Information and Sources
Define Art Therapy:
– Art Therapy is a unique and fairly new discipline that incorporates psychotherapy with a variety of art mediums.
The Goal: Who Benefits
– It is often used to help people overcome mental health issues, trauma, and chronic illnesses.
Timeline and History
– Art Therapy is a unique and fairly new discipline that incorporates psychotherapy with a variety of art mediums.
American Art Therapy Association
– It is often used to help people overcome mental health issues, trauma, and chronic illnesses.
The American Art Therapy Association
Art therapists are clinicians with master’s-level or higher degrees trained in art and therapy that serve diverse communities in different settings—from medical institutions and wellness centers, to schools and independent practices.
They are credentialed mental health care professionals who care deeply about the communities they support, helping to advance people’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
The American Art Therapy Association
WHAT AATA FIGHTS FOR
Art therapy is now a regulated mental health profession in 15 states and the District of Columbia.
Achieving art therapy licensure is a core part of our mission to advance art therapy as a regulated mental health and human services profession. Licensure provides numerous protections and benefits for the public and for art therapists.
HOW WE HELP
Advocacy
With our chapters and mental health partners, AATA works to raise public awareness about art therapy, make services more accessible to communities, and promote legislative and regulatory initiatives that advance the profession and support the well-being of art therapists and the clients they serve. Art therapy is now a regulated mental health profession in 15 states and the District of Columbia.
Research
The Research Committee promotes excellence in research through annual awards that recognize outstanding research in art therapy. Each year, the American Art Therapy Association recognizes achievements in research by both students and professionals. All awards are announced at the annual conference and on the website.