April 4, 2023
Last week, a coalition of art and music therapists went to the state capital of Montpelier to advocate for art therapy licensure and the regulation of art therapy as a unique profession. The group has been working together with the AATA National office staff for the past two years to garner legislative support and build relationships with community stakeholders, including with allied mental health professionals. Leland Peterson, ATR-BC, AATA Member and Vermont Chapter President, and Betsy Graziadei, ATR-BC, chair of the chapter’s government affairs committee, also testified in front of the State Senate Sub-committee on professional regulation.
Art therapists are clearly experts in their field and in regards to the mental health of the communities and clients they serve. Now more than ever, lawmakers and the wider community need to hear from art therapists, especially to help define the future of the profession. While art therapists may not always be offering expert testimony in a state senate sub-committee hearing, they are always the subject matter experts when it comes to the art therapy profession.
Leland Peterson, ATR-BC, (photo above) and Betsy Graziadei, ATR-BC, (photo below) testifying before the Vermont Senate subcommittee on professional regulation. Watch the full testimony here.
If you would like to get involved, please contact your state or local chapter or Tyler Kirby, AATA’s Advocacy and Public Affairs Manager, at Tkirby@arttherapy.org or (703)548-0878.