Newsletter - American Art Therapy Association

Newsletter
In This Issue
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navigate directly to the article.
• President’s Perspective - 2
• Feature Articles (Continued from
Cover) - 3
• Association News - 8
 Conference News: See You in
Seattle! - 8
 2014 Annual Conference: Call for
Proposals - 9
 Fukushima Relief Work by the
Community of Japanese Creative
Arts Therapists - 10
 Executive Director’s Annual
Report - 11
 Committee Reports for Annual
Business Meeting – 12
 2012 Annual Business Meeting
Minutes (unapproved) - 23
 Report from the Speaker,
Assembly of Chapters & Chapter
News - 31
 Interview with the President of
the Evergreen Art Therapy
Association – 33
• Announcements - 35
 In Memoriam: Dianne Meixner 35
 Journal Editor Job
Announcement – 35
 Sandplay© Trademark
Announcement - 35
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Copyright© 2013 by the American
Art Therapy Association, Inc.
Volume XLVI, No. 2 ▪ ISSN 1066-4076
Greetings from the Editor - Jeanette DeLalla, MA, ATR-BC, LMHC
Hello Spring! The trees have buds, smiles are abundant, and people are
abuzz about the upcoming conference in Seattle. It’s an inspiring time both
seasonally and professionally. Within this spring issue our featured articles will
take you through professional journeys illustrating the value of outreach and
community. This edition is overflowing with chapter news, licensure updates, and
research updates focused on verifying the biological validity of art therapy…just to
name a few. Be sure to check out the interview with Bryce Bailey, the President of
the Evergreen Art Therapy Association, the local chapter hosting the upcoming
conference in Seattle. If you haven’t registered for the conference yet, there is still
time. Don’t delay click here to begin!
Finding Common Ground across the Border: Exploring the Use of Creative
Arts Therapies with the Substance Abuse Population in Tiblisi, Georgia
Lena Friedman, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, CGP
When a friend and colleague asked me if I would be interested in coming to
Tiblisi, Georgia, to do a presentation at her clinic and at the Georgia State Medical
School, I had no idea what to expect. At the time she made this proposal, I wasn’t
even sure where the country of Georgia was. What I did know was that Natia
Panjikidze, who is a psychologist, had interned with me 3 years ago at a major
New York City hospital where I have worked as a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist
and Certified Group Psychotherapist for more than 15 years. Natia spoke with me
about her country, its people, its culture, and the challenges that make treating
alcohol and substance abuse so difficult.
Since becoming independent from the Soviet Union in 1991, Georgia has
experienced rapid social, political, and economic changes. These changes in
Georgian society gave rise to intensive abuse of drugs and alcohol. In particular,
unprotected frontiers, uncontrolled territories, a slow steady increase in criminal
activity, and overall corruption all increased access to drugs and alcohol. In
addition, a crisis of value in society, increased social pessimism, a vast socioeconomic collapse, and high unemployment rates have promoted the use of
substances. Although more recently there has been positive economic
development in Georgia and a decrease in crime, the illicit sale and/or abuse of
drugs and alcohol is still on the rise.
Natia played an integral part in the creative arts therapies groups I led in the
substance abuse clinic in this New York City hospital. The groups included Art
Therapy, Video Therapy, and Photo Therapy. She learned a great deal about the
power of using the creative arts to gain access to the wounded, scared, dark place
that resides within the psyche of an addicted person. The character traits we find
among people with addictions are universal, whether here or in the Republic of
Georgia. This is a common thread that binds people with addictions together.
Individuals who suffer with addictive personality disorders appear to be living in the
realm of “Hungry Ghosts.” In this world, addicted individuals feel as if their lives
are haunted by an aching emptiness that is in constant need of being filled, but
can never be sufficiently satisfied. This in turn, leaves them feeling abandoned,
alone, and in a state “void of meaning” that eats away at them from the depths of
their being.
Continued on page 3
Page 1
President’s Perspective
Editorial Staff
Newsletter Editor
Jeanette DeLalla, MA, ATR-BC, LMHC
Chapter Editor
Gretchen Graves, MS, ATR, CDAT
Production Coordinator
Barbara Florence
The American Art Therapy Association
Newsletter is published quarterly (Winter,
Spring, Summer, and Fall). Contributions
of news, drawings, photographs, etc., are
welcome. Drawings and photographs will
be returned only if accompanied by a selfaddressed stamped envelope. Contributions
should be typewritten, concise, and should
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ISSN 1066-4076 (paperback)
Materials included in the American Art
Therapy Association Newsletter reflect the
ideas and opinions of the authors and are
solely their responsibility. They are not
necessarily the official statements or
positions of the American Art Therapy
Association, Inc. The authors bear full
responsibility for the accuracy of all
references, quotations, and materials
accompanying their submission. The
authors ensure that client/patient
confidentiality is protected in all submitted
material. Proper releases for client art
expression and other client information
must be obtained and kept on file by the
authors.
Mercedes ter Maat, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC
During my nearly 2 years as President of the
American Art Therapy Association, I have had the
privilege of representing the diverse interests of the entire
membership to expand programs, improve services, and
grow the profession. Perhaps the most important goal has
been to position the art therapy profession as a leader in
health and education services, and to ensure the viability
of the art therapy profession now and in the future.
With more than 425 positive media impressions in just the past year in
publications such as ABC News, BBC News Magazine, CBS News, Fox News,
The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, National Public Radio, PBS NewsHour,
The Denver Post, Tampa Bay Times, Voice of America, and TED, recognition of
art therapy is growing. Forty chapters are engaged in community outreach and
member services that increase professional development and inform communities
through emergency recovery art therapy programs; collaborative community
events that extend art therapy services with supporting local partners; and
programs such as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day events through our
work with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Social media programs are
being rewired for efficiency and current application in our fast paced messaging
world. We made a good start, but it is just the beginning of improving visibility of
the art therapy profession.
The Governmental Affairs Committee report outlines a full range of actions
under way toward the art therapy license across the country and national
legislation and actions that will positively impact art therapy going forward. The
national movement toward the art therapy license is one of the most significant
efforts under way in the past 2 years of my Presidency. We welcome Dean Sagar,
the Association’s new Public Policy Director.
On a national scale, our partnerships have never been more active and
fruitful. Through our participation with the Mental Health Liaisons Group, the
National Alliance of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (formerly the
National Association of Pupil Services Organizations) and other partners, more
than 33 federal bills and actions have come forward since January of this year to
fund and increase access to mental health services. These actions should
increase an emphasis on mental health services for not only young people but all
who need support. Read more in the Executive Director’s report.
