Transfer student Kaylei Halbert aspires to use what she is learning at NIU to help teens in therapy.

Halbert, a junior majoring in psychology, transferred to NIU from Elmhurst College. She said she hopes to take what she has learned from her art and psychology classes and explore art therapy.

Northern Star: What brought you to NIU?

Kaylei Halbert: I liked it because it was close and I have friends who went here. It was cheap and I just liked the environment when I came here.

NS: Now that you are an upperclassman, have you been looking for any jobs that involve your major?

KH: Yeah, I’m working on it right now. I’m trying to find an internship. I actually want to do art therapy, so I’m looking into some school with that.

NS: Could you explain what art therapy is?

KH: Art therapy is a type of therapy that includes art where you meet with someone and it’s a way they can express themselves and get their feeling out. Basically, if you work with a small child or someone who’s been through some type of trauma, usually it’s better for them to draw it out. With that you can tell where they’re coming from by their work.

NS: Since you want to do art therapy, do you make art and is there a particular piece you’re proud of?

KH: At [Elmhurst College] I took all the art classes. I’m really into printmaking and silk screening; that was one of my favorites. I took two semesters of that, and I took ceramics, as well.

For one of our assignments we had to make a poster for a venue, and I did mine for CocoRosie. … It was a multi-color print, and it was a tree stump in the middle and then mushrooms around, and a really nice split fountain in the back that went from maroon to gold, and that actually got an award.

NS: What would you say your main goals are after you finish school?

KH: It’s either art therapy or to work in an actual institution, but art therapy is my top choice. My target group to help would be like teens and adolescents.