Practice Owner & Supervisor
Tonia Herrero, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT (she/her)
President/Owner/Supervisor
Licensed & Board-Certified Art Therapist
Tonia Herrero (she/her) is the owner and supervising Art Therapist of East Bay Art Therapy. Tonia is a cisgendered woman with Spanish, Ashkenazi, Irish and Native American (Sac and Fox) ancestry. Tonia is a Board Certified Art Therapist with the Art Therapy Credentials Board and a Licensed Certified Art Therapist in the state of Oregon. She has eight years of clinical experience in the field of art therapy and specializes in adolescents and adults with substance-use concerns (or in recovery from addiction/alcoholism) as well as dual-diagnosis (substance-use plus mental health diagnosis/es). Tonia has long term sobriety/recovery herself and is passionate about working with folks in recovery or wanting to enter recovery from substance-abuse. Her approach to art therapy is trauma-informed and draws influence from Relational Psychodynamic and Humanistic theories such as Person-Centered, Existential, and Gestalt. She is also trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which informs her approach. Tonia is a Health At Every Size (HAES) and Intuitive Eating informed therapist which informs her work with clients struggling with their relationship to food and body image.
Tonia obtained her Bachelors of Fine Arts from California College of the Arts, an Art Teaching Credential from CSU East Bay, and a Masters of Professional Studies in Art Therapy and Creativity Development from Pratt Institute. Tonia has a long history of facilitating the powerful therapeutic relationship between art and young people. In her first career, she developed and directed an art academy at a public high school in Oakland where she was a full-time art teacher for ten years. Inspired by the healing power of the arts and the relationships she built with her students, Tonia decided to return to her hometown of Brooklyn, New York to pursue graduate studies in Art Therapy. During her graduate program, Tonia furthered her passion for adolescents as she completed various clinical internships providing individual and group art therapy to pre-teens and adolescents with complex trauma and other behavioral and mental health concerns in both residential and school settings.
Tonia has held various positions as an art therapist at facilities across the bay area such as; residential treatment facilities for teens and young adults in Marin County and the East Bay, transitional housing for adults with severe mental illness on the Peninsula, inpatient psychiatric hospitals in Oakland and Concord, and public high schools in Hayward and San Jose. Tonia founded East Bay Art Therapy in March of 2019.
Tonia is available to see individuals ages 13 and up at the Oakland office on Wednesdays and Thursdays and facilitates the Young Womens Art Therapy Group. She also works off-site providing art therapy groups at public schools in Alameda County and facilitates arts-based trainings, professional developments, and workshops throughout the SF Bay Area. Tonia supervises all other EBAT therapists.
ATR-BC #18-101 (National)
LCAT #ART-C-10214083 (Oregon)
Fee: $185 / session
On-Site Therapists
Melodee Robinson, MA, AMFT, ATR (she/her)
Registered Art Therapist
Melodee Robinson (she/her) is an Oakland native who loves digital art. She received a BA in the Practice of Art from UC Berkeley in 2009. She obtained a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Art Therapy from Notre Dame De Namur University in 2015. She currently practices as a Registered Art Therapist and is working towards becoming board certified.
Melodee utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as well as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) techniques when working with individuals, couples, and families. She is trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and uses CPT techniques to address trauma. She takes a trauma informed approach when using art therapy in conjunction with play therapy and talk therapy.
Melodee has worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings providing therapy for children as young as 3 years old and adults up to 79 years old. Melodee specializes in working with young people that have a history of trauma and is especially passionate about working with black individuals, couples, and families. As a black woman, she believes in increasing awareness of mental health and utilizing art therapy to aid in healing historical trauma within the black community. In addition to the black community, she enjoys working with people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds as well as the LGBTQ+ population.
Melodee loves going shopping and having dancing parties with her 4 children in the living room. In her own art making practice, she enjoys photography and videography.
Melodee is available to see individuals ages 5 and up, families, and couples at our office in Oakland on Wednesdays and Saturdays or virtually on Thursdays. She also has worked off-site providing groups for Human Good (affordable housing) in Oakland.
ATR #21-260 (National)
AMFT #122945 (CA)
Supervised by Amy Backos, ATR-BC, PhD, PSY #24943
Fee: $165 / session
Lauren Chester, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT (she/they)
Licensed & Board-Certified Art Therapist
Lauren Chester (she/they) is a registered and board-certified art therapist (ATR-BC) who is passionate about cultivating environments where people can practice sharing their whole selves. Lauren believes in the process of art as a conduit for communication and expression and is passionate about the use of art to encourage meaningful conversations. Lauren’s practice of Art Therapy has been heavily influenced by the Disability Justice and Healing Justice movements and is non-hierarchical, co-creative, and gender-affirming.
