Asli Arslanbek, Ph.D., ATR-BC, is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Tampa, where she teaches art therapy courses including Introduction to Art Therapy, Art Therapy with Children and Adolescents, Art Therapy with Adults, and Capstone Project. In addition to her full-time faculty role, she serves as part-time faculty at Istanbul Sanatla Yasam, where she supervises and mentors graduate students pursuing careers in art therapy in Turkey.

Asli earned her Ph.D. in Creative Arts Therapies from Drexel University, specializing in arts-based psychosocial support interventions in humanitarian emergencies. Her research interests span a wide range of topics, including the therapeutic role of indigenous and traditional art forms, qualitative visual methodologies, and trauma-informed practices. Her scholarly contributions include numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, where she advocates for strength-based and inclusive approaches to art therapy. Her work emphasizes four key areas: integrating community-based healing practices and traditional art forms into therapeutic interventions; developing arts-based well-being intervention trainings in humanitarian emergencies; exploring the use of written and visual journals to process and make sense of experiences and beliefs; and examining the relationship between personal trauma history and emotional responses to artistic imagery.

In addition to her academic and research endeavors, Asli actively collaborates with national and international organizations to promote art therapy and develop sustainable, community-centered art therapy programs. She currently serves as the Treasurer of the Florida Art Therapy Association. Through her teaching, research and art therapy practice, Asli is committed to fostering resilience and well-being by promoting creative expression.