“Art therapy opens doors that words cannot open,” says Keren Seelenfreund, a student in Ono College’s M.A. program in Art Therapies – Visual Art Therapy for English Speakers. The 52-year-old Seelenfreund, a Raanana resident and mother of four, grew up in Vienna. After graduating from high school, she moved to the United States, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications at Brandeis University and a master’s degree in advertising and marketing from Boston University.
Seelenfreund moved to Israel with her husband in 2000, raised her family, and dabbled in several part-time careers, teaching English at Ono Academic College and later operating a gift-making business that combined her graphic design skills.
October 7 was the turning point that changed her life and strengthened her desire to give back to Israeli society. “It increased my personal need to help people, and it was obvious to me that there are so many people in this country who need therapy of all kinds. I wanted to contribute in a meaningful way.”
She applied to Ono International School’s Master's Degree program in Visual Art Therapy, the only program of its kind in Israel offered in English. The combination of academic coursework, practical training, and dedicated supervision prepares students for the real-world demands of therapeutic practice.
“What I enjoy most about the program is the combination of theory and hands-on experience,” she explains. “We don't just learn about art therapy—we experience it ourselves. Before we invite our clients to explore art materials, we first need to know them, feel them, and understand how they affect us. By working with clay, paint, charcoal, pastels, and other materials ourselves, we begin to appreciate how each one can evoke different emotions, memories, and ways of expressing ourselves. That personal experience helps us become more thoughtful, empathetic, and effective therapists.”
Seelenfreund, who is completing her first year in the three-year program, explains that art therapy is particularly effective for treating people suffering from trauma. “Art therapy is, above all, an act of witnessing. One of our most important roles as therapists is to witness a person's creative process without judgment. Experiences that have been carried in silence or isolation can gradually come into awareness and be acknowledged in a safe relationship. Sometimes this is the first time a person truly sees their own experience. This is especially meaningful in trauma work, where painful memories often remain hidden or difficult to express. Simply being witnessed by another human being can be deeply healing, bringing connection and compassion to places that once felt lonely and unseen.
“Living in Israel has taught me that emotional resilience is just as important as physical resilience. I realized that art therapy allows me to help people process experiences that are often too overwhelming to put into words.”
Seelenfreund says that Ono’s M.A. program in Art Therapies has provided her with far more than academic knowledge. “It has taught me to slow down, observe instead of immediately interpret, and truly listen—not only to people's words but also to what is expressed through their creative process. The program combines theory, clinical practice, and personal growth in a way that has transformed how I see both others and myself.”
Though she is the oldest student in the program, Seelenfreund does not see her age as a disadvantage. “Some people see 52 as late to begin a new career. I see it differently. Life experience is an advantage in this profession. I come with years of parenting, listening, problem-solving, and understanding people. This is not starting over; it is building on everything life has already taught me.”
Seelenfreund notes that her family motivates her desire to help Israeli society. “I am the mother of three sons and one daughter,” she shares. “One son has completed his military service and is now at university, another is currently serving, and my daughter will soon begin her pre-army program. Like so many Israeli parents, current events are never abstract—they are personal. That reality deepens my commitment to becoming a therapist who can support children, adolescents, soldiers and families facing trauma and loss.” With a smile, she recalls a recent evening when she was sitting with her oldest son around the dining room table. “We were both studying for our finals – he for his, and I for mine, so that is actually a good bonding experience.”
After she completes her studies at Ono, Seelenfreund hopes to work with people whose lives have been shaped by trauma, whether children, adolescents, adults or older adults. “I want to help create spaces where people feel safe enough to express themselves, reconnect with their strengths and begin to heal. If my work can make even a small difference in someone's life, it will be a meaningful second chapter of my own.”
Art therapy, she explains, is not about creating beautiful pictures. It is about understanding people. “If you are curious, compassionate and willing to grow, the program will challenge you in ways you never expected and reward you with a completely new way of seeing the world.”
This article was written in cooperation with Ono International School.