Ritu Dua is an art therapist, artist, author and a Shinrin-yoku (Forest Bathing) guide, based in Pune, India. Her practice includes sustainable, nature-based, and textile-centred approaches within art therapy. She is also passionate about integrating Indian Indigenous and folk-arts with contemporary art therapy practices in a culturally responsive way.

Her work spans clinical, educational, corporate and community settings, with a focus on nature-based practices, mindfulness and contemplative practices. She works with people from diverse cultures, across all age groups -helping them explore, process, and express emotions that are often difficult to articulate in words, through art and creativity. She offers individual and group art therapy sessions, both in-person and virtual, creating non-judgmental, safe and supportive spaces for mental and emotional well-being. Her article “Indigenous Gond Art in Art Therapy: A Nature-Based Creative Process”  was recently published in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association.

When not facilitating or writing, she reads, makes art, engages in slow-stitching, gardening and hugging trees!

Ritu is a part of our Khwab-e-Rafu cross-border tapestry project.