Programme Leader, MA Art Therapy

Dr Ronald P.M.H. Lay, MA, AThS-HF, AThR, ATR-BC

Ron Lay
  • Doctor of Education, The University of Western Australia, Australia
  • MA (Art Therapy), Concordia University, Canada
  • BA (Fine Arts), University of Guelph, Canada
  • BA (Psychology), Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada

Grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy and creative methodologies, Dr Ronald Lay’s prolific global career blends practice, academia, research and informed humanitarian pursuits. 

His years of experience working full-time as a forensic art therapist in California’s Department of Mental Health asserts the invaluable role that practice-based education—guided by international standards of practice, core competencies and ethics—instigates while  strategically preparing and nurturing art therapists for socially responsive and culturally-informed professional practice demanded by emerging mental health needs, trends and research in an ever-changing world. This is particularly essential in geographical regions wherein art therapy is being embraced and recognised as a viable, meaningful and relevant discipline.

The California State Legislature awarded him the prestigious Sustained Superior Accomplishment Award, a two-year honour, on two separate occasions, recognising his art therapy and innovative contributions to the facility. Dr Lay developed a sustained art therapy internship at this setting, providing clinical supervision and holding several leadership positions including Acting Chief of Rehabilitation Therapy Services and Chair of the Professional Rehabilitation Therapy Practice Group. He was an active member on several local and state-wide committees that addressed assessment, development, budgets, documentation, quality assurance, credentialing, treatment intervention and planning as well as continuing professional development across all disciplines.

Dr Lay is a board-certified and registered art therapist. He maintains professional credentials and memberships nationally and internationally, including the Art Therapists’ Association Singapore (ATAS); the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA); the American Art Therapy Association (AATA); and the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). He has actively contributed to these as well as the Northern California Art Therapy Association through membership on committees to nominate board members, planning international conferences and training events, providing workshops and presentations at peer-juried conferences and providing consultation.

Dr Lay is an accomplished and award-winning artist. His artistic inquiry is in the area of memory, the passing of time and the psychological interplay between these, and the mixed media he explores (photographs, found objects and acrylic paint). He has donated his personal artwork to several group auctions to raise funds and awareness to several charitable causes, including mental health, breast cancer, heart and stroke, HIV/AIDS and community arts projects. In relation to this, he has spent a considerable amount of time volunteering in Africa.

Dr Lay's research focuses on the impact of experiential learning within postgraduate training on professional practice. He is interested in how art therapy is being applied within Asian and local contexts; the impact of honouring and integrating art and art-making practices as well as mental health and healing traditions that are cultural and context-specific within art therapy and art therapy education; and, the long-term impact of overseas art, culture and mental health immersive service-learning trips on training and practice.

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Interviews for book chapters

  • Chapter 15:’ Culture and Context’ in Mental Health, in Threading Worlds: Conversations on Mental Health – Singapore and Mental Health, ed. H.M. Kwang (Penguin Random House SEA) (2022)
  • ‘Global Art Therapy’, in Emerging Perspectives in Art Therapy: Trends, Movements & Development, eds. R Carolan and A Backos (Routledge) (2018)
  • Terrorist rehabilitation: The US experience in Iraq (CRC Press) (Chapter 11: ‘Art of War) (2012)

Publication review and endorsements (invited)

  • Virtual Art Therapy: Research and Practice (Routledge) (2022)
  • Arts Therapies in International Practice Informed by Neuroscience and Research (Routledge) (2022)
  • Healing Trauma in Children with Clay Field Therapy: How Sensorimotor Art Therapy Supports the Embodiment of Development Milestones (North Atlantic Books) (2021)
  • Healing Trauma with Guided Drawing: A Sensorimotor Approach to Bilateral Body-mapping (North Atlantic Books) (2018)
  • Introduction to Art Therapy Research (3rd ed.) (Routledge)(2025); (2nd ed.) (Routledge) (2017)
  • Arts Therapists in Multidisciplinary Settings: Working Together for Better Outcomes (Jessica Kingsley Publishers) (2016)

