AATA Blog
Four Reasons Why Art Therapy is Effective With Older Americans
Art with older adults provides opportunities to express inner experiences in a visual and contained way. This fosters and introduces healthy outlets and coping skills as well as providing a sense of mastery and accomplishment. This type of meaningful expression may not be possible verbally for some older adults due to illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, other forms of dementia, and aphasia due to stroke.
Pause & Reevaluate: Using a Relational Approach to Find Solutions for All
As art therapists, many of us work as a member of the interdisciplinary team in organizations such as hospitals, schools, and agencies. Sometimes art therapists need to use conflict resolution skills to effectively address challenges within the team. In this blog, I share my story of how I used a relational approach to find solutions for my team in order to keep art therapy appropriate and alive for clients.
Sankofa: A Vision of Black Healing and Liberation Through Afrofuturistic Art
3/8/2023
Join AATA on March 22, at 6 – 8 pm ET, for a live, virtual session, “Sankofa – Art of Afrofuturism.”
This panel presentation is a conversation between an art therapist, museum educators, and research professors who examine black art in the context of the past, present, and future to determine the implications of the concept of afrofuturism in art therapy and art education.
Showing Up as an Art Therapist and Human Being in the Healing Space
“Art therapy can be a safe, less intrusive approach to therapy for the BIPOC communities when self-disclosure of an art therapist further inspires authenticity and rapport building with BIPOC clients. As a BIPOC art therapist, showing up as my authentic self by incorporating cultural references, terminology, and my artwork into my practice allows my BIPOC clients to feel safe enough to also show up with what is true to them and their culture.”
Honoring African-American Art Therapy Pioneers
February 14, 2019 | #WeAreArtTherapists
This Black History Month and year round, we honor the contributions of African-Americans to the field of art therapy and to the Association. This year, as we celebrate the 365 days of our 50th Anniversary, we reflect on our history and look to the future of the American Art Therapy Association.
Unraveling the Misconceptions of Hair
Feb. 8, 2023 | By Naarah Macklin, MS, LMHC
The start of this journey began with an individual asking to touch my hair in a professional setting. The question was innocent enough. But why would she ask to touch my hair? What makes my hair such a form of curiosity? This experience began my quest to explore answers within safe spaces for individuals to get together and share their own personal experiences related to hair.
The Over-compensator: On Being an Iranian Art Therapist
January 25, 2023 | By Shereen Bar-or Becerra, MPS, LCAT, ATR-BC
Unprocessed trauma leads to rage. What we do with that raw emotion is what matters. For me, I had to acknowledge The Over-compensator in order to turn my rage into my superpower. I learned to see myself differently and help others to do the same through art therapy. In Iran, their rage has evolved into a revolution. For my fellow diaspora Iranians, I recognize my role within my career and this movement is to hold space for the decades of trauma to help push this movement forward.
Top Ten Most-Read Articles and Blog Posts of 2022
These were the most read articles and blog posts of 2022. While some were posted in recent years, they still remain important to our readers. Take a look, and we hope you share with others!
Support Insurance Reimbursement for Art Therapy in New York!
UPDATED December 21, 2022 Great news! This week, the New York State legislature once again sent A1171A to the Governor's desk for her signature. The bill, which was passed by the legislature in May, would require private insurance companies to cover mental health...
Coping Through Creativity: A Mom’s Story through Childhood Cancer
When my daughter Miley was 11 months old, she was diagnosed with cancer. I immediately immersed myself into her care… And once her treatment was completed, we rang a bell — and it was over. This is the most mind-blowing thing that no one prepares you for. My daughter was cancer free but I was left with battle scars that no one could see. That’s when I turned to art therapy.