Advocacy
Why Licensing Matters to the Future of Art Therapy as a Profession
For a long while, even before art therapists first became licensed anywhere in the US, art therapists have been debating the value of professional licensure. Many of us who have been professionals in the field for more than 10 years most likely had to pursue an alternative license such as licensed professional counselor (LPC) or licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) to work providing mental health counseling in most states. If you already hold a license as an art therapist, LPC, or LMFT, you may not realize or be personally affected by the changes—particularly in the counseling profession—that will very soon lock art therapists out of gaining an LPC. Similar changes are coming regarding the LMFT license as well. Whether you are personally affected or not, your attention must be on these changes for the long-term sustainability of the profession. We need to think about those in education programs now and future art therapists.
New Jersey is Now Licensing Art Therapists!
February 18, 2022 | Traci Bitondo LPAT, LPC, ATR-BC, ACS, ATCS, New Jersey Art Therapy Association Government Affairs Chairperson
It feels so good to finally report this with confidence: New Jersey is licensing Art Therapists! While that alone is worth celebrating, for New Jersey art therapists, this is particularly amazing given the unexpected, winding journey we took over the years to get here.
Art Therapy and the No Surprises Act and its Good Faith Estimates
January 27, 2022 | By AATA National Office Staff with Special Thanks to AATA Member Mike Fogel, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, for contributing his significant research on this subject.
The No Surprises Act was signed into law with the intention of protecting health care consumers from “surprise medical bills.” Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, health care providers, including art therapists, are required to provide uninsured and self-pay clients a Good Faith Estimate of costs for services when they schedule care or when requested.
From Art Therapists to Advocates: Achieving Art Therapy Licensure in Tennessee
May 6, 2021 | Paige Scheinberg & Catherine Harris
“We did it, y’all! We passed the Senate and the House… and, now, the Governor has signed our bill. We now have an Art Therapy License in Tennessee!!” Now, we’re here to support YOU! Whether you have just started with advocacy and legislative efforts in your own state or you have been at it for a while, we hope some of our experiences and lessons learned along the way will help energize and inspire you to keep doing the incredible work you’re doing.
Mississippi Art Therapists Successfully Organized to Defeat Bill to Repeal Art Therapy and Other Licenses
March 11, 2021
The American Art Therapy Association is pleased to announce that Mississippi House Bill 1315, which would have repealed the license for art therapists as well as several other occupations, died in committee on March 2nd, 2021.
2021 Art Therapy Licensing Bill Updates in Tennessee, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania
March 11, 2021
As state legislatures continue to focus on responding to the coronavirus pandemic, several art therapy licensing bills are advancing as a way to address the mental health crisis that has accompanied the virus. Read on for updates on legislation in Tennessee, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania in the 2021 legislative sessions!
AATA Sends Letter to Biden Administration Outlining Mental Health Priorities
February 11, 2021
This week, AATA sent a letter to President Joe Biden outlining our mental health priorities. In it, we also urged President Biden to address mental health issues as part of his plans to combat the Coronavirus pandemic.
Dept. of Education Art Therapy Project Grants FAQ
February 11, 2021
We want to share with you a recent notice by the Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education inviting applications for new awards for FY 2021 for the Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) Program. The agency identifies Art Therapy as a program priority—so we encourage you and your colleagues to consider applying. This is an excellent opportunity to support the work of art therapists making an impact every day in our schools!
Art Therapy Legislation 101 Learning Module
August 25, 2020 | By Ashley Skelly
As an art therapist or art therapy supporter, you are often asked to take action to contact state government legislators/leaders. Politics can be confusing to navigate, and the prospect of contacting senators/representatives may seem intimidating. However, legislators want to hear about the issues and changes needed from the people they represent – YOU!
Findings from AATA’s Coronavirus Pandemic Impact Survey
August 14, 2020
To better understand how art therapists are responding to the Coronavirus pandemic and coping themselves, the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) conducted an online survey of art therapy professionals, educators, and students in May 2020. The findings offer a look into the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on art therapists, the clients they serve, as well as access to mental health care. (Download the full report.)