Central to successes in licensure and legislation is the Educational Standards
established by the Association. During the 2013 Annual Conference, targeted
discussions with our educational partners, the Education Committee, ATCB, and
others will be held to encourage even broader implementation of the Educational
Standards.
Art therapists must remain on par with similar healthcare professionals in
relation to education, experience, ongoing professional development, and
professional growth. Over the past several years, some of our educational
partners have taken steps to remain ahead of the curve by increasing degree
requirements, program content, and other measures that have enabled graduates
to not only meet but exceed the education standards established by the
Association and those required of a state license. Many educational programs
continue to adjust to the current licensure demands in an effort to remain
competitive in the mental health services marketplace of the future, especially
where licensure is required. Please click here to review a comparison report and
matrix of the educational standards.
The Association’s educational partners will be meeting at the Annual
Conference in June to consider the impact of the increase in related educational
standards and the need to adjust national standards for art therapists to qualify
Continued on page 3
Page 2
President’s Perspective – Continued from page 2
for licensure and employability now and in the coming years. While a counselor, marriage and family therapy, or similar
license may be appropriate in providing the requirements needed to practice within a scope of practice applicable to
some art therapy positions, those licenses serve to obscure the significance of our unique skills, education, and
profession. In cooperation with chapters where possible, an art therapy license is sought.
The Association is focused on collaborating with our educational partners, the Governmental Affairs
Committee, the Education Committee, Educational Programs Approval Board (EPAB), and the Art Therapy Credentials
Board (ATCB) to establish common goals and strategies to advance our profession. The Board and the Association
want to hear from you; please send your suggestions and experience to [email protected] attention “education.”
Thanks to the generosity of the Prasad Family Foundation and other members, the Association has been able
to help support emergency recovery efforts in both New Jersey for Hurricane Sandy relief and for art therapy programs
in the Newtown, CT, area in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Read more about the
Association’s Trauma Recovery Management Plan in the report of Gretchen Graves, Speaker of the Assembly of
Chapters. A special session (limited seating) has been arranged during the Annual Conference on “trauma signature
analysis” as part of the Association’s Emergency Recovery Program.
Although this will be my final message to you as President of the American Art Therapy Association, I intend to
continue to be a very active member and supporter of the Board and the Association in strengthening the profession of
art therapy. It was a pleasure to lead an exemplary Board of Directors, group of committee chairs and volunteers, and
Association staff for the past 2 years. I have no doubt that incoming President, Dr. Sarah Deaver, will lead with equal
passion, determination, and vision.
Let’s celebrate our future at the Annual Conference in Seattle.
Finding Common Ground across the Border – Continued from cover
Their only “hope” becomes the drug of choice, which they turn to again and again. The addicted person’s wish is that
this time things will be better, even though they know that they are only chasing ghosts and that the real object of their
desires remains out of reach beyond their grasp (Maté, 2010).
Through the course of the many conversations, Natia described the severity of the
alcohol and substance abuse situation in Georgia and how limited meaningful treatment
options were. Natia stated, “During the 20 years of our independence, we have had war
three times with Russia. We have also had revolutions within our country, and Russia still
occupies 20% of our territories. All of this has moved us back, but in spite of the many
obstacles and barriers the Georgian people are facing, they possess an indomitable spirit
and a fierce love for their country, history, culture, and customs that keeps them moving
forward, no matter how difficult their situation might be. However, all of this has had a
negative effect on our healthcare system and economic development.”
Natia arranged for me to do several lectures at the Tiblisi State Medical University and
to teach a 1-day course at the Saint Andreas Georgian University for the staff of her clinic,
which is named The Psycho Social Rehabilitation Center “Kamara.” In Georgian the word
“Kamara” means that the flying bird makes a full circle in the sky.
After a long, exhausting flight, my husband and I landed in Tiblisi. We were excited to
be visiting a new country and eager to begin our adventure. Natia met us at the airport and
we took a taxi to Tiblisi.
Figure 1
Figure 2
As we drove from the airport to the hotel, we had views of the old and new. I would like
to define the old as the “old Russia,” when Georgia was still under communist rule. The
buildings all appeared to be the same, painted with nondescript colors that conveyed to us a
sense of sweeping conformity and sadness. Continuing our drive into Tiblisi, there were
bursts of new architectural structures that didn’t seem to fit in with this landscape. These
new buildings were set into the countryside alongside the incredible colors and sights of
Georgia’s natural beauty. Lastly, we were stuck in traffic a great deal due to the political
rallies that were occurring daily against the government. Figure 1 depicts a political rally in
Zugdidi, Georgia. These images created a picture of a fragmented place that is looking to
Figure 3
shed its old identity in order to develop a new, cohesive sense of self. Natia said, “We are
still dreaming despite some 20 odd years of independence. Dreaming comes first, after this wish, and after that comes
how we move towards making this more of a reality. There is lots of depression, lots of bad feeling among the
Georgian people because of this political unrest. Drugs are often their way of coping.” Figure 2 depicts where past
meets present, and Figure 3 is a photo of the Georgian countryside.
Continued on page 4
Page 3
Finding Common Ground across the Border – Continued from page 3
My first experience teaching in Tiblisi was at the Tiblisi State Medical University. The head of the Public Health
Department, Professor Levan Baramidze, greeted me. As I walked through the school, I noticed the poor conditions
that included peeling paint, lack of supplies, no air conditioning, and worn furniture. Levan was delighted to have me as
a guest lecturer and explained how much acquiring new treatment options for substance abuse was greatly needed.
When I asked about my audience, he shared that I would be teaching 2nd year medical students who knew a lot about
substance abuse and alcoholism from their own life experiences of being raised in Georgia. They weren’t familiar with
creative arts therapies and varieties of substance abuse treatment, especially from another culture, and were
interested to hear me speak about creative arts therapy treatment in New York City.
These students were very enthusiastic about the lecture and asked
me many questions about addiction in the United States. They were
surprised to hear about the challenges that the United States faces when
coping with addicted people, and how we are dealing with the reductions in
our healthcare system. They perceived America to be a nation where wealth
is abundant including in our healthcare system.
Many of them communicated personal stories about growing up with
neighbors, family members, and friends who were challenged by addiction.
They conveyed their stories with honesty. I found it very moving that the
students were willing to disclose such personal information about
themselves. It did not take them long to see how the use of creative arts
therapies could facilitate a form of safe expression for people dealing with
addiction. Some of the medical students and I are photographed in Figure 4.
Figure 4
My second experience was teaching a 1-day course at San Andreas
Georgian University for my colleague’s clinic, students, and members of the
Sociology Department. The lecture and the course were entitled “The Use of
Creative Arts Therapies with the Substance Abuse Population.” In this
situation, the audience was mixed. Some individuals were familiar with the
use of creative arts therapies because of my colleague while others were
not.
