June 22, 2017
Joseph Scarce, MA, MFT, ATR-BC, President of the Florida Art Therapy Association (FATA), owns a private practice, Joe’s Art Time, LLC, where he provides art therapy for substance abuse groups and in-home art therapy services for trauma survivors. Joseph values his AATA membership particularly for the opportunities offered at the annual conference. He says, “Seeing old friends at the AATA Conference every year provides a sense of greater purpose and sustains fuller insight in the causes and directions of the art therapy profession.” He reports that he “felt especially connected to the AATA community at the 2016 Annual Conference in Baltimore MD, as I lead an effort to honor those who perished in the Pulse Night Club Tragedy in Orlando.” He adds, “The AATA was very supportive in providing a place to create and display Art from the Heart in response to this horrific event and gave the AATA community a chance to reflect and grieve.
Additionally, Joseph works with children at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa to provide art therapy in the oncology and ICU crisis medical units. He has previous experience with adults and children in inpatient psychiatric treatment hospitals and with children facing behavioral challenges in schools. He describes art therapy as “a way to de-compact life’s troubles and de-stress from life events. It is a way to tell a story metaphorically, providing reflection on one’s life.”
Joseph earned his Master of Arts degree in Art Therapy from Marywood University and is now a Doctoral Candidate in the General Psychology Department at Capella University in Minnesota. His career in art therapy was inspired by personal experience. He explains, “I learned about the power of art therapy firsthand when holding a highly stressful position as a general manager in another industry,” and continues, “I realized how effective it was for me and it became a catalyst to return to school to become an art therapist.” His hope for the future of the profession is that “art therapy will be recognized everywhere as a regulated, mental health profession.”
“Change Your Perspective” by Joseph Scarce. Collage. 2016.