The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) is committed to supporting our community of art therapists during this time of crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We know you are dealing with not only your own struggles and those of your family, but also thinking of your clients in this time of uncertainty. We will continue to update this list of resources for art therapy clinicians, students, educators, and for the general public.

 

 

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Resources for the Public
Resources for Members
Survey Report
Resources for Educators
Resources for Art Therapists and Other Mental Health Providers
Legislation and Calls to Action
Creative Activities
Encouraging Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
In the News

 

Resources for the Public 

  • If you need help, please text SHARE to 741741 to reach a crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line. You can also call The Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 to be connected to free and confidential support and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
  • Check out the Quarantine Family Toolkit by Kristin Ramsey, ATR-BC, LPC, which offers suggestions and resources on how to talk with children about COVID-19, a sample daily schedule for working/learning at home, online apps, podcasts and other resources for daily activities, mindfulness activities and short guided muscle relaxation script, as well as many art activities instructions and examples.
  •  Resources for addressing COVID-19 — The National Council for Behavioral Health offers resources to help manage coronavirus-related anxiety and to communicate with your kids about this crisis among other topics. Behavioral health care workers will also find resources including telehealth best-practices and implications for certain vulnerable client groups.
  • Affirmations for Coping during Coronavirus Times — AATA Blog, March 30, 2020

Resources for Members

Survey Report

To better understand how art therapists are responding to the Coronavirus pandemic and coping themselves, the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) conducted an online survey of art therapy professionals, educators, and students in May 2020. The findings offer a look into the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on art therapists, the clients they serve, as well as access to mental health care. Download the “Art Therapy During A Mental Health Crisis: Coronavirus Pandemic Impact Report.”

Resources for Educators

Academic institutions, art therapy educators, and students who have been impacted by restrictions set in place due to COVID-19 can refer to the resources and statements below for guidance on how to proceed.

Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB)

As the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) closely monitors the novel coronavirus (COVID 19) situation in coordination with guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and state and local governments, the health and safety of our communities remain a top priority. With that, we know that many College and University art therapy programs are facing students unable to complete internships because of mandatory closures. Please see below guidance regarding applications, renewals, examinations, and essential information about the status of the ATCB National Office.

Read full ATCB guidance page.

Statement from Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE)

Higher education institutions are in the process of planning and making decisions on how best to respond to the impact of COVID-19. Since the spread of COVID-19 is continuing, please know ACATE supports all CAAHEP accredited art therapy graduate programs and those that are in the process of accreditation as they work through this public health crisis. ACATE will work with the CAAHEP accredited art therapy graduate programs and those programs in the process of accreditation to help them navigate issues that impact their students.

For Programs who have students in the practicum and internship placements, decisions made may​ impact the students’ graduation date. Factors to consider include but are not limited to:

  • increasing the use of virtual conferencing
  • meeting with the program director to discuss options for continued learning
  • extending the students’ learning
  • following your local public health authority
  • following your program’s and institution’s protocols
  • implementing the academic continuity plan for your institution
  • utilizing other clinical internship placements that are accepting students
  • meeting your institutional requirements for potentially extended graduation for all students
  • meeting the standards set by credentialing boards (i.e. ATCB)

Educational Program Approval Board (EPAB)

As of right now EPAB will continue to abide by its educational requirements – which follow AATA’s education standards. It is up to the individual programs to adapt their graduation requirements and timelines according to their university guidelines and policies with regards to COVID-19’s crisis. This includes alternative ways of delivering curriculum and meeting practicum and internship requirements. EPAB will continue to monitor this situation as it develops.

Education Committee memo on the American Art Therapy Association Education Standards (2007)

On behalf of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), I want to take this opportunity to clarify some facts about the AATA Educations Standards (2007) and FAQs especially as it relates to clinical experience requirements in graduate art therapy education programs.

The following standards, organizations, and processes exist to support the education and certification of art therapists:

  1. The AATA Education standards (2007) include the definition of the need for practicum and internship with minimum required hours in graduate art therapy programs.
  2. The Education Programs Approval Board (EPAB) approves graduate art therapy programs based on the AATA Education Standards (2007).
  3. The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE) Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs CAAHEP (2016) standards include the requirement of the need for practicum and internship in graduate art therapy programs, but they do not list required hours.
  4. ACATE recommends graduate art therapy programs to CAAHEP for accreditation based on the CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Art Therapy (2016).
  5. The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) defines certification requirements for ATR-P, ATR, and ATR-BC that require practicum and internships with minimum required hours in graduate school programs, which matches the AATA Education standards (2007) but ATCB defines these requirements.

Read full statement. 

Resources for Art Therapists and Other Mental Health Providers 

Legislation and Calls to Action

AATA has joined our coalitions in mental health, specialized instructional support personnel in schools, and the arts in engaging with congressional COVID-19 relief package negotiations. A list of COVID-19 related Mental Health Liason Coalition letters can be found here. In addition, AATA has signed on to the following letters: 

Creative Activities

  • Share your creativity with us on social media! Please join us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook!
  • Global Open Call for Art — In response to COVID-19, Amplifier and partners are launching an emergency campaign with top art curators and public-health advisors from around the world. Open call ends May 8th.
  • #Coronart is a Facebook group for people to share personal renditions of the coronavirus. “Paint it, draw it, build it, carve it, knit it, grow it, sing it, play it. Anything you can imagine it. Let’s make this thing ours and share our vision!”
  • Remote Art Therapy Resources — Children’s National Hospital 

Encouraging Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

 

“Stronger Together”  DE&I collective response art during this time of change

In the News 

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