The highlights of the course and lectures included experiential work
where I asked the students to illustrate a depiction of what they perceived
addiction to be, a didactic component, and group processing. The didactic
section covered many areas such as defining art therapy, the use and
importance of art therapy in institutions and outpatient clinics that treat
substance abuse, the benefits of art therapy, the importance of group
psychotherapy, the stages of change in recovery, and the many barriers that
are associated with the substance abuse population in New York City, which
include homelessness, the shelter system, incarceration, lack of support,
having a dual diagnosis, and social stigma. All of these topics were explored
by using different images designed by clients who have dealt with all of
these situations on their road to sobriety. Figure 5 depicts a student
contemplating addiction. Another student shares her thoughts and feelings
about her image in Figure 6. In Figure 7, the student’s art illustrates how
addiction affects her family.
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
To demonstrate the use of Video Therapy, I presented two films
produced by my group “Video Stories in Recovery” that enables the clients
to develop their voice in recovery. We also viewed the use of another
powerful modality, Photography Therapy. The photographs shown were
examples of the clients’ abilities to use the cameras to “see” the world again
and to discover feelings about themselves in relation to the world without the
Figure 8
use of drugs and alcohol. In both situations, it is important to note that the
professor served as an interpreter to the medical students, and that I was provided with an interpreter when I taught
the course at the college.
After my course, the attendees were invited to participate in a brief presentation on the use of Movement and
Mindfulness in the Therapeutic process, which was led by my husband Neil. This added an additional level of
understanding regarding the various creative arts modalities that we utilize when treating people with addictions.
Figure 8 captures the students participating in Neil’s Mindfulness and Movement Workshop. When the lectures and the
course work were completed, I recognized that the use of creative arts therapies was an effective way in transcending
linguistic, social, and cultural differences.
Continued on page 5
Page 4
Finding Common Ground across the Border – Continued from page 4
A few days before we left Tiblisi, Natia invited us to visit her clinic, “Kamara.” As we walked through the clinic,
I sensed how proud she was as she showed us different artworks designed by her clients. I saw that even though our
cultures are vastly different, the commonalities in the artwork were striking. This was more evident when I saw that she
utilized the treatment modalities, which we used together in New York, including collages, working in three dimensions,
photo therapy, utilizing found objects, painting, and multimedia techniques. She said “What I learned from you in New
York, I made here.” I was thrilled when she led us into a room where she had displayed examples of artwork done by
some of the clients with whom she had worked in New York, that were given to her as gifts. When I saw these pieces,
it was as if we went back to the days when we worked together. The artwork represented the many different emotions
and stages of individuals who had discovered that making art was a healing force on their journey to becoming whole
again. Natia and I were both witnesses to this transformation. She felt that these artists had further inspired her to
bring creative arts therapies to her country.
Natia took us to another room where there were many examples of her
clients’ artworks. We saw colorful paintings that consisted of figurative and
abstract images related to their past and present. The clients had also created a
three-dimensional “memory house” using a variety of materials. This house was
a container for the clients to store positive memories about themselves. Also on
display were collages that were made by using magazine cutouts, photography,
found objects, and painting. These works depicted the “sober self versus the
addicted self,” a directive she had learned in one of my groups. In the next
room, she showed us a photograph (Figure 9) taken by a client in her
phototherapy group. It was a photograph of a man shadowed in black as he
ventured through a door. On the other side of this door was light. Natia
commented that he felt that the “light would open the door.”
I am reminded of how much the process of recovery is about walking
through darkness out into the light. Natia often spoke about how life in Georgia
after it became an independent republic was like coming out of the dark into the
light, and how living there is like living in a state of constant improvisation or as
she was fond of saying, “Life is an improvisation.”
When Natia came to New York to work in my clinic and to investigate
possibilities for addiction treatment, she had no idea what to expect. By doing
this, she took a risk by walking into uncharted territory, similar to what it is like to
walk in a dark space. She came out of the “dark” having discovered many new
things about treatment. Natia now possesses a “light” of knowledge to shine on
the different paths addicted people of Georgia could utilize to illuminate their
journey in recovery. When she brought all she had learned in New York City
back to Tiblisi, it was as though she had come full circle. It is no wonder that she
named her clinic “Kamara.”
Figure 9
Figure 10
When the time came for us to fly home, I became aware that I too had
come full circle. By going to the Republic of Georgia, it felt as if I had entered unknown “dark territory,” and I was
taking a leap of faith by traveling all those miles to a country that I hardly even knew existed. It was seeing how my
friend Natia had translated the experience she had when she worked with me in New York, and how beautifully she
had transformed those experiences to meet the needs of her patients in Georgia. This adventure provided me with
renewed light that I could use to shine on those dark spaces my clients and I face every day. In Figure 10, Neil, I, and
Natia posed one evening in Tiblisi.
Reference:
Maté, G. (2010). In the realm of hungry ghosts. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lena Friedman, MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, CGP is currently working as a Supervising Licensed Creative
Arts Therapist and Certified Group Psychotherapist at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City.
She also maintains a private practice and is experienced in addictive disorders, eating disorders, and
trauma. She has presented and conducted workshops at various conferences including EGPS,
AGPA, and AATA. In addition, she lectures at The School of Visual Arts Graduate Art Therapy
Program and other colleges. Lena is also on the faculty of The Eastern Group Psychotherapy OneYear Training Program in Group Psychotherapy.
Page 5
Epilepsy, Art Therapy, and Quality of Life (*An Excerpt) - Lacy Vitko, MA; Beth VanDerMolen, MS; Haley
Rittenhouse, MA, ATR; and Jill M. Gattone, RN, MEd
Living with epilepsy can be difficult; art therapy may be a beneficial tool to better understand how the condition
impacts an individual’s life and how it can be better managed. People with epilepsy can face challenges due to
limitations on activities, concerns about potential seizures and their implications, as well as lack of understanding from
others. Fisher, et al. (2000) found that fear, lifestyle limitations, and stigma were rated the worst parts of epilepsy. A
study by Suurmeijer, et al. (2001) used questionnaires assessing health perceptions and social/psychological
functioning of 210 epilepsy patients from four outpatient clinics in the Netherlands. The patients identified
psychological distress, loneliness, adjustment and coping, and stigma perception as the most important influences on
their quality of life.
