AATA Blog
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is Now Live
We all know the three-digit number to call if you or someone else needs help due to an injury or an immediate danger. But until now, it wasn’t clear who we should call if an emergency isn’t physical. On July 16, the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was launched, making it easier to access mental health crisis services.
Featured Member: Martina E. Efodzi, ATR-BC, LCPAT, LCPC, LPC
If I could offer advice to someone pursuing a career in art therapy, it would be to invest in your own mental health and wellness. Hurt people hurt others, and healed people are most equipped to accompany others on their own healing journeys.
Featured Member: Bobbi Stoll, MFT, CTS, CT, ATR-BC
July 14, 2022
Creativity and innovation have driven the field of art therapy and gotten it to where it is today. Don’t lose that creativity! There are many challenges art therapists face, such as licensing, but you shouldn’t let that stop you. Keep getting your hands dirty—it would be a shame to see that creativity diminished.
Featured Member: Kaalex Ash-Green
“One of my goals in becoming an art therapist is to create space for people American psychology has historically discriminated against.”
Featured Member: Saba Harouni Lurie (she/her/hers)
I identify as queer and pansexual, and pride month feels deeply personal and complex. While it’s exciting to see pride images everywhere, I am also critical of the intention when it seems that corporations and businesses are pandering to the LGBTQIA+ community during this time of the year and potentially supporting anti-queer and anti-trans legislation the rest of the year. I am all for representation and visibility and would like it to be authentic and uplifting all year round.
Juneteenth 2022
This Sunday, June 19th, is a celebration of freedom to be recognized by all Americans. On June 19, 1865, more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received word that they were free from slavery and for the first time recognized as citizens of the United States.
Creating an Inclusive and Equitable Space for LGBTQIA+ Clients
June 16, 2022 | Michael Galarraga (he/him) Pride month commemorates the Stonewall riots that occurred at the end of June 1969 in NYC. These riots were a call to action, a fight, and more importantly, a movement to increase inclusivity and equity for LGBTQIA+ people,...
Featured Member: Megan VanMeter, MA, LPC (AZ), LMHC (IN), LPC-AT/S (TX), ATR-BC
June 2, 2022
The clients I support are helping professionals who identify with burnout. I’ve long been interested in person-of-the-therapist issues and know that these tend to be unaddressed sufficiently in training programs and continuing ed opportunities.
Pride Month 2022: LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resources
As we enter Pride Month, the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) would like to stress the importance of accessible mental health care for the LGBTQ+ community. Art therapists, as mental health professionals, strive to provide a sense of safety and openness to their clients, especially those vulnerable to stigma and discrimination.
Whether you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community or have LGBTQ+ clients, peers, friends, and family, we encourage you to check out and share the following resources.
Americans for the Arts 2022 Annual Convention Recap
Being a non-profit professional with a bachelor’s degree in Arts for Social Change, I was excited to have the opportunity to attend this convention as a representative of the American Art Therapy Association and participate in key discussions regarding the crossroads of the arts and social justice.