Position Statements
AATA Opposes the Redefinition of Art Therapy from a Separate Profession to a Form of Counseling in Texas
July 14, 2021
The regulatory structure of art therapists in Texas has recently undergone significant changes, both to the board with authority over the rulemaking process and to the rules themselves, including how art therapy is defined. The AATA submitted comment—first during the regular sunset review period with recommended improvements, and this week urging the rejection of a proposed redefinition of art therapy as a form of counseling.
AATA Statement in Support of Authentic Self Expression among Transgender Youth
April 22, 2021
The American Art Therapy Association stands in support of transgender youth. We are outraged by the onslaught of recent state legislation proposed across the country prohibiting gender-affirming care for transgender youth and banning transgender youth from participating on sports teams according to their gender identity. Simply put, these bills are dangerous because they systematically endanger the health and well-being of transgender youth.
AATA Statement on the Georgia Shootings and Rise in Anti-Asian Violence During the Coronavirus Pandemic
March 18, 2021
Our nation was devastated by the March 16th shootings in the Atlanta area that left eight people dead. While we are still learning the details, we know that most of the victims were women of Asian descent. These horrific attacks are the latest examples of the rise in incidents of hateful rhetoric and violent crimes perpetrated against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.
AATA Condemns Riot on the Capitol and Future Threats of Violence
January 13, 2021
The insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6th was not only a flagrant assault to our democracy, but a very traumatic event for millions of Americans across the country. Even if we were not physically in the Capitol on that day, we share a sense of horror, helplessness, and grief simply from viewing the video footage.
The American Art Therapy Association Congratulates President-Elect Biden And Vice President-Elect Harris
November 9, 2020
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) congratulates Joe Biden on winning the 2020 election as the next president of the United States, and Kamala Harris for becoming the first Black woman—the first woman—and the first Indian American elected to one of the two highest offices in the land. The historic significance of her election cannot be overstated.
National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 2020
September 10, 2020
As we recognize National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, we know that the added economic stress, social isolation, loss of loved ones and myriad hardships that accompany the pandemic are causing more people to consider suicide. Suicide prevention is more important now than ever.
Statement by the American Art Therapy Association on Law Enforcement Response to Mental Health Crises
September 8, 2020
The American Art Therapy Association urgently calls on lawmakers to invest in community mental health services and shift response to mental health and substance-abuse emergencies from law enforcement to trained mental health professionals. These professionals can mitigate deadly and harmful incidents and reduce the number of unnecessary jail and psychiatric hospital admissions of people experiencing mental health and substance abuse crises.
Statement on ICE’s Mandate that International Students Resume In-Person Classes or Face Deportation during Coronavirus Pandemic
July 10, 2020
For art therapy students, this rule is particularly harsh. Few academic institutions offer art therapy programs, so students would be challenged to find an alternative program if the school they are currently enrolled in remains online in the fall. In addition, the art therapy profession itself is needed now more than ever as the mental health ramifications of the Coronavirus pandemic continue to grow—and our country faces a dire shortage of mental health care providers. Furthermore, the United States has long been a pioneer in the field of art therapy. Our art therapy programs educate and train over two thousand art therapists annually, many of whom go on to become mental health care providers and advocates in other countries.
Statement by the American Art Therapy Association on the Death of George Floyd
May 28, 2020
As mental health professionals, art therapists see the dreadful effects of racism in our communities every day. This week, our nation witnessed via bystander video the exceptionally horrific death of George Floyd. A police officer pinned Mr. Floyd down to the ground with his knee, applying his full body weight to his neck for four more minutes after he had stopped moving. Mr. Floyd’s last words were, “I can’t breathe.”
Statement from the AATA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee: Revisiting our Values during the Coronavirus Pandemic
May 5, 2020 | AATA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
As art therapists, we value the essential need for the individuals, families, and communities we serve to have access to healthcare services and treatment no matter their ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, location, gender, disability status, and sexual orientation.