AATA Blog

Thank YOU for Making Our 50th Year a Success
December 17, 2019
As 2019 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to say thank you to each and every member for making our 50th Anniversary Year a success! Please scroll through some highlights from our celebration including a collaborative video, testimonials of support, and photos from conference and social media.

4 Art Therapy Journal Articles Open Access through the End of the Year
December 5, 2019
These four articles are perfect for your holiday reading list! AATA members enjoy full access to Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association year round. And for a limited time through the end of the year, the following four articles are available open-access online. Renowned authors include pioneers in art therapy as well as art therapists contributing to the growing literature in the field of neuroscience!

Interview with Peter Buotte on “Invisible Wounds” Exhibit
November 12, 2019
Yesterday on Veteran’s Day, we shared a blog post by Peter Buotte, veteran, art therapist, and sculptor, on his exhibit “Invisible Wounds,” now on display in the Texas State Capitol ground floor Rotunda in Austin from November 11 to November 18, 2019. We asked Peter to answer a few questions about this exhibit and his art process!

“Invisible Wounds” Exhibit in Texas State Capitol by Veteran and Art Therapist
November 11, 2019 | By Peter J. Buotte
As an art therapist, I get to encounter the invisible consequences of war each day. As an artist, this series intends to make visible the experience of today’s Wounded Warrior who was physically or mentally wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan from 2001 to the present. In another act of courage, each service member has selected a gesture and posed as a sculpture.

Collaborative Video Celebrating #AATA50th — We Couldn’t Do It without You!
October 30, 2019
Check out our first-ever collaborative video project celebrating 50 years of healing through art! Thank you to our more than 200 members and friends who participated in this video project via the SeenIt app!

Developing a Permanent Presence for AATA in the Washington, DC Area: Twenty Years Later
October 24, 2019 | By Paula Howie, ATR-BC, LPC, LCPAT, HLM
The AATA’s presence in Washington DC has allowed the Association to foster relationships and participate in national events with organizations such as Americans for the Arts, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, and the Mental Health Liaison Group. These have in turn helped us increase public awareness, informed our legislative agenda, and amplified our voices when speaking out on national policy issues.

Breaking News: Representative Sharice Davids (KS-3) to Address Attendees at AATA’s Conference in Kansas City
October 11, 2019
We just received confirmation that Congresswoman Sharice Davids will be attending AATA’s 50th anniversary conference in Kansas City! Conference attendees, mark your schedules for a meet and greet with Rep. Davids on Saturday, November 3rd, from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm.

Nebraska Art Therapy Sunrise Review is Underway
October 3, 2019
Congratulations to the Nebraska Art Therapy Licensure Coalition for submitting their 65-page (184 including appendices!) questionnaire to initiate the sunrise review (407 Credentialing Review) by the Department of Health and Human Services to determine the need to regulate art therapy in Nebraska!

We Joined 600+ Mental Health Advocates on Capitol Hill
September 19, 2019
“Be strong, be loud, and be assertive for those you serve.” – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-6)
This week, the AATA joined the National Council of Behavioral Health and over 600 mental health advocates for Hill Day 2019! The advocacy training was packed with strategies, tips, and inspirational moments preparing advocates for meetings with their elected officials the following day.

Join Us for Hill Day 2019 with the National Council for Behavioral Health
September 5, 2019
The American Art Therapy Association is partnering with the National Council for Behavioral Health for their Hill Day in Washington, D.C. to advocate for improved federal behavioral health policy. Hone your advocacy skills during the training day Tuesday, September 17th and then let’s head to the Capitol on Wednesday, September 18th!