Art therapy aims to help people process emotions that can be too difficult to verbalize. The creative process of
art may help resolve conflicts, develop interpersonal skills and connections with others, manage behavior, reduce
stress, and strengthen coping mechanisms. Art therapy in a group setting offers a safe environment where people can
engage with like-minded individuals. Coss & Schachter (2005) state that art therapy groups can be significant for
people with epilepsy due to their tendency to isolate themselves for fear of feeling uncomfortable in social settings.
Using the creative process as a vessel, fears that often hold individuals back are brought to the surface through
expression and explored through dialogue. The safety of the group lends itself to the process of healing and moving
through emotional experiences.
In 2010, the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago spearheaded an art therapy program led by master’s level
art therapists in Chicago, IL. After partnering with the American Art Therapy Association to help locate art therapists
around the country and Lundbeck, a pharmaceutical company with a special commitment to addressing the needs of
the epilepsy community, a year later the program became known as Studio E. Studio E expanded its Chicago pilot
program to include Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Houston, and currently has a presence in 27 cities across the country.
Through this multiweek art therapy program, participants were given the opportunity to creatively express
themselves and their emotions in a safe and welcoming environment. The pilot Studio E group was created as 8 art
therapy sessions with three master’s level art therapists and a nurse. Each session consisted of about 15 participants.
During each session, participants worked with the art therapists for 3 hours to create art and share with the group.
Inspired by the open studio model of art therapy, participants were invited to work through a three-part process of
creating an intention, making art, and witness writing. The program was created with six specific goals in order to
increase the overall quality of life for participating individuals. Using a Studio E specific pre- and post-assessment
form, we were able to determine changes in overall quality of life through our goals, including artistic expression,
building autonomy, art as empowerment, emotional stability, sense of self-worth, and connection with others.
Sample Case Study: “Janeane” (pseudonym) Upon first meeting Janeane, she
exuded a type of youthful curiosity, with bright eyes and a smile casting radiance around
her. Small in stature, she appeared hard on the outside and soft on the inside, using her
quiet strength to stay focused and centered. She became like a flower opening in the
morning light as she shared her passion for expression. She prides herself on being able
to “pay her bills” and “go to the health club” stating that “everything is fine.” Although
disciplined in her daily life, she is also introspective and intellectual; a searcher with a
spiritual thirst. Janeane desired a connection with others and longed to feel more
confident within.
In the first Studio E session, Janeane presented as slightly anxious and somewhat
shy. The group was invited to engage in making a small individual collage that would
introduce them to the group. Although hesitant at first, Janeane shared her image with the
group, expressing that she likes to make paper art and that she is longing for peace and
harmony in her life. Appearing nervous, she also displayed high cognitive functioning and
an ability to be self-reflective. She could easily acknowledge her personal goals and had
enough self-awareness to understand how her “rigid” demeanor may be inhibiting her
emotional well-being. It became apparent that Janeane could benefit from an art process
that would allow her to loosen her inhibitions and desire for control.
Figure 1
In the following session, Janeane initially presented as quiet but opened up quickly
and let others know how happy she was to be in Studio E. Janeane shared a variety of
Figure 2
conflicting emotions through her art and words as she spoke of a desire for balance and
harmony. She began working on several expressive watercolor paintings, including one that had an image of a clock
(Figure 1). Within this art piece she wrote, “I lost my moment to seizures,” “spare one of your moments,” (Figure 2)
and “peace and love.” The words ran down the page as if to reflect their urgency and desperation.
Janeane came in with clear intentions and was consistently engaged in her work throughout every group. At one
point she asked a therapist to go away because she was “really into her process.” Midway through the sessions, her
Page 6
Continued on page 7
Epilepsy, Art Therapy, and Quality of Life – Continued from page 6
work began to take on a more sculptural shape when she transformed her vibrant abstract paintings, standing them
upright into what looked like a coiled building. Janeane was highly self-aware and was constantly engaged with her
artwork. She expressed her gratitude for the group on several occasions.
Janeane was eager to use Gesso, a priming medium, in the next session and asked a therapist to show her how
to use it. She combined Gesso, newly acquired skills, and her own style to make cards. Then, she mounted these
cards onto black paper. She explained that usually she tore the edges off of her cards, but in this art program, she had
been using straight edges. She also expressed that she was getting to a place in her life in which she was allowing
herself to be a happier person. It appeared that Janeane was taking more risks in her art and celebrating the element
of surprise (and even failure) that she displayed in the session. She described that her art process was helping her
move toward a less rigid attitude in life. During the remaining sessions, Janeane continued to invite the freedom of the
moment into her work. Janeane worked on her three-dimensional piece, adding color to the gessoed parts. As a final
step to her process, she stood the pieces upright giving them a strong presence in the room. It was as if Janeane was
standing upright saying, “Here I am!”
Overall, Janeane found much success in the group and seemed to move through some of her inner challenges.
Using the metaphor of time allowed her to get back some of the moments she has lost to her seizure experiences,
instilling a sense of empowerment and ownership. While making art, Janeane was able to access her inner harmony,
lending her process to the flow of the moment at hand. The experience of creating a piece that developed over time
from a two-dimensional white piece of paper, to a colorfully painted, three-dimensional form illustrates her ability to
commit to herself and her process, remaining open to the unfolding of her final piece. Janeane allowed her playful and
expressive nature to emerge, and she completed her work with joy.
For Janeane, the group created emotional safety and gave her a space to foster her creativity while
simultaneously making new friends. In reflecting on her experience of the group she stated, “I was able to share
myself, without the judgment from expressing myself. Everyone was gracious, respectful, and talked freely about their
feelings and their work. Not everyone created art that was epilepsy related, but that didn’t matter because we could
celebrate each other’s talent, or simply the wonderful feeling of expressive art. I evolved and was able to put the anger
in a separate place, knowing I was not alone in my feelings of isolation. The studio group with my fellow seizure
buddies validated my feelings and I was not depressed.” Janeane continues to make art in her small kitchen space at
home. She states, “Making art tells me that I am an artist, meaning that I can have another dimension to my life; it
gives me a sense of control and I feel free, and when I paint I allow myself to make mistakes.”
Pilot program outcomes and achievements - Attendance and engagement was higher than expected. Many
affiliate programs had waiting lists. In the areas of the country without a Studio E program, staff received weekly
requests to have a program start in new areas. Feedback for the Studio E program was overwhelmingly positive, with
96% of participants stating that they agree or strongly agree that they found the program valuable and would
recommend the program to others with similar needs. Additionally, more than 80% of participants provided positive
feedback on the various elements of the program, most notably praise for program facilitators, willingness to engage,
increased self-expression, and increased confidence level.
*Please look for full article in future journal publications. You can also learn further details about this program during the opening
plenary session at the American Art Therapy Association’s 44th Annual Conference, on Thursday, June 27, 2013. For more
information on Studio E, contact Lacy Vitko via e-mail at [email protected] or call (301) 918-3736.