  • Goldsmiths-LASALLE Partnership Innovation Fund, LASALLE College of the Arts; Singapore (2018)
  • Scholarship recipient and participant, Therapeutic Arts Programme, Global Alliance Africa; Nairobi, Kenya (2017)
  • First Place, Professional, awarded at the Fifth Annual Napa State Hospital Employee Art Show sponsored by the National Arts Programme; Napa, US (2011)
  • Sustained Superior Accomplishment Award, presented by the California State Legislature for sustaining superior job performance over a two-year period and for exceptional contributions to Napa State Hospital; Napa, US (2009)
  • Best-In-Show and First Place, Professional, awarded at the First Annual Napa State Hospital Employee Art Show sponsored by the National Arts Programme; Napa, US (2007)
  • Sustained Superior Accomplishment Award, presented by the California State Legislature (2002)

Presentations

  • Paper presentations, the American Art Therapy Association’s (AATA) Annual International Conference; various cities across the US (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2010, 2008)
  • Paper presentations and workshops, the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA); various cities across Australia, New Zealand and Singapore (2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010)
  • Invited keynote and panelist, ‘The International Music and Ageing Seminar’. Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Medical Gerontology, Mercer Institute, Music and Health Ireland, St. Joseph’s Hospital; Dublin, Ireland (2023)
  • Invited presenter, ‘The Impact of Progressing the Practice and Education of Art Therapy in Southeast Asia: Asserting Creativity, Mental Health and Presence in Context’. World Art Therapy Conference (online) (2023) https://www.artstherapies.org/course/world-art-therapy-conference
  • Invited presenter, The Aesthetics and Sciences of Art Research Group, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Aesthetics and Sciences of Art Research Group, Faculty of Art and Design, Institut Teknologi Bandung; Indonesia (2022, 2019)
  • Invited presenter, Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA); Beijing, China (2024, 2023, 2021)
  • Invited keynote address (2019) and panel moderator (2018, 2017), Healing Through Arts: Bridging Arts & Medicine through Collaboration & Practice Forum as part of the Arts and Healing Festival, Causeway Exchange; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore
  • Invited plenary speaker, ‘Art Therapy for Counselling: Relation to Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being of Students’, International Counselling Seminar 2019: Contemporary Counselling Approach Towards Generating Students’ Well-Being in the 21st Century; National Council of Counselling Teachers in collaboration with School Management Division, Ministry of Education Malaysia Institute Pemikiran Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Universiti Utara Malaysia, and Kuala Lumpur Education Department; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2019)
  • Presentation/workshop, ‘Well Being and the Work Place: An Art Therapy Perspective on Purposefully Addressing Compassion Fatigue’, Nourish: Arts Therapy Wellbeing Conference, Ragamuffin Cambodia, Partners for Social Justice & Naropa University (US); Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2018)
  • Speaker, ‘Art Therapy Development and Professional Training in Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong & Singapore Creative Arts Therapy Exchange: Symposium & Workshops Towards Health in Body, Mind & Spirit’, Centre for Community Cultural Development & New Life: Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association; Hong Kong (2015)
  • Keynote speaker, ‘Transformation, Acknowledgment, Other: The Emergence of Art Therapy in Singapore’, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Congress on Interdisciplinary Approach for Research and Development; Bangkok, Thailand (2015)
  • Paper presentations, ‘Art therapy in Singapore: An analytical reflection of an emerging psychotherapy discipline’, Current Issues in Psychotherapy/Politics and Psychotherapy track; and, ‘Forensic art psychotherapy with older adults: Practitioner-based critical reflections’, modalities track, 7th World Congress for Psychotherapy; Durban, South Africa (2014)
  • Invited VIP presenter, ‘The Therapeutic Significance of Integrating Music with Art Therapy Services’. 2013 International Conference on Art Therapy – Mixing Colors and Cultures: Art Therapy in a Melting Pot; Silk Art Creative Park of China; Shenzhen, China (2013)
  • Paper presenter, ‘The Therapeutic Significance of Integrating Music with Art Therapy Services’. Presentation provided at the International Association for Music & Medicine Conference; Bangkok, Thailand (2012)
  • Invited speaker, ‘Culture Heritage Research & Academic Network’. 4th Fine Arts International Conference 2012 provided in conjunction with the United Nations Educational Scientific & Culture Organization (UNESCO), the Indonesian Institute of Arts, Dali University, Birmingham Institute of Arts & Design, University of Northern Iowa, and the China Conservatory of Music sponsored by Srinakharinwirot University; Bangkok, Thailand (2012)
  • Paper presenter, ‘Trust within Forensic Mental Health: Balancing the Therapeutic Alliance with Practical Concerns’. 2nd Asian Conference on Psychology and the Behavioral Sciences; Osaka, Japan (2012)
  • Guest lecture, ‘Forensic art therapy: The use of technology to re-connect’. Lecture provided at the 2nd World Congress of Arts and Therapies; Budapest, Hungary (2011)
  • Co-presented the paper, ‘A New Order: The practical application of art therapy within an evolving forensic mental health environment’. 9th Annual International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services Conference; Edinburgh, Scotland (2009)

