Michael “Mike” Fogel

Founder/ Executive Director | Art Therapist | Author | Consultant | Neurodiversity Expert | Child Whisperer

Mike Fogel, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, PAATA HLM, is an author, art therapy entrepreneur, and neurodiversity advocate. Passionate about childhood, parenting, and playfulness in therapy, he was inspired to found award-winning child therapy programs and businesses: the Art of Friendship Social-Coping Program® (2000), Child and Family Art Therapy Center (2007), Camp Pegasus (2013), and the BetterWorld Affordable Art Therapy Program (2019). Mike’s work is supercharged by heartfelt faith that every person has the innate capacity to heal, grow, and progress towards their vast personal potential. Mike published his first book in 2020, “The Social-Emotional Guidebook: Motivate Your Child to Master Social & Emotional Coping Skills”. The Pennsylvania Art Therapy Association twice honored Mike with awards for Innovative Application of Art Therapy in 2006 and Honorary Life Member in 2021.

Mike treats a wide range of childhood emotional-behavioral challenges at his private group practice. Since 1995, Mike cultivated a specialty in social skills group therapy with neuro-diverse children with autism, ADHD, and learning differences. The unique needs of this population stimulated Mike to create a comprehensive social skills training program (The Art of Friendship) and visually communicated S.E.L. curriculum. The program teaches young people social and emotional coping-skills and the Guidebook empowers parents and professionals to support and reinforce skill development. Mike preaches: social skills are for everyone, and social-coping skills hold the key to a kinder, more effective & compassionate society, and nothing short of world peace!

Mike is constantly involved in lay and clinical education. He was an adjunct professor and clinical supervisor at Drexel University’s graduate art therapy program for years. You’ll find Mike presenting at conferences and workshops around the country. His community service included volunteer positions on the board of directors of the Asperger & Autism Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Art Therapy Association.

Mike lives outside of Philadelphia, PA with his wife, two children, and Penny the Shih-Tsu. He loves comic books, progressive rock music, all things comedic, college basketball, and rooting for his Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles.