Position Statements

AATA Statement on the US Supreme Court Decision  in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization

AATA Statement Opposing Legislative Proposals Targeting LGBTQIA+ Students

March 8, 2022
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) stands in strong opposition to the national trend of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation typified by Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill, colloquially known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. At a time when our nation’s young people are already facing a mental health emergency, further stigmatizing LGBTQIA+ youth will only make it more challenging for them to seek help, and may result in many spiraling into crisis. 

AATA Opposes the Redefinition of Art Therapy from a Separate Profession to a Form of Counseling in Texas

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 Opposes the Redefinition of Art Therapy from a Separate Profession to a Form of Counseling in Texas

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 Opposes the Redefinition of Art Therapy from a Separate Profession to a Form of Counseling in Texas

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 Opposes the Redefinition of Art Therapy from a Separate Profession to a Form of Counseling in Texas

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.

National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month 2020

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.

AATA Opposes the Redefinition of Art Therapy from a Separate Profession to a Form of Counseling in Texas

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.

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