References:
Schachter, S., & Coss, E., (2005). Art therapy. In Devinsky, O., Schachter, S., & Pacia, S. (2005). Complementary and Alternative
Therapies for Epilepsy (pp. 303-309). New York, NY: Demos Medical Publishing.
Fisher, R. S., Vickrey, B. G., Gibson, P., et al. (2000). The impact of epilepsy from the patient’s perspective, II: Views about therapy
and healthcare. Epilepsy Research, 41, 53-61.
Suurmeijer, T. P., Reuvekamp, M. F., & Aldenkamp, B. P. (2001). Social functioning, psychological functioning and quality of life in
epilepsy. Epilepsia, 42, 1160-1168.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS - Lacy Vitko has an MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology and Art Therapy and a BA in
Studio Art. She recently joined the Epilepsy Foundation of America and is starting a program to offer art therapy and
counseling services for individuals and families of people with epilepsy. Haley Rittenhouse, has a BA in Studio Art and MA
in Counseling Psychology and Art Therapy. As co-creator of the Studio E program, she co-facilitates art therapy groups for
individuals with epilepsy and is also executive director of Art Therapy Connection, where she co-facilitates art therapy groups
for students at-risk of academic failure. Elizabeth (Beth) VanDerMolen has an MS in Art Therapy and a BA in Art Education.
She works as an art therapist and researcher for the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago where she helped to create
and implement Studio E. She also works full time providing case management to the aged, blind, and disabled, and part time
with “at risk” youth at Art Therapy Connection. Jill Gattone is a registered nurse and holds a master’s degree in education.
She currently works for Lundbeck as Epilepsy Advocacy Manager and manages Lundbeck’s role in the partnership of Studio
E with the Epilepsy Foundation. Before joining Lundbeck, she was Nurse Clinician at Rush Epilepsy Center. She also served
as Director of Education, assisting patients in their pursuit of education and understanding of epilepsy.
Page 7
ASSOCIATION NEWS
Conference News─We’ll See You in Seattle!
Have you heard about our latest addition to the Seattle conference? Don't
miss your chance to witness the creation of a sacred sand mandala
live! Advanced registration ends on May 31, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Why pay
more for registration, when you don’t have to! If you have not already registered
for the conference, please do so today! Visit the conference website, or call the
National Office staff at (888) 290-0878.
There are still some openings in our popular advanced practice courses,
and we have added some new educational sessions to the program including a
special presentation on Wednesday, June 26 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. by James M.
Shultz, PhD, called Disasters and Extreme Events: The Trauma Signature.
The session is part of the Assembly of Chapters meeting, but tickets are available
for other participants for $20 (members’ rate). The session qualifies for 1.5 CECs.
We have also added a Master Class, on Saturday, June 29 from 10:00 to 11:30
a.m. presented by Karma Tensum, MEd, Executive Director of the Tibetan
Children’s Education Foundation, called Walking in the Mandala: The Imagery
and Symbolism of Tibetan Sacred Sand Mandalas. Tickets are available for
$35 (members’ rate). The session qualifies for 1.5 CECs.
The online Advanced Registration Conference Brochure, where you
will find a detailed listing of the complete schedule, information on the
plenary sessions and keynote presenters, and all of the other conference
highlights and program events has been updated to include the latest
information.
All attendees will receive a preconference e-mail communication that
will be sent approximately 1 week before the conference. The e-mail will
provide details about the onsite registration dates and times where you can
pick up your conference badge, tickets, and program guide. If you have not
already done so, please make your hotel reservations. The space in the
hotel is filling up, and the discounted room rates and room block are
available until May 31, 2013 (pending space availability). You can book your
room online or call the reservation line at (800) 204-6100. If calling, please
be sure to mention that you are attending the American Art Therapy
Association conference.
Photo courtesy of Alyssa Griskiewicz.
We thank Alyssa, who helped with the
acquisition of the mandala creation for
the conference. Also, special thanks to
Antioch University and the Evergreen
Art Therapy Association for their
sponsorship of the event.
Be sure to visit the conference website
today! Enjoy our honorary salmon
mascot who wants to show you the
treasures that await you in the Emerald
City! He’s been making the rounds!
(Photos compliments of the Local
Arrangements Committee)
If you didn’t purchase a ticket to attend the “sold out” Night on the
Town at the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum on Friday, June 28, 2013,
be sure to plan on participating in the Local Arrangement Committee’s (LAC)
“Choose Your Own Adventure” Night on the Town free event! You do not
need to preregister or have a ticket for this event. Choose which “flavor” of
Seattle you want to experience for a self-guided night on the town.
Suggested itinerary and public transportation options will be provided.
Everyone is invited to attend a special musical performance by Bruce Moon
and Chris Belkofer from 9:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the Black Coffee Co-op
Café. You’ll read more about this event in the conference program guide.
Last call for conference advertising: Click here to review the
options. If you need more information, contact Barbara Florence via e-mail at
[email protected], or call (888) 290-0878. Last Call for the 2013
Members’ Art Slideshow Exhibit Submissions: You are invited to submit
artwork for the 2013 Members’ Art Exhibition. The slideshow provides a
great venue for you to showcase your personal artwork and imagery at the
conference. The submission deadline is May 31, 2013. Click here for more
information.
Join Us!
The 2014 Call for Proposals is officially under way. You can find
more details in this issue of the Newsletter.
See You In Seattle!
Page 8
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
American Art Therapy Association 45th Annual Conference
July 9-14, 2014, in San Antonio, TX
Art Therapy: Trailblazing the Future
The American Art Therapy Association will host the 45th Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX, July 9-14, 2014, at
the Hyatt Regency on the River Walk. The theme of the 45th Annual Conference, Art Therapy: Trailblazing the Future,
will focus on the latest innovations in art therapy practice and cutting-edge research in the field. The conference will
provide a forum for attendees to visualize what the future of art therapy can look like for both the therapist and client.
Presentations will bring together the latest theories and methods that demonstrate how art therapists can grow,
become energized, and promote the profession of art therapy in a competitive environment.
San Antonio offers the perfect setting for this conference, providing an atmosphere of wide open spaces, with a festive
and spiritual flow of the river to enhance the creative and progressive nature of forging new trails in art therapy.
Attendees will be able to take advantage of all that San Antonio has to offer in a variety of cultural, educational, and
historical venues.
Proposals for this conference will only be accepted online at www.xcdsystem.com/aata2014.
