AATA Blog
Statement from the AATA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee: Revisiting our Values during the Coronavirus Pandemic
May 5, 2020 | AATA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
As art therapists, we value the essential need for the individuals, families, and communities we serve to have access to healthcare services and treatment no matter their ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, location, gender, disability status, and sexual orientation.
Keep the Art in Teletherapy, Shift Your View
April 28, 2020 | Barbara Robertson
In this time of “Talking Heads” teletherapy, don’t forget that you and your client both have a body, one that can be utilized in the process of making art, and perhaps more to the point, looking at art and perceiving some of what the art has to say. My first telehealth session for art therapy was scheduled with a new client, “Jan” (not her real name), whom I had seen only twice previously in my office. She began therapy with me just as word was beginning to spread that the Coronavirus had arrived in the United States. Some schools were closing, but serious social distancing rules had not yet been established.
Drawing on Resilience – Reflections on How My Life has Prepared Me for this Pandemic (and Maybe Yours Has Too)
April 20, 2020 | Celeste Schexnaydre
As someone who lives with a compromised immune system, I have been inside for at least a week longer than the general public. I moved my art therapy private practice inside my home and onto a HIPAA compliant platform immediately after having a cough and wanting to protect my clients as well as myself. This wasn’t a surprise to many of them as some are aware of my health concerns. I have had to re-imagine my career frequently due to these health limitations.
As State Legislative Calendars Adjust to Prioritize Coronavirus Response, Here’s the Status of the 12 Art Therapy Bills
April 9, 2020 | Clara Keane
While the priority across the country is to protect the public and make sure other crucial legislation like state funding gets passed, most every other issue, like art therapy licensure, will have to wait for an unknown amount of time. This reality does not take away from the incredible progress we have made in our legislative efforts this year, thanks to the hundreds of art therapy advocates across the country that are paving the way for the future of the profession! Let’s take a moment to recap and celebrate the victories and the progress made this year.
New Art Therapy License Enacted in Virginia and DC Bill Approaches the Finish Line
April 9, 2020
Even as legislatures pivot to focus most of their energy on legislation responding to the pandemic and other critical issues like state budgets, we’ve had some victories for art therapists. Licensure throughout the DMV (DC-MD-VA) region is within reach, with a new license enacted in Virginia and a licensure bill in Washington, DC passing the Council!
Announcing our Conference Keynote Speaker and the Opening of Early Bird Registration!
April 9, 2020 | Susan Boxer Kappel
We invite you to attend the American Art Therapy Association’s 51st Annual Conference to be held in Washington, DC, October 29 to November 1, 2020. Early bird registration is now open, and we have a lot of news to share, from our keynote speaker to new flexible child care and cancellation policies, to local announcements, so read on!
Connecting and Reassessing during Coronavirus, a Message from AATA President Dr. Carlock-Russo
April 7, 2020 | Margaret Carlock-Russo
As I sit here wondering what I want to share with you about the current state of affairs in the U.S. and the world, I can’t help but think about the connectedness that has grown from this horrible situation. Like most of you, I am staying home, communicating virtually with colleagues, students, clients, family, and friends. It’s a humbling experience.
From an Online Art Therapy Grad Student, Here are 5 Tips for Making the Transition to Virtual
April 6, 2020 | Trica Zeyher
When I found out that my internship site was going to be transitioning to telehealth therapy from face-to-face services due to coronavirus social distancing, I felt prepared from my online graduate experiences. Edinboro University’s online art therapy program provided me with practice to succeed even in these challenging times. Here are my top 5 tips of how to succeed in an online art therapy master’s program.
Virtual Intimacy in Therapy and in Life
April 6, 2020 | Trica Zeyher
As we enter week-four of our new reality of social distancing, everything has changed. Even though my art therapy master’s program at Edinboro University is already online, I have experienced upheavals in my own life and witnessed similar chaos in the lives of my clients, educators, friends and family. Already knowing the benefits of virtual intimacy in therapy from my own online studies and experience as a client, I would like to share what I have been thinking about during this coronavirus social distancing.
What the CARES Act Means for Art Therapists
March 31, 2020 | Clara Keane
The President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the CARES Act (H.R. 748), the largest economic stimulus package in U.S. history on March 27th. This third relief package invests over $2 trillion in stimulus funds to support state governments, businesses, and individuals through this crisis.