Elim Mak

Elim Mak is a Chinese Canadian American art therapist and artist based in New York City, located on Lenapehoking, the unceded and traditional territory of the Lenape people. For almost 15 years, she has treated clients of all ages and has developed evidence-based creative arts therapy programs in a wide range of inpatient and outpatient settings such as Union Settlement, Housing Works, and Flushing Hospital. Her specialty lies in social justice issues, racial and sexual trauma-informed care, chronic mental illness, domestic violence, homelessness, and addiction. She has co-curated client exhibitions, spearheaded creative arts therapy public awareness events, and guest lectured on art therapy, mental health, and AAPI topics. As a community activist, Elim focuses on anti-Asian racism and the gentrification of Manhattan’s Chinatown where she has family roots. Before becoming an art therapist, Elim worked for 17 years as a comic book/editorial illustrator, storyboard artist, and graphic designer. Elim’s guiding philosophy is that her Art Therapist Self and Artist Self are two wings of a bird: one must be deeply attuned to their own healing and creative pathways in order to be fully present with others.

MPS, Art Therapy & Creativity Development, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY (Graduated with Distinction); BFA, Studio Arts, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.