Melissa Sokoloff, PhD, RCAT, ATPQ, is a research associate and coordinator at ELL, serving as art therapy supervisor and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) officer. She holds a PhD in Applied Human Sciences from the University of Montreal, in which she focused on the art-based Inuit/non-Inuit encounter in the health care setting. This was an autoethnographic research-creation at the Ullivik Center in Montreal.

Mélissa has nearly 15 years of experience in the studio approach to art therapy with adults with mental health problems. Her vision of health is holistic and locally integrated into a larger context, in which creativity allows us to connect to existing resources and play an active role in society regardless of our life challenges. Also a naturopath, with a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences, and an artist, her interdisciplinary background leads her to live and work in this collective and collaborative vision of health, in connection with our direct environment and the nature of which we are a part.

She also has a private practice in art therapy and is a lecturer in art therapy at the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT).