Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Sankofa: A Vision of Black Healing and Liberation Through Afrofuturistic Art
3/8/2023
Join AATA on March 22, at 6 – 8 pm ET, for a live, virtual session, “Sankofa – Art of Afrofuturism.”
This panel presentation is a conversation between an art therapist, museum educators, and research professors who examine black art in the context of the past, present, and future to determine the implications of the concept of afrofuturism in art therapy and art education.
Showing Up as an Art Therapist and Human Being in the Healing Space
“Art therapy can be a safe, less intrusive approach to therapy for the BIPOC communities when self-disclosure of an art therapist further inspires authenticity and rapport building with BIPOC clients. As a BIPOC art therapist, showing up as my authentic self by incorporating cultural references, terminology, and my artwork into my practice allows my BIPOC clients to feel safe enough to also show up with what is true to them and their culture.”
Black History Continues – The Future of the Field
2/15/2023
Join AATA on February 25th at 12 – 1:30 pm ET for Black History Continues – The Future of the Field: a live, virtual session celebrating Black History Month. Louvenia Jackson, Ph.D., LMFT, ATR-BC and a panel of black art therapy students will present about black visionary architect art therapists who have inspired them.
Unraveling the Misconceptions of Hair
Feb. 8, 2023 | By Naarah Macklin, MS, LMHC
The start of this journey began with an individual asking to touch my hair in a professional setting. The question was innocent enough. But why would she ask to touch my hair? What makes my hair such a form of curiosity? This experience began my quest to explore answers within safe spaces for individuals to get together and share their own personal experiences related to hair.
Hispanic Heritage Month 2022 in Review
10/21/2022
Thanks to our presenter, AATA Board member Michael Galarraga, our session moderator, AATA President Elect Nadia Paredes, and everyone who attended AATA’s bilingual learning event, Art Therapy: Como si dice?. For those who missed it, the recording is now available On-Demand through our Continuing Education platform.
Join Us October 13 as We Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a Special Virtual Session! ¡Únanse a nosotros para celebrar el Mes de la Herencia Hispana!
October 6, 2022
We invite you to join us in this bilingual session to celebrate, honor, and represent our cultural efforts in the field of art therapy! ¡Te invitamos a unirte con nosotros en esta sesión bilingüe para celebrar, honrar y representar nuestros esfuerzos culturales en la profesión de la terapia de arte!
Black History in Art Therapy: A Living Reference & Resource Guide
February 10, 2022 | Compiled by Deanna Barton, MA, ATR-BC & Zachary D. Van Den Berg, MA, ATR-P, LPC-Associate Early Black History in Art Therapy Overview Boston, C., Doby-Copeland, C., & Short, G. (2001, November). Learning from our past: Honoring our...
In Honor of Black History Month: Centering Black Aesthetics in Art Therapy Past, Present & Future
February 10, 2022 | Deanna Barton, MA, ATR-BC & Zachary D. Van Den Berg, MA, ATR-P, LPC-Associate In February, we celebrate Black History Month by honoring the labors and contributions of Black art therapists towards their clients, the profession at large, and the...
In Honor of MLK Day: Dr. King’s “Creative Maladjustment” and Our Role as Art Therapists
January 17, 2022 | Zachary D. Van Den Berg
In a speech to the APA, Dr. King urged social scientists to play active roles in challenging discrimination, white supremacy, and racial injustice…and “participate in the beauty of diversity.” As art therapists—given our dual roles as both therapists and artists—we have a unique opportunity to address issues of injustice and discrimination, and in Dr. King’s words, to “tell it like it is.”
Update on Integrating DEI into All Aspects of the Association
July 29, 2021 | Gretchen M. Miller
The purpose of this update is to provide a status report on the ways in which AATA has begun to address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the entire organization, and to communicate about the next steps in this ongoing process. Much like in national conversations, this process has included critically re-examining, dismantling, and transforming policies, structures, and identifying our biases throughout the AATA, and assessing impacts on the broader art therapy community.