Lauren’s journey as a clinician began with formal education (a Bachelor’s of Fine Art at the University of Georgia and a Master’s of Professional Studies in Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts in New York City). However after navigating a major health crisis in 2013 Lauren became passionate about understanding how our minds and bodies can work together, and pursued additional training in supportive modalities, such as yoga (200-hour plus additional training in restoratives and trauma sensitive yoga).
Lauren has worked in a wide range of clinical and community-based settings and with a range of populations in over 14 years of experience, including: schools (K-12), hospitals, affordable housing, day treatment, and HIV treatment and prevention. Lauren focuses on work with clients who are navigating: grief, anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, addiction, trauma and themes of identity such as gender and sexuality. A significant portion of Lauren’s clinical work (6 years) has been with supporting clients who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
When not working in Art Therapy, Lauren spends time loving their rescue dog and bestie Tucker, learning about motorcycles, digging around in the leaves for mushrooms and herbalism. Lauren's future goals include building out a schoolie as a mobile art studio, and using it to host meaningful conversations in the community through art making.
Lauren is available to see individuals ages 8 and up at the Oakland office on Tuesdays (or virtually). She is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in the state of New York and available to work with NY-based clients virtually. She facilitates the Teen Girls (H.S.) Art Therapy Group on Sundays. Lauren has worked off-site for East Bay Art Therapy providing art therapy groups for Santa Clara County K-12 schools and currently provides off-site groups at Human Good (affordable housing) in South San Francisco.
ATR-BC #13-264 (National)
LCAT #001665 (New York)
Fee: $185 / session
Theresa Hong, MPS, ATR (she/her)
Registered Art Therapist & Intake Coordinator
Theresa Hong (she/her) is a Registered Art Therapist with eight years of experience in the field. She obtained a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Visual Arts at Emory University. After years of experiencing the healing powers of art herself, Theresa decided to pursue a Master of Professional Studies in Art Therapy and Creativity Development at Pratt Institute. Her experience as an art therapist includes individuals and groups of all ages at K-12 schools, inpatient & outpatient psychiatric, and substance use treatment settings. Her therapeutic approach is eclectic and is client-centered while also considering childhood experiences and relational patterns. Theresa believes that the art-making process in itself is therapeutic and she encourages clients to explore their creativity and follow their intuition in art therapy treatment. She brings structure to sessions but will always follow the client’s lead.
Theresa focuses on work with clients who experience anxiety, depression, severe mood disorders, and neurodivergent individuals and helps clients towards self-discovery of patterns in behaviors/relationships. She is passionate about supporting those who struggle with self-esteem, self-worth, body image, shame/guilt, identity. Theresa helps clients to utilize the art-making process to communicate about topics that do not come easily with words, or even to discover something they did not know needed to be communicated. She believes that art-making can empower clients to take ownership of their mental wellness and make lasting change. Theresa aids individuals in developing tools for managing symptoms/stressors outside of sessions.
Theresa is certified in: trauma-informed art therapy, treating anxiety in children & adolescents, art therapy approaches to resilience & stress-reduction, yoga, and expressive arts therapy. Theresa is a registered yoga teacher (RYT).
Theresa is available to see individuals ages 11 and up at the Oakland office on Mondays (or virtually) and facilitates the Middle School Girls Art Therapy Group (beginning Fall 2023). Theresa has worked off-site for East Bay Art Therapy providing art therapy groups at high schools in East Side Union High School District in San Jose. She currently provides art therapy groups off-site at Evolve Outpatient Treatment Center in Danville. Theresa also works as EBAT's Intake Coordinator for our Oakland office/private practice.
ATR #20-124 (National)
Fee: $165 / session
Megan Fradley-Smith, MS, ATR (she/her)
Registered Art Therapist
Megan Fradley-Smith (she/her) was born and raised in the balmy breezes of South Florida, always with a pencil in hand and a drawing in the works. She received a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology, with a minor in general education, from the University of Florida in 2006. She obtained a Master's of Science in Art Therapy from Florida State University in 2009. Megan is a Registered Art Therapist and is working towards board-certification.
Megan has worked in the clinical art therapy field for nearly a decade, within varied settings and populations. From behavioral health centers to in-patient residential facilities, Megan has served clients ranging in ages from 2-80 years old. Trained in trauma-focused play and art therapy, Megan deeply believes in the power of meeting clients where they are and assisting them on their journey of self-discovery. Her work is informed by Developmental and Cognitive-Behavioral theory, with an anchor in Humanistic psychology. Additionally, Megan is a lover of nature and wildlife, and enjoys bringing the outside in during the therapeutic process.
