Ella Raphaëlle Dufrene, MPS, ATR, is a French-Haitian-American artist and registered art therapist whose work centers on the transformative power of creativity, movement, and connection to the Earth. She holds a Master’s in Art Therapy & Creativity Development from Pratt Institute and a BFA in Visual Arts from Miami International University of Art & Design.

Blending clinical expertise with the symbolic language of art and somatic awareness, Ella guides clients toward emotional clarity, self-expression, and reconnection. With over a decade of experience, she has supported diverse populations—including individuals on the autism spectrum, at-risk youth, trauma survivors, people in recovery, and adults navigating anxiety, grief, and life transitions—across clinical, school, hospital, and community settings. She has also served as a mentor with Guitars Over Guns and sits on the Board of Directors at Hostel in the Forest.

Ella’s passion for eco-art therapy and ritual led her to facilitate her first expressive arts and nature-based retreat in Colombia in 2016. She has since led retreats in Colombia, the United States, and Costa Rica, weaving expressive arts, somatic practices, and connection to the natural world.

Based between Marshall, North Carolina, and Miami, she runs a private practice, leads retreats, and offers professional training through her program, Fundamentals of Therapeutic Art Making. Known for her grounded yet playful presence, Ella brings enthusiasm, authenticity, and creative wisdom to all she does.

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