Megan Toth
MA, ATR #22-009
In-Person (Vista) and Virtual Options
Art has always been a powerful tool for me to communicate and explore my innermost self. I find deep fulfillment in guiding clients as they use art therapy to better understand themselves and the world around them.
I hold a Master's degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Haifa University. During my studies, I completed internships with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I.D.D.) in Haifa, and worked with the elderly in Herzliya during my second year. After returning to the U.S. in 2017, I began teaching art therapy. That same year, I traveled to Japan to lead a workshop for women at a YWAM base, and in 2019, I began offering art therapy consultations in Japan via Zoom.
From 2020 to 2024, I worked at a psychiatric hospital in San Diego, where I provided art therapy to clients struggling with a range of challenges, including addiction, trauma, psychosis, depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and more. I worked with diverse populations, including military personnel, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly, providing both individual therapy and group facilitation.
In 2019, I co-founded Draw Near with Rachelle, where we’ve led several art therapy workshops, including psychoeducational sessions at Vista Holistic. In 2022, I had the honor of speaking at Cal Baptist University to students studying art therapy. In 2023, I was a keynote speaker for the EOD Warrior Foundation.
Grief has been a constant companion in my life, and I feel particularly called to help others navigate it. I know six widowers who lost their spouses before the age of 40, many before the age of 25. I’ve also had the privilege of working with YWAM, traveling around the world to support orphans, widows, and other underserved communities. As a photojournalist for YWAM, I documented stories of injustice in over 30 countries and spent time in Northern Ireland, Rwanda, and Burundi working on reconciliation efforts.
My cultural background is Korean and Dutch-Indo American, and I have a special connection to adopted individuals, as my mother and many of her siblings were adopted from Asian, Native American, and American backgrounds. I have worked with people from almost every nation, and I continue to do so at the psychiatric hospital. I approach difficult and painful memories with sensitivity and care, and I aim to create a safe, nurturing space where clients can process their past and present experiences.
Education:
Masters in Creative Arts Therapy (including other modalities such as psychodrama & movement therapy) from University of Haifa
Bachelors in Studio Art from California State University of Long Beach
Experience:
Art Therapist and Supervisor at a Psychiatric Hospital in San Diego
Keynote Speaker for EOD Warrior Foundation
Cal Baptist University Guest Speaker
Art Therapy Educator
Art Therapist at I.D.D Adult Day Center in Haifa
Art Therapist at Elderly Care Facility in Herzilya
Co-creator of Act Here. Love Now.
YWAM