AATA News
Looking for a Way to Earn Continuing Education and Expand Your Knowledge?
March 22, 2018
The American Art Therapy Association’s Institute for Continuing Education (ICE/AT) is available 24/7 and offers a robust catalog of courses from prominent and well-respected art therapists, researchers, authors, and educators. AATA’s ICE/AT includes courses in Assessment, Multiculturalism, Ethics, Trauma, Supervision, Professional Practice, and so much more!
Late Show with Stephen Colbert Auctioning Art to Support the AATA
March 15, 2018
Yesterday, March 14, The LateShow with Stephen Colbert featured a segment on art therapy with AATA member, Rachel Brandoff, PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT. He spoke with Dr. Brandoff about the profession and even made some art himself. The show is generously auctioning off three pieces of Colbert’s art and donating the proceeds to the AATA! Please check out the auction page and watch the segment if you missed it!
Virginia Sunrise Review Application Featured in Board of Health Professions Meeting
By Gretchen Graves | January 18, 2018 | Advocacy | Events
As the AATA works with members in 24 states engaged in advocacy efforts during the 2018 legislative sessions, I would like to highlight some good news from Virginia. The Virginia Board of Health Professions recently presented its proposed scope of study and schedule for a comprehensive review of the art therapy profession during a public meeting on December 7, 2017.
BATA Hill Day: Art Therapy in Ohio Advocacy Day Overview
By Molly Kometiani | January 4, 2018 | Advocacy | Events
The Buckeye Art Therapy Association (BATA) hosted Art Therapy in Ohio Advocacy Day on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. It was a powerful, motivating, and exciting day for Buckeye art therapists and the community!
The AATA Supports the Affirmation and Healthy Development Across the Lifespan of Individuals within LGBTQIA Communities
November 2, 2017
As asserted in our Association Values Statement (2017), the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) embraces and affirms individuals within the LGBTQIA spectrums of sexual orientation and gender nonconforming individuals. The AATA supports therapeutic interventions that foster healthy development across the lifespan of LGBTQIA individuals, and equally admonishes treatment purported to cure or curb natural variations of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
AATA Provides Public Comment to the CDC urging the documentation of LGBTQ Tragedies in the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)
October 5, 2017
On September 29, 2017, the AATA responded to a request for public comments (Docket No. CDC-2017-0607) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). In the letter, the AATA emphasizes the critical need for the CDC to implement policies and procedures to require the collection of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data within the NVDRS for all decedents. AATA further points out the disproportionate statistics that affect the LGBTQ community, such as that LGBTQ youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth and are almost five times as likely to have actually attempted suicide. The letter concludes: “One of the primary goals of the NVDRS is to better understand and ultimately prevent the occurrence of violent deaths, and the best mechanism to achieve this is to require that SOGI data be collected. Therefore, the AATA supports the systematic collection of accurate statistical data which would help art therapists to better serve LGBTQ youth and adults and aid in suicide prevention.”
Delaware Art Therapy Licensure Bill to be Signed into Law
By Clara Keane | September 27, 2017 | Advocacy
AATA representatives and Delaware art therapists will proudly witness the signing of the art therapy licensure bill S.B. 43 into law tomorrow, September 8, 2017. Jennifer August, MCAT, ATR-BC shares details about the advocacy journey she and other art therapists in Delaware underwent with strong support from the AATA to achieve this success for the profession.
AATA Non-Discrimination and Non-Violence Statement
August 31, 2017
AATA is committed to non-discrimination and social justice and repudiates the racism and violent acts that have occurred in our nation. While the AATA values the right of free speech and recognizes the power and importance of peaceful protest, we firmly reject hate speech, condemn incitement, and denounce violence in any form. We encourage our members, as qualified mental health providers, to serve as a resource to their communities, particularly those affected by recent events, civil unrest and a climate of divisiveness.
The AATA Supports Inclusivity and Equal Opportunity for Transgender People
August 3, 2017
At this time, the AATA would like to reiterate its commitment to supporting inclusivity as described in our Values Statement. The American Psychological Association (APA) released a statement last week, citing the substantial negative effects discrimination has on LGBTQIA people and affirming the lack of “scientific evidence that allowing transgender people to serve in the armed forces has had an adverse impact on our military readiness or unit cohesion.” Like our colleagues at the APA and the American Counseling Association (ACA), the AATA stands by our values regarding equal opportunity for all, regardless of gender identity or expression, including those serving in the military.
Oregon Art Therapy Licensure Bill Signed into Law
By Clara Keane | June 1, 2017 | Advocacy
Oregon House Bill 2434, which provides art therapy licensing and title protection for credentialed professionals, was signed into law by Governor Kate Brown on May 25, 2017. The bill passed the Senate on May 15, twenty-three to seven, and the House on May 17, forty-seven to twelve.