Amber Channell, RCAT, is the Managing Director of Clinical Services at CiiAT. She is a seasoned Registered Art Therapist, with over two decades of rich experience across diverse settings, such as women’s shelters, group homes, hospitals, and private practices. Her profound journey in art therapy primarily unfolded within a school division, where she effectively engaged with over 700 children and adolescents. This was achieved through a combination of individual sessions, art therapy groups, and educational classroom presentations.

Amber’s tenure as the Clinical Manager in a private practice further honed her expertise, where she excelled in supervising and providing professional development for practicing therapists. Her unwavering dedication to art therapy continues to fuel her career as CiiAT’s Managing Director of Clinical Services, where she is delighted to contribute her wealth of knowledge and experience to the development of new art therapy students and therapeutic arts practitioners.

Maddy Topnik serves as the Clinical Coordinator at the Virtual Art Therapy Clinic (VATC) of the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy (CiiAT). Bringing a strong background as a certified Medical Office Assistant (MOA), Maddy has further enhanced her expertise through certification as a Therapeutic Arts Practitioner. In her pivotal role, she oversees all practicum placements and manages the administration for each, ensuring a seamless integration of educational and clinical experiences for students. Maddy is instrumental in facilitating client access to the VATC clinic, offering targeted support and coordination that upholds the clinic’s standards of care. Her dedication to art therapy and mental health advocacy empowers her to provide invaluable assistance to the clinical team, deeply aligning with CiiAT’s mission to nurture the development of future art therapists. Maddy is committed to maintaining a compassionate, client-centered approach, fostering an environment that supports both the therapeutic journey of clients and the professional growth of practicum students.

Michelle Winkel is both the Co-Founder and Clinical Director of CiiAT. Her extensive educational background, including a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Art Psychotherapy, has laid a solid foundation for her professional journey. Her career has encompassed roles in various hospitals across Los Angeles and Sacramento, where she has been instrumental in delivering care through partial-day treatment programs and inpatient psychiatric facilities.

Later, Michelle led a dynamic and diverse team of 16 professionals, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and mental health therapists, within the Placer County School District. Her leadership and expertise in this role significantly impacted the community’s well-being.

Notably, Michelle has also acquired a Fellowship in Infant-Parental Mental Health from Harvard Children’s Hospital, equipping her with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle intricate family issues. Her work has extended to include pediatric hospital visits aimed at enhancing attachment and mental health within families.

Furthermore, Michelle has dedicated over 25 years to supervising and mentoring art therapists and Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs), both within the United States and internationally. Her contributions to the field have extended to teaching post-graduate programs at multiple educational institutions. Michelle’s extensive experience and commitment have left a lasting mark on the field of mental health and art therapy.