The deadline for proposals is Friday, August 23, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
 Please follow all directives found on the website carefully. Failure to submit complete proposals may result in your
proposal being rejected. An automated confirmation e-mail generated by the proposal website will be sent to you
after the successful submission of your proposal. E-mail Barbara Florence ([email protected]) for more
information.
 All conference presenters and co-presenters must register for the Conference. Conference registration
discounts are not provided to presenters. Only presenters of the Advanced Practice Courses receive a stipend.
 In order for attendees to receive Continuing Education Credit (CEC) for sessions, at least one presenter in
each session must have the minimum of a master’s degree. Students are encouraged to submit proposals, but
please ensure that a co-presenter with a master’s degree, such as a member of your graduate program’s faculty,
participates in your session.
 All materials submitted must follow the guidelines set forth by the Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association (APA) (Sixth Edition).
Proposals in the following four categories will undergo a blind review process. Proposal materials, including
the abstract and session description should NOT include any of the author/presenter’s identifying
information:
1. PAPERS (50 minutes, 1 CEC) Oral presentation of didactic material, usually conducted by one or two authors. No
art supplies will be provided for this presentation format, as it is not intended to be a hands-on experience for
participants.
2. PANELS (90 minutes, 1.5 CECs) Groups of a minimum of three and up to six panelists (including the moderator)
speaking on different facets of the same topic. Like the “Paper” format, panels are not intended to include
experiential activities, and will not include art supplies. Panel sessions must have a minimum of three
presenters to be qualified as a panel.
3. WORKSHOPS (90 minutes, 1.5 CECs) Experiential format designed to engage all participants in a process
through which they will gain hands-on experience and mastery over the material covered. Art supplies are
provided by the Association in the session rooms for all workshop sessions. You will find the list of
supplies that will be provided in the online proposal submission site.
4. DIGITAL POSTER SESSIONS (30 minutes, .5 CEC) Authors will present their work using PowerPoint
presentations containing artwork, research data, charts, and other information.(No art supplies will be provided.)
Proposals in the following three categories undergo a review process that DOES include the presenters’
resume/identification:
1. ADVANCED PRACTICE (AP) COURSES (Half-day 3-hour sessions for 3 CECs; Full-day 7-hour sessions for 7
CECs). Full-day AP Courses will be held on Wednesday, July 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Half-day AP Courses
will be held on Sunday, July 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Topics based on theory, practice, and research are
highly recommended, including but not limited to, practice management in art therapy, innovative clinical
approaches, diversity in assessment, treatment, research, best practices in art therapy, ethics, and use of
technology. Full-day presenters receive a stipend of $300; half-day presenters receive $150. The stipend must be
shared with all presenters in the session. At the time of the proposal, submission authors will see the list of
art supplies that will be provided by the Association for the session.
2. PERFORMANCE ART (50 minutes, 1 CEC) Presentation of professional issues or clinical application in art
therapy through performance art modalities including drama, music, poetry, text, movement, visual art, or
combinations thereof. In addition to the online proposal submission, send one (1) copy of supportive material such
Continued on page 10
Page 9
as text, slides, audio, or video recordings to the Association’s National Office by the deadline.(No art supplies will
be provided.)
3. VIDEOS (50 minutes, 1 CEC) Finished videotaping/recordings on topics related to professional issues and/or
clinical practice. Presenters must be aware of time constraints and be able to present the video and facilitate
discussion within the allotted time. Submit one (1) copy of the video to the Association’s National Office by the
deadline. (No art supplies will be provided.)
Proposals submitted in this category undergo a basic review process conducted by the Program Committee
to ensure CEC requirements are met, and that there is no duplication of content and topics:
1. FOCUS GROUPS (50 minutes, 1 CEC) Individuals meet for an open discussion in a special interest area. Focus is
on sharing among participants rather than a formal presentation. (No art supplies will be provided.)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION–PLEASE NOTE
1. Failure to follow submission guidelines and/or deadlines may result in automatic disqualification.
2. If you have any questions about submitting a proposal, please contact Barbara Florence at (888) 290-0878 or
(703) 548-5860, or via e-mail at [email protected].
3. The Conference Program Committee strives to select proposals that will provide a variety of topics and presenters
to create a balanced program. Because of the extensive numbers of high-quality proposals submitted every year,
many proposals will not be selected due to space and time limitations, although many rejected proposals hold a
great deal of merit.
4. Please do not send in duplicate proposals of the same title or topic in different presentation categories. The
Program Committee will delete duplications at their discretion.
5. Do not send a hard copy of your proposal to the Association’s National Office. It will not be accepted.
Fukushima Relief Work by the Community of Japanese Creative Arts Therapists (CJCAT) June 2011 to
June 2013 - Toshiko Kobayashi, ATR-BC, LCAT; Reiko Fujisawa, ATR-BC, LCAT; Natsu Nagae, MT-BC; Toru
Takada, ATR-BC, LCAT; and Manami Yamamoto, MFTI
Thank you to the American Art Therapy Association and the community of art
therapists for the ongoing support from which we have been able to start our relief work
in Fukushima. It has been more than 2 years since Japan experienced the atrocity of a
3.11 earthquake and tsunami disaster along with a manmade accident at Fukushima
nuclear power plant that caused contamination of radioactive materials. The nuclear
power plant is far from under control; people continue to suffer from this disaster and
still need a great deal of support and care. The disaster created a maelstrom of fear,
uncertainty, and doubt among the Japanese people. Due to increased radiation in the
environment, more than 80,000 residents remain evacuated across the country with no
immediate prospect of being able to return to their abandoned homes and businesses.
About 2,000 people have evacuated to Koriyama-city in Fukushima and have been
living in a shelter.
During the 42nd annual conference of the American Art Therapy Association,
the CJCAT had an opportunity to raise money to support Japanese art therapists.
Through the AATA community’s support, we generated $1,000 that we have used for
art materials and expenses to deliver creative arts therapies workshops (Figures 1 and
2). Working together with a former governor of Fukushima, Mr. Eisaku Sato, we have
facilitated a series of workshops in Koriyama City, Fukushima prefecture since June
2011. Mr. Sato quickly understood creative art therapy relief work as one of the most
helpful means for swift recovery especially since many Japanese citizens are too proud
to accept psychological trauma care.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Some of the people who had been evacuated from the Tomioka, Namie, and
Kawatuchi areas were still living in temporary housing. We visited the community hall
at the center of the temporary housing and shared different types of creative activities
with the residents there to promote “sense of self” and expression of feelings. Some of
the activities such as Origami, singing folk songs, writing a letter to self, interactive
performances, and group art projects were very well received (Figure 3).
Figure 3
Seven workshops were held by the beginning of 2013, and there are more
scheduled for later this spring. Due to the slow recovery of infrastructure, people are struggling to visualize an end.
