploration and practical applications. The Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 3(3), 303–318. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401380802385228
Morrell, M. & Metzl, E. (2005). Seeking treatment in California: Motivators, barriers, and perceptions. The Therapist: Magazine of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, 17(4), 25–26. https://www.academia.edu/73618924/Seeking_Treatment_in_California_Motivators_Barriers_and_Perceptions
MANUSCRIPTS UNDER REVIEW
Morrell, M. (under review, 2025). Treatment approaches for body image in art therapy: A review. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association.
Kumar, M., Mayer, K. E., Morrell, M., Edgley, S. R., Granger, E. K., Maxfield, L., Zahl, M. L., Zarate, R., Terrill, A. L. (under review, 2025). Masterstrokes of support: A mixed-methods proof-of-concept study to explore therapeutic use of art to enhance psychosocial support among stroke survivors in inpatient rehabilitation. Disability and Rehabilitation.
Morrell, M. (Under review, 2025). Social work students’ preparedness for fieldwork: Bridging academic and fieldwork instruction. Journal of Social Work Education.
PEER-REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS
Kumar, M., Mayer, K. E., Morrell, M., Edgley, S. R., Granger, E. K., Maxfield, L., Zahl, M. L., Zarate, R., Terrill, A. L. (2025). Masterstrokes of support: A mixed-methods proof-of-concept study to explore therapeutic use of art to enhance psychosocial support among stroke survivors in inpatient rehabilitation. Poster, World Stroke Congress (WSC), Barcelona, Spain.
Morrell, M. (2013). Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives: A multicultural approach to adolescents and their technologies. Paper presentation, National Conference of the International Educational Consultant Association; Chicago, Illinois.
Morrell, M., and Metzl, E. (2012). A pilot outcome study of art and music therapies at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Paper presentation, National Conference of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA); Savannah, Georgia
Morrell, M. (2012). Art therapy and trauma. Paper presentation, National Conference of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP); Orlando, Florida.
Metzl, E., and Morrell, M. (2011). Controlled chaos: A non–directive approach for art therapy groups. Paper presentation, National Conference of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA); Washington, D.C.
Morrell, M. (2011). My book hath made me: Books and journals for therapists and clients. All–day advanced practice workshop, National Conference of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA); Washington, D.C.
Morrell, M. (2005). The open book: Books, journals, and collaborations in art therapy. Paper presentation, National Conference of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA); Atlanta, Georgia.
INVITED PRESENTATIONS
Morrell, M. (2019, 2021). Bookmaking in Counseling and Psychotherapy. All–day workshop, Expressive Therapies Summit; Los Angeles, California.
Morrell, M. & Metzl, E. (2005). Seeking treatment in California: Motivators, barriers, and perceptions. Literature review commissioned by the California Association of Marital and Family Therapists. A summary of the paper was presented at the Annual Conference for California Association of Marital and Family Therapists (CAMFT); Sacramento, California.
GRANTS
Creative Forces Program, National Endowment for the Arts, and Department of Defense (2024). Applied, not awarded. Lead art therapist contributor for $5,000,000 grant application. University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Founder/Owner of The Therapy Studio (2016–present). Community art therapy space; Salt Lake City, Utah.
Private Practice (2009–present). Burbank, California; Salt Lake City, Utah.
Assistant Executive Director, Director of Expressive Therapies, and Clinical Art Therapist (2011–2023). La Europa Academy, Residential Treatment Center for adolescents and their families; Salt Lake City, Utah.
Director of Expressive Therapies (Artists in Residence) Program (2007–2011). Mark Taper and Johnny Mercer Artists Program, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA); Los Angeles, California.
Bilingual Outpatient Therapist (2005–2007). Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Clinic, Family and Child Guidance Center (including school–based therapy); Los Angeles, California.
Bilingual MFT/Art Therapist Trainee (2004–2005). Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Clinic, Metro Family and Child Guidance Center (included school–based therapy); Los Angeles, California.
Bilingual MFT/Art Therapist Trainee (2004). Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA); Los Angeles, California.
Direct Care Staff (2001–2003). RISE Inc. Assisted Living; Provo, Utah.
ADVANCED CLINICAL TRAININGS
NARM (Neuro-Affective Relational Model) (2026).
IFS (Internal Family Systems) Informed, Online Circle (2023).
EFT (Emotion Focused [Couples] Therapy) with Sue Johnson (2022).
EFFT (Emotionally–Focused Family Therapy), Intensive (2020).
RO–DBT (Radically–Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), Intensive (Nov 2019, Apr 2020).
ERP (Exposure Response Prevention), Intensive with Michael Twohig (2018).
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), Intensive with Michael Twohig (2017).
Sand tray Therapy, Beginning and Intermediate Training (2016–2017).
EMDR (Eye–Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Foundational (2016).
DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), 2–week Intensive (2015).