Jane Ferris Richardson is an art therapist and art therapy educator teaching in the undergraduate program at Lesley University. Her areas of academic focus are art therapy and child psychology, and she teaches Principles of Art Therapy, Studio Based Art Therapy, and Art, Healing and Community in South Africa. Jane has received grants to pursue her artwork and organize exhibitions, and for travel and study abroad. Most recently she visited Reggio Emilia, Italy, to explore connections between the Reggio Emilia approach to early education and art therapy for children with special needs.
Her private practice of art therapy specializes in young children and children with special needs, and support to their families and schools. She exhibits her paintings and collages regularly. Her research interests include how art and art therapy support children on the autism spectrum, the connections between art and play therapy, and the global context of art therapy practice. She has presented her work at international conferences in the US, Japan and (via her film on expressive therapies with children) in China.
Jane holds an EdD in Humanistic Education and Human Services from Boston University, where she held a fellowship as Managing Editor of the Journal of Education. She also has Master's degrees from Lesley in Art Therapy, and from Bank Street College of Education in Early Childhood Education.