Under these circumstances, people have increasingly started to recognize what art therapists and creative arts
therapists can bring to their uprooted community. We are just a fraction of arts therapists who were working on this
trauma recovery, but we recognize a gentle movement for an increased demand for art therapy in Japan. We continue
to support the people in recovery, and it is our mission to use our skills to help in these endeavors. Without your
support, we would not have been able to do such effective relief work. Thank you!
Page 10
RESOLUTIONS PROCESS
Report of the Executive Director – Susan Corrigan
With the announcement of the BRAIN (Brain Research through
Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative to launch long term
research to gain a much deeper understanding of how the human mind
functions, it’s clear that learning how the creation of art impacts the human
experience and overall health may be understood fully within the next decade.
The initial $100 million planning grant to the National Institutes of Health, the
Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, and the National Science
Foundation will provide subject experts the framework needed to gather data
with the help of new technologies and finally could provide the evidence that art
making positively impacts mental health. The initial BRAIN effort will focus on
ramping up research on the growing challenges of Alzheimer’s, Autism,
Epilepsy, and other illnesses of the brain.
This possible giant step in research matched with the public’s
awareness of the importance of mental health as evidence during the recent
national tragedies, has opened opportunities for art therapy to be recognized as
a significant profession at the center of brain health.
Since 2008 when the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
(MHPAEA) was signed into law, there has not been any major mental health
legislation until this year in response to recent national tragedies. Rapidly the
nation voiced its support for increasing mental health services across the
country and legislators are responding with focused programs related to “early
learning through adolescence” initiatives that are school-based as well as
community-wide services. Broader funding of mental health services in general
through the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid is being proposed. Two of the
most promising pieces of legislation are:
 The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee
Chairman Harkin (D-IA) and Ranking Member Lamar Alexander (R-TN) made
news as they urged the Senate to pass the Mental Health Awareness and
Improvement Act, an omnibus mental health package passed by the HELP
Committee to authorize and improve programs administered by both the
Departments of Education and Health and Human Services related to
awareness, prevention, and early identification of mental health conditions.
 The Excellence in Mental Health Act seeks to bring parity to the public mental
health system by having community-based mental health agencies treated as
all other parts of this country’s health safety net and expands Medicaid
funding for community mental health services.
The Association, through its Governmental Affairs Committee, is
working with its national partners on these bills and other legislation that
supports the GAC’s National Agenda as described in the GAC report on page
16 to target efforts that impact the demographic groups served through art
therapy. Advocacy materials and support are available for chapters as they
work on a state level to help members take advantage of the potential
increases in mental health funding. New multi-state partnerships will be
launched throughout 2013 and 2014 by the Association as part of the advocacy
support provided.
Gaining the art therapy license in states across the country is now even
more important to the profession as these national initiatives take shape.
Federal funding to the states will support more local mental health services as
well as seek to provide more skilled mental health providers across the country.
The ATR and ATR-BC credentials along with licensure will position art
therapists at the forefront of those qualified to provide services. Nearly a dozen
states are in the process of moving toward the art therapy license. For those
chapters that would like to begin the process toward licensure, contact
[email protected]. Enhanced communications and advocacy
materials are available for the opportunities ahead.
Our national career partnerships have expanded with the introduction
of two new toolkits: Art in Senior Living: Enhancing the Lives of Older Adults
Professional membership in the American
Art Therapy Association (AATA) comes
with an obligation to support the profession
by voting on Board leadership and on
important issues affecting the organization.
Members also are empowered to influence
the policy and decision-making process of
the organization by proposing resolutions.
Any member or group of members may
propose ideas and actions that affect
AATA’s mission, strategic plan, policies,
organizational structure or the use of
resources, by submitting a resolution. The
AATA Board of Directors is obligated to
consider and respond to any resolution
formally presented to the membership and
carried by their vote at the Annual Business
Meeting. In 2005, the AATA Board of
Directors reviewed and made
improvements to the resolutions process.
The new resolutions process is an
opportunity to educate and invite members
to participate more effectively in the
business side of our nonprofit Association
How to Make and Submit a Resolution
Since the Business Meeting takes place
during the AATA conference, most
resolutions are written by members in
attendance. Members who wish to submit a
resolution will be able to meet with the
Resolutions Committee and discuss their
ideas, identify possible AATA resources or
sponsors for the resolutions, and craft the
wording of their motion. Resolutions must
address an area of the AATA Strategic
Plan, which is available on the membersonly website. The AATA Treasurer will be
on hand to help determine the potential
financial impact of the member’s resolution
and identify it on the resolutions form.
Once the resolution has been crafted, the
Resolutions Committee will present it to the
members at the Annual Business Meeting
of the conference where it will be debated
and voted on by the members present.
Resolutions that are passed by the
members’ vote proceed to the Board of
Directors who will assign the motion to an
AATA committee for review and further
action as appropriate.
Those members who are not able to attend
the conference or the Business Meeting
may submit a resolution in one of two
ways. You may ask another member who is
attending to sponsor your resolution, going
through the same process described above.
For more information, including a sample
resolution and the Resolution Form, visit
the members-only website.
Continued on page 12
Page 11
Report of the Executive Director – Continued from page 11
with the Assisted Living Federation of America representing 40,000 facilities nationwide; and Art Therapy with People
Impacted by Epilepsy and Neurological Disorders: a Partnership of the Epilepsy Foundation of America and the
American Art Therapy Association toolkit to introduce more art therapists to this important service need area. More
toolkit partnerships are under way for specific groups with growing mental health service requirements.
 Take advantage of the Institute for Continuing Education in Art Therapy (ICE/AT) as new courses are added later
this year.
 List your services on Find-a-Therapist (Art Therapist) so when mental health funding increases your services can be
accessed easily.
As part of its continuing improvement process, the Association has been updating its website to serve as a
more simplified online information center opening in July.
Hope you’ve included the Annual Conference in your plans this year so we can share information and
collaborate on the promising future. Meet me and the rest of the national team at the Marketplace of Ideas. We’d like to
hear your ideas. Looking forward to seeing you.
Art Committee - Deborah Behnke, MA, ATR-BC, LCPC, Chair
This year has been another active one for the art committee, and many goals for 2012 were successfully
accomplished. Several events at the 2012 annual conference in Savannah were very successful. The push-pin art
exhibit in the Marketplace of Ideas included 64 participants, and all the work was donated to two local agencies in
Savannah. The Local Arrangements Committee successfully delivered the work, and there was recognition of the
donations and of AATA in the Savannah News.
