Max & The imaginary tree
by Erica Curtis & Risa williams
Owl is inquisitive. Monkey is creative. Squirrel is active. And in Max’s world, they don’t always get along . . . especially when it’s time for bed! That is, until Max discovers a surprisingly simple way to bring harmony to all his imaginary animals, helping everyone feel calm and fall asleep.
Max and the Imaginary Tree teaches young readers how to embrace their curious minds, creative hearts, and busy bodies – even when they don’t agree. With special attention to struggles calming down at bedtime, this book provides an imaginative story along with creative activities that help kids, parents, and teachers learn mindfulness-based calming skills together.
And check out my cover story that features Max and the Imaginary Tree in The Therapist magazine, co-written with Risa Williams, about calming down skills: Breathing and Beyond!
Working with anger creatively
by Erica Curtis
Working with anger takes a delicate balance of containment and expression. Creativity helps us do just that.
Based on art therapy theory and practice, the activities, materials, instructions, process, and reflection questions in this practical guide are all thoughtfully designed as avenues for therapeutic change. Helpful tips provide adaptations for meeting the unique needs of art-adverse clients, as well as varying ages and abilities, so everyone can benefit from creative approaches to working with anger.
ART THERAPY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
by Erica Curtis
Build social-emotional skills with art therapy activities for kids ages 6 to 9.
Making art is a great way for kids to sort through their emotions and learn how to solve problems in creative ways. This standout choice among art therapy books for kids is filled with activities for you and your child, whether you’re looking for a fun weekend activity with high social-emotional value or you need in-the-moment strategies for resolving conflict. Together, you’ll learn how to harness the power of art to soothe worries, get organized, ease transitions, and much more!
The Innovative Parent: Raising Connected, Happy, Successful Kids through Art
by Erica Curtis and Ping Ho
Even the best talk-based practices in parenting can be limiting. How can art help parents temper storms of emotion, defuse sibling conflicts, get teeth brushed, and raise happy, successful kids? In The Innovative Parent, Erica Curtis and Ping Ho integrate cutting-edge research, years of clinical expertise, and their own parenting experience into a revolutionary yet practical guide to creative parenting. Plentiful illustrations and anecdotes bring concepts to life and show art in action with kids and parents.
Together, Curtis and Ho let parents in on art therapy trade secrets to help children make sense of emotions; build connections with others; develop problem-solving skills; resolve day-to-day conflicts; process and retain information; confront fears and anxiety; and much more. These are complex tasks for something as seemingly simple as making art, yet therein lies the beauty of The Innovative Parent: its down-to-earth approach is simple, doable, and fun.
“. . . when you’re knocking but they’re pretending that nobody’s home, art gives you a key to get in through the back door.”
– The Innovative Parent
PRAISE for The Innovative Parent
“Raising children is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in life—and with this wonderful guide you will find a fun and effective way to make your connections with your kids more fulfilling and effective in cultivating resilience and joy in their lives. Erica Curtis and Ping Ho offer a practical and innovative approach to going beyond words to communication with our offspring that offers them creative experiences to get in touch with their inner lives and themselves in artistic activities involving music, visual images, and dance that provide a deep enrichment in their lives and enhance our relationships with them as they grow with innovation, collaboration, and resilience front and center. Bravo, and thank you!” – Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. New York Times bestselling author
“I salute your effort to bring art therapy principles to new parents. I am a big fan of Art Therapy! Thank you for your important work with children and parents!” – Dr. Harvey Karp, M.D., Happiest Baby, Inc.
“I LOVE your book. You have made a wonderful book, and not just for parents but for any educator or sponsor of educational programs. Moreover, it’s deep engagement with the human heart and mind provides a path forward for both novices and experts, intrigued by the ability of the arts to engage, activate, inspire and teach.” – Jeremy Nobel, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School; Founder and President of the Foundation for Art & Healing
“The Innovative Parent manages to avoid the pitfalls of countless parenting books and tools. It offers sensitive, creative, and mindful parenting techniques that are specific yet flexible. While no child comes with an instruction manual, this book is the closest I’ve found to one in anchoring me—both as a parent and as a creative person—in what I know.” – Dr. Einat Metzl, Chair of the Department of Marital and Family Therapy, Loyola Marymount University
Articles by Erica
Breathing and Beyond: Creative Co-Regulation Skills for Kids and Adults – The Therapist (Oct 2025)
Take It From Us: Two Mom Authors on Finding Meaning, Perseverance, and Friendship – JKP Blog (May 2024)
Why So Angry? And What’s Art Got To Do With It? – JKP Blog (April 2024)
Holiday Activity Starter – Foundation for Art and Healing (December 2020)
Overcoming Sheltering-In-Place Tantrums – Parenting OC (May 2020)
Anxious About Traveling – Parenting OC (July 2019)
Soothing Anxious Children – Parenting OC (June 2019)
Holiday Art Activities for Healing Trauma – UCLArts and Healing (December 2017)
Transforming Objects Transforms Yourself – Follow The Things (December 2017)
Making Meaning -UCLArts and Healing (Dec 2014)
Embrace the moment: Quick holiday de-stress tips -Indian River (Dec 2014)
Beyond Words: Why we should talk less and make more -Lifespan Learning blog (Oct 2014)
7 Books Sure to Inspire Creative Expression -Foundation for Art and Healing blog (August 2014)
Shape Up Your Practice with Metaphors -Lifespan Leaning blog (March 2014)
Giving: Is it always good? -Lifespan Leaning blog (Jan 2014)
Gifts from the Heart: ART Activity -UCLArts and Healing (December 2013)
Re-Visualizing Relationships -Lifespan Leaning blog (September 2013)
ADHD Treatments and Remedies -by Jeremy Warner (Erica Curtis contributing writer/expert) (April 2013)
Picture This: Healing Trauma through Art – UCLArts and Healing (January 2013) and Live Well UCLA (July 2013)
A Creative Spark of Gratitude -All Things Healing (November 2011)
Get Organized from the Outside In -Special Education Advisor (October 12, 2011)
The Anatomy of Self Care –Special Education Advisor (June 8, 2011)
Is the Behavior in My Child’s Control?: A Question of Consequence –Special Education Advisor (May 2, 2011)
Understanding Client Imagery in Art Therapy –Journal of Clinical Art Therapy (May 2011)
Preschool for Children with Special Needs –Special Education Advisor (March 13, 2011)
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