Projects, consultation and humanitarian efforts

  • Organiser and facilitator of the 2-day workshop, ‘Let’s Talk Art and Mental Health & Gifting Mental Health: An Arts Workshop’, at Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, Singapore (2022)
  • Organiser and facilitator of MA Art Therapy’s community art-based open art studio at LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore as part of Enable Asia’s annual The Enabling Festival, on the theme of Touch (2022)
  • Organiser and leader, MA Art Therapy Art, Culture & Mental Health overseas student immersive service-learning trips; UK, US, Malaysia, Indonesia (2015–present)
  • Consultant, project leader and supervisor, Kidney Dialysis Foundation (KDF) Charity Calendar 2019 and 2018; MA Art Therapy programme at LASALLE College of the Arts and the Kidney Dialysis Foundation; Singapore (2018, 2017)
  • Handmade, SG Youth Cares, People’s Studio, National Youth Council; Singapore (2018)
  • Alzheimer’s Action Day, MA Art Therapy programme at LASALLE College of the Arts, Ngee Ann Kongsi Library and Apex Harmony Lodge; Singapore (2017); VIP ceremony (2018)
  • Art therapy programme lead and clinical supervisor, invited guest speaker, consultant, Miracle Kutchie Art Retreat Exchange in Singapore (formerly, Tropical Art Camp), initiated by Today Is The Day (2013–2017)
  • Let’s Talk About Addictions; WE CARE Community Services; Singapore (2016)
  • Consultant and educational partner, The Red Pencil (2012–present)

Conference leadership and planning

Exhibitions and artwork

  • Journal of Creative Arts Therapies (JoCAT), journal of the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA), cover artwork (2021)
  • An Art Therapist’s Calling: Clinician, Artist, Researcher group art exhibition; Art Therapists’ Association Singapore with exhibition at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Library, with collaboration by the MA Art Therapy programme and the Ngee Ann Kongsi Library, LASALLE College of the Arts; Singapore (2019)
  • Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association cover artwork (2019)
  • Let’s Talk About Addictions art exhibition, group, WE CARE Community Services and MA Art Therapy Programme, LASALLE College of the Arts; Singapore (2016)
  • Perspectives: Art, Inflammation & Me, national art exhibition, group, National Arthritis Foundation, Abbvie and the MA Art Therapy Programme, Project Space Gallery, LASALLE College of the Arts; Singapore (2014)

  • Mental health across the lifespan
  • Forensics and related populations
  • Context-specificity
  • Development of professional art therapy in and across Asia
  • Professional education and development; experiential learning

Fellowships

  • Inaugural Honorary Fellow, Art Therapists Association Singapore (ATAS) (2023–2027)

Credentials and memberships

  • American Art Therapy Association (AATA); international professional member
  • Art Therapists’ Association Singapore (ATAS); professional member
  • Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB); registered art therapist (ATR) and board certified (BC)
  • Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA); registered art therapist (AThR)

Peer-reviewed journals