October 20, 2020 | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the AATA Board
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) has opened registration for the first three of twelve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Listening Sessions. Similar to focus groups, these listening sessions are facilitated discussions with groups of art therapists, students, and other stakeholders in the art therapy community.
Our goal is to learn through hearing diverse experiences, views, and responses to questions about DEI in the field. These sessions will help us better understand the art therapy profession’s strengths, barriers, and opportunities for growth, so that we can move forward into the future a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. We will use what we learn to do better to meet and support DEI in all that we do as an association.
Visit the FAQ page to learn more!
Seats are still open (register here) for two of first three groups meeting in December 2020:
- Tuesday, December 1, 8:00-9:30 pm EST – DEI Listening Session for Current and Former AATA Volunteers – This group includes AATA Committee & Work Group Chairs, Committee & Work Group Members, and AATA Chapter Leaders who are currently volunteering or served in these roles previously within the Association or active with their state or regional art therapy organization’s Board of Directors.
- Wednesday, December 2, 8:00-9:30 pm EST – DEI Listening Session for New Professional Art Therapists – Art Therapists who graduated from a master’s degree art therapy academic program in the last five years. This group is open to new art therapists who are not AATA members, as well as members of the Association.
- Thursday, December 3, 8:00-9:30 pm EST – DEI Listening Session for Professional and Credentialed Art Therapists – Art Therapists with a master’s degree in art therapy or credentialed as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) or a Board-Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC) through the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB). This group is open to art therapists who are not AATA members, as well as members of the Association. Session is full. Please email kmichel@arttherapy.org with subject line “Listening Session” to be put on a waitlist. Include your name and the name of the Listening Session that you would be interested in. We will contact you if a space opens up.
20 is the maximum number of participants for each group and one has already filled, so don’t delay in reserving your seat! Please choose what fits best for you. Participants are encouraged to show up to these listening sessions from a perspective of intersectionality even if it may not be the main focus of the group.
Sessions for the remaining groups in the series will be scheduled for 2021 and will be announced to the art therapy community in Art Therapy Today and on AATA’s social media platforms when registration opens.
Your voice, experiences, and views about diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of art therapy and the AATA are valuable, and we want to hear them. We seek to hear from as many voices as possible from the art therapy community. Together, we can create sustainable change and a culture shift towards a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive profession.