Megan focuses on work with clients struggling with Anxiety, Personality Disorders, Identity issues, and Mood Disorders. A mother herself, she passionately supports the needs of birthing and postpartum people.
Megan is available to see individuals 10 and up at the Oakland office on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays (or virtually).
ATR #22-299 (National)
Fee: $165 / session
Off-Site Therapists
Angelina Nader, MA, ATR-P, AMFT (she/her)
Art Therapist
Angelina Nader (she/her) is an Art Therapist and AMFT with a multifaceted background. Raised in the city of Los Angeles, Angelina cultivated a deep passion for dance and art from an early age. After working in the fashion and aviation industries, she transitioned into the field of mental health. Her educational journey led her to earn a Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy and Art Therapy from Loyola Marymount University. Angelina is currently a Provisional Registered Art Therapist, actively working toward full professional credentials in Art Therapy.
Angelina's therapeutic experience encompasses both private practice and community mental health settings, where she collaboratively engages with individuals, couples, families, and groups. Her approach is firmly grounded in trauma-informed care, examining generational patterns through a compassionate humanistic lens. She incorporates Somatic, EMDR, and DBT interventions into her practice. Growing up in a multicultural environment has instilled in Angelina a profound appreciation for multifaceted identities, which she integrates into her therapeutic approach.
Outside of her professional life, she channels her creativity by honoring her cultural heritage through activities like lei making, jewelry crafting, mindful painting, and dance. Angelina brings a unique blend of experience and passion to her therapeutic work, creating a welcoming and supportive space for her clients to explore their own transformative journeys.
Angelina works off-site providing art therapy groups at K-12 schools in greater Santa Clara County (through the Santa Clara County Office of Education).
ATR-P (National)
Supervised by Tonia Herrero, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT
Merna Katout, MA, ATR-P, AMFT (she/her)
Art Therapist
Merna has always been an artist and avid lover of anything creative since she was a little girl. She was born and raised in the SF Bay Area. Merna earned her Bachelors in psychology with a minor in art from Notre Dame De Namur University in Belmont, CA in 2014. She obtained a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Art Therapy also from NDNU in 2017. She currently practices as an ATR-Provisional and is working on advancing her art therapy credentials.
Through her love for art and desire to support people on their healing journey, she utilizes a trauma informed and psychodynamic approach when providing art therapy in combination with talk therapy. She incorporates a focus on clients' strengths and provides coping tools to help manage day to day struggles and hardships.
Merna has worked in a variety of settings and populations, including: schools, hospitals, addiction residential treatment, and clinic settings. She has provided individual and group art therapy to children, teens, adults, and families. As a Middle Eastern woman (Palestinian) and fluent in Arabic, she believes in increasing awareness and promoting the benefits of art therapy within the Middle Eastern community. Additionally, she enjoys working with people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds and takes pride in being culturally sensitive.
Merna loves reading, exploring new places/restaurants, and spending time with her dog. In her own art making practice, she loves working with a variety of media including acrylic paint, colored pencils, and completing do-it-yourself projects. Her art has been featured in exhibitions throughout the SF Bay Area.
Merna works off-site providing art therapy groups at Sutter Mills Peninsula Medical Center (Adolescent Psychiatric Unit) in San Mateo, CA.
ATR-P #23-249 (National)
Supervised by Tonia Herrero, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT
Daphne Ong, MA, P-RDT, AMFT (she/her)
Drama Therapist
Daphne Ong (she/her) is a Drama Therapist who grew up in Singapore with theatre under her skin and the arts in her blood. She moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2017 where she graduated with her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Drama Therapy from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Daphne is a Provisional Registered Drama Therapist and is working towards full professional credentialing in drama therapy.
Daphne's therapy work spans both private practice model and community mental health with individuals and groups. Her work is trauma-informed, and includes somatically-informed experiential methods and psychodrama. Having grown up in a multicultural and multilingual environment, intersectionality is an integral part of Daphne's therapeutic approach.
Before coming to therapy, Daphne spent 10 years as a theatre performer where she witnessed the healing and connecting power of drama. She maintains a special interest in developing therapeutic theatre works, especially in social justice.
Daphne works off-site providing drama therapy groups at Sutter Mills Peninsula Medical Center (Adolescent Psychiatric Unit) in San Mateo, CA.
P-RDT #59 (National)
AMFT #122953 (California)
Supervised by Roni Alperin RDT/BCT, LMFT #94472
