Gillian W. Datlen

Gillian is an Art Psychotherapist and PhD candidate in Social Research Methods supervised by Professor Flora Cornish and Professor Sandra Jovchelovitch.

Gillian has almost twenty years of experience, including working in education as an Art Teacher and Lecturer, and in health and education as an Art Psychotherapist. She holds a BDES in Graphic Design from the University of Dundee, a PGDE in Art and Design (Secondary Education) from the University of Glasgow and an MA in Art Psychotherapy from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Gillian is interested in trauma, intersectionality and the role of art in recovery and healing. Her Doctoral research focuses on the topic of "Evaluating post-disaster psychosocial community recovery” and is in collaboration with Latimer Community Art Therapy (LCAT), a grassroots charity which evolved following the Grenfell Tower Fire in 2017. LCAT provides accessible professional mental health support through Art Psychotherapy interventions and community services and activities.

Gillian’s research is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).

Publications:

Datlen, G. W., & Pandolfi, C. (2020). Developing an online art therapy group for learning disabled young adults using WhatsApp. International Journal of Art Therapy, 25(4), 192–201.

Baum, Datlen, Eastwood and Elliston (2022). On the Outskirts: Founding an Intersectional Feminist Art Therapy Charity in Collier, J., Eastwood, C., & Talwar, S. K. (2022). Intersectionality in the Arts Psychotherapies. London: Jessica Kingsley.