The panel sponsored by the art committee, “How the Art of Art Therapists Informs Their Practice,” was well
attended. Panelists explored how their own art influences their professional practice, and how they strive to continue
their own art making in the face of interference from competing life demands.
Barbara Fish has organized this year’s focus group for the Seattle conference around the continued theme of
the role of the art committee to raise consciousness about the presence of art in art therapy and create events to
promote art making at the annual conference. Last year’s focus group had 13 participants and was facilitated by
Barbara Fish, who presented a review of the history of the Art Committee. Many ideas for future projects were
presented and discussed, including a book of art by art therapists, a silent auction of art made in the Open Studio, and
creating art events and auctions during future conferences.
Holly Wherry has coordinated an art committee sponsored panel session for the 2013 conference called
“Making Art Around Seattle: Integrating Environment and Viewer.” The panel, to be held on Thursday, June 27, from
3:15 to 4:45 p.m., will include local artists and art therapists who will discuss how they integrate nature in their art and
into the environment and community of Seattle.
Audit Committee - Gwendolyn Short, MA, ATR-BC, CSC-AD, Chair
The Audit Committee received the 2012 Audited Financial Statements with an unqualified opinion from Raffa
P.C., the Association’s audit firm. The unqualified opinion means that the financial management of the Association’s
assets and financial records is very strong. Recommendations made through the auditors Management Report are
being addressed by the Association’s management team. In 2012, the Association changed from one financial
management service provider to another firm immediately before the audit took place. Despite the quick transition, the
audit was conducted and completed within the determined timeframe. Click here to review a copy of the Audited
Financial Report.
Bylaws and Policies and Procedures Committee - Charlotte Boston, MA, ATR-BC, Chair
The Bylaws and Policies and Procedures Committee, with the Board’s approval and the recommendations of
the parliamentarian, continue to review and enhance the policies and procedures. There has been great progress. In
an effort to improve recordkeeping, all 2012 motions have been posted to the Association’s online document exchange
and storage center, called “Glasscubes.” Since the end of 2012, the Committee and the National Office have worked
together to post the updates to policies and procedures on the Association’s website, and to correct format and
grammatical errors. This is a large undertaking and a tedious ongoing task. The most recent revisions that have been
posted are related to our policies and procedures for archives, the Ethics Committee, multicultural diversity
competencies, the Rawley Silver research grant award, the trauma recovery art therapy program fund, journal editorial
staff, and the review board. These are just a few examples of the work that has been done to address issues that
impact the membership. We strive to keep pace with the updates as they occur.
Continued on page 13
Page 12
Bylaws and Policies and Procedures Committee – Continued from page 12
In addition, the 2013 ballot included three updates to the Bylaws. All proposed changes to the Bylaws were
approved. A summary of ballot results are noted below and the complete, updated Bylaws are available in the
members-only section of the Association’s website.
Article III Membership - Section 3.1 Categories, Qualifications, and Privileges
*Yes
698
No
11
Article IV Officers - Section 4.5; Article VI Board of Directors - Section 6.5 Removal
*Yes
680
No
21
Article XI Ethics – Section 11.2
*Yes
698
No
17
Conference Committee - Raquel Farrell-Kirk, MS, ATR-BC
The 2013 AATA Annual Conference received an unprecedented number of proposals. We saw more than 100
additional proposals submitted in comparison to 2012. This seems to indicate both a strong interest in attending the
conference and a strong interest in presenting. To meet this higher volume of proposals, the AATA Conference
committee had to recruit additional proposal reviewers. We are pleased to say that we did not have any great difficulty
finding people willing to aid in the review process. AATA members, who were invited to review, were by and large
happy to do so. This allowed us to meet our deadlines for completing reviews. The large number of proposals,
however, did raise new challenges for making acceptance decisions. There were many more proposals that scored
well with reviewers than there were available spots. Authors likely noticed that not adhering to submission guidelines
did indeed penalize them this year, as the competition for available presentation slots increased. To address this issue,
AATA’s Conference Committee is suggesting that for future conference slots, additional sessions might be added on
the final day of the conference, should this volume of proposals be repeated.
The AATA Conference Committee also updated the conference refund policy based on the resolution that
passed at the 2012 annual business meeting. The new policy was created after researching refund policies for other
organizations and has been fully implemented. It is now reflected in the current conference website and in the
corresponding organizational documents (the conference manual and Policy and Procedures).
Several other programming adjustments have been made for the 2013 conference, again based on feedback
received in 2012. For example, the Assembly of Chapters meeting will include a CEC-eligible educational session, and
the Memorial ceremony and Master Supervision sessions will now be offered at a new time in an effort to encourage
attendance.
The 2014 conference plans are well under way as well. The 2014 conference committee members have been
confirmed, with Jane DeSouza serving in the role of conference chairperson. Her previous experience in that role
makes Jane a valuable leader for that team, and they have already begun holding regularly scheduled conference
calls.
Continuing Education Committee - Marie Wilson, PhD, LPC, ATR-BC, ATCS, Chair
The American Art Therapy Association Continuing Education Committee (CEC) received three submissions
from January to April 2013; all were approved. The Committee is in the process of implementing two important tasks
outlined in the 5-Year Strategic Plan for 2013.
First, we are actively working with the National Office toward the implementation of a web-based application
and review process for Continued Education (CE) submissions. This will feature a direct link from the AATA website to
the CE submission kit where documents can be uploaded and stored by applicants and more easily accessed and
reviewed by the designated Committee Reviewer(s). We hope this will further streamline the submission and review
process and provide easier access for AATA members who desire CE approval for art therapy events.
Second, the Committee is discussing ways to support the National Office by providing oversight of proposals
submitted to the Institute for Continuing Education in Art Therapy (ICE/AT). The CE Committee is in the best position
to oversee these online courses and to ensure that these courses meet CEC guidelines for approval. The Committee
is discussing ways to support this process.
Education Program Approval Board (EPAB) - Jennifer Jackson, ATR-BC, LPAT, LMHP, LPC, Chair
EPAB has had a busy and productive year. During the past year, we had long-term board members end their
terms with EPAB. Board Chair Abby Calisch ended her stretch at the Summer Board meeting while board member
Diane Meros ended her duration at the Fall Board Meeting. Many thanks to members for their service and dedication
to the art therapy profession and to EPAB. While two members were leaving, we had two starting. During the Fall
Board Meeting, new board members Anna Hiscox and Michele Ellis-Thomas started. They are both art therapy
educators and we are very happy to have them on the team. The rest of the group includes Jennifer Jackson,
Continued on page 14
Page 13
Education Program Approval Board (EPAB) – Continued from page 13
Chair, and members Charlie Marshall, Michaela Kirby