AATA Blog
South Florida Art Therapists Offer Free Services in Aftermath of the Valentine’s Day Shooting
By Raquel Farrell-Kirk | March 1, 2018 | Trauma | Community
Marjorie Stoneman Douglas, MSD as it’s often abbreviated, is less than an hour away from my home, only 30 minutes away from my office, and a mere mile from the Coral Springs Museum of Art, where I conduct a weekly art therapy open studio group for veterans. This proximity is how I came to receive a phone call from the museum’s Executive Director, asking for guidance in setting up free art therapy services in the aftermath of the Valentine’s Day shooting that left 17 dead.
Good Art: Bad City
By Liz DelliCarpini | February 22, 2018 | Children | Community
In an effort to strengthen the interpersonal and institutional resources available for youth involved in the juvenile justice system, School of Visual Arts’ (SVA) MPS in Art Therapy program has formed a partnership with Artistic Noise, an independent nonprofit that “exists to bring the freedom and power of artistic practice to young people who are incarcerated, on probation, or otherwise involved in the justice system” (“Artistic Noise,” 2018).
Featured Member: Charles Anderson, Art Therapy Pioneer
By Clara Keane | February 15, 2018 | #WeAreArtTherapists
Charles Anderson, ATR-BC, as a pioneer of the art therapy field, witnessed the profession take root and grow. Retired at 77, he still works part-time at Stormont Vail West Hospital, serving clients in crisis and supervising students in the Emporia State University art therapy program.
National Recognition of Art Therapy among Decision Makers
By Clara Keane | Feb. 15, 2018 | Advocacy
The AATA has seen significant increased interest in art therapy among decision makers across various levels of state government. Within the last year, art therapy has been represented in national events and initiatives by the National Lieutenant Governors’ Association (NLGA), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM).
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.
The Case Made for Art Therapy Licensure at the 2017 National Conference of State Legislatures
By Deborah Good | January 11, 2018 | Advocacy | Events
The AATA was invited to participate in a panel presentation entitled “The Arts and Well Being Across the Military Continuum” at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Capitol Forum in San Diego, California. I was honored to represent the AATA in this capacity and to speak on the pressing need for every state to pass licensure for art therapists.
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!
Featured Member: Sarah Deaver, 2017 Recipient of Honorary Lifetime Member Award
By Clara Keane | January 4, 2018 | #wearearttherapists |
Sarah Deaver, PhD, ATR-BC, was awarded the 2017 Honorary Lifetime Member (HLM) award, the highest honor bestowed by the AATA. Nominees are considered based on contributions across three broad categories: (1) Breadth of influence upon the entire field of art therapy; (2) Enduring effect upon the entire field of art therapy; and (3) Importance of contributions as evaluated from an interdisciplinary viewpoint. Dr. Deaver has contributed extensively on each of the above and has earned tremendous respect in the field of art therapy for her influential work and leadership.
Featured Member: Introducing AATA’s New President Christianne Strang, PhD, ATR-BC
By Clara Keane | December 7, 2017 | #WeAreArtTherapists
Christianne Strang PhD, ATR-BC, was sworn in as Board President of the American Art Therapy Association on November 11, 2017. Dr. Strang has 30 years of clinical art therapy experience and currently provides art therapy services to individuals in treatment for anorexia and bulimia.
Creative Forces Clinical Research Summit
By Adrienne M. Stamper | October 5, 2017 | Veterans | Research | Events
The Creative Forces Clinical Research Summit took place on September 18th and 19th, 2017, at the National Academies of Science in Washington, DC. The intimate event gathered Department of Defense (DoD) and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) collaborators to discuss clinical research findings and approaches for investigating creative arts therapies.