Quandary

Quandary: Does an ambivalence towards the importance of the Arts in general in contemporary society affect the ability of Art Therapy to stand on its own as a profession?As I write this let me make it clear that I don't believe that the arts are fully undervalued in society: I believe that there are some very dynamic and exciting movements going on in the arts, perhaps now in some ways more than ever. With that said, I have noticed in some art therapists (and I know a lot) a wounding around self as artist and the worth of that self that I believe impacts their ability to fully claim the "Art" in Art Therapy as worthwhile and valid. I have thought often about offering groups or classes that focus on healing this wounding in art therapists as I believe this healing is essential to us moving forward as a profession. What do other art therapists think? 

New Ideas for Art Therapy

Please share any ideas you have for other actions we can take to reclaim our profession!

Occupy Art Therapy Action #3: Art Making

Art Making

Many Art Therapists end up disconnected from their personal art process: this may be the first part of the problem that has led to the field losing its commitment to the Art in Art Therapy. We need to be creative! Feeling like an artist is a primary part of identifying as an art therapist. 

Let's get back on our creative tracks! Below are ideas I have been acting on to keep my art making a regular part of my life:

Invite friends over for an art party.

Make/rent an art studio.

Commit to showing your art at your local coffee shop -then make art to fill the walls. 

Keep an art journal you art in most mornings or evenings.

If you are doing one of the above things or have your own ways to engage in artmaking, please share with Occupy AT! Leave a comment. Email artyein@gmail.com an image of art you've made recently and Occupy will post it.

Art Cards: Images from Letters to AATA

Survey: What does Art Therapy need to succeed?

Please take this quick 10-question survey re: the current state of Art Therapy.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JL5TPL2

Occupy Art Therapy Action #2: Art Cards

Action #2

Art Cards to State Legislators

This is a creative action to bring awareness to our state legislators of Art Therapy and (where applicable) the importance of a state license to practice art therapy among other needs. Hand written letters are powerful at the legislative level. And we can flex our creative muscles by making the cards ourselves!

A group of people are working on a general statement in the form of a wish list that can be written inside or on the back of a handmade card if that is helpful.

Ideas:

Christmas Cards

Chanukah Cards 

New Year Cards

Valentine's Day Cards

St. Patrick's Day Cards

Here is a link to the government website to find names and contacts for your state representatives:

http://thomas.loc.gov/home/state-legislatures.html

Occupy Art Therapy Action #1: Letter to AATA

Action #1

Letter to AATA

This is an action for those people dissatisfied with the actions of the American Art Therapy Association.

Not everyone involved in this movement may feel this way, and so there is no mandate to participate. Do what feels right for you.

With that said, there are a growing number of people who feel so strongly that AATA is not doing its job that they have stopped paying their dues and are no longer members. For those who are already doing this or are interested in making a statement either as members or as boycotters, a group of us penned a letter to send to AATA. I have posted it below. Feel free to copy and paste it to AATA as it is or alter it to fit your own thoughts on the matter.

To those at the American Art Therapy Association,

  I will not be renewing my membership with your association. I believe that AATA is no longer doing its job for the profession of Art Therapy, and until I see changes I cannot in good faith support it. I have listed below the changes that I believe AATA must make to regain its position as an advocate for Art Therapy:

AATA must:

* Maintain loyalty to the terms Art Therapist and Art Therapy by promoting the profession as singular and with its own license in every state, and not subsumed under counseling or activity therapies.

* Show further loyalty to the Art Therapy profession and its hard-earned standards by working for Art Therapy to gain its own category on O*NET rather than be a subcategory of Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy.

* Provide full advocacy in Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance reimbursements for licensed/credentialed art therapists. This must go further than a document suggesting how individuals might do so (re: GUIDELINES FOR INSURERS: ART THERAPY SERVICES & REIMBURSEMENT CLAIMS DETERMINATIONS” 10/26/11). This must include a Reimbursement Committee dedicated to insuring reimbursement on a federal level for Medicaid and other national insurers. Finally, it must result in Art Therapists actually being reimbursed through Medicaid for Art Therapy services. Include a list of Art Therapists who are reimbursed by Medicaid or Medicare under ONLY an Art Therapist license or credential.

*Have more specific goals for the profession that are being communicated consistently to the government. That message should also be standardized for those who want to contact legislators so that the profession, through individual members as well as the Association, is communicating consistent and clear ideas.

*Support, through greater promotion and financing, the increase in evidence-based art therapy research.  This is key to increasing the strength and value of art therapy as its own profession.

* Provide proof of advocacy in general for higher pay of art therapists working within agencies, hospitals, and other mental health organizations. AATA should provide at least one person on staff who could be called upon to advocate for art therapists in the workplace. This support would be provided gratis for AATA members.

* Provide an art therapy-specific, AATA-run job board within the AATA website.

* Maintain 100% transparency with its membership.

Until I see that AATA is willing to put actions behind its claims, I will not support it with my money. If another association is created that does act upon the above-stated requests, I will support that association wholeheartedly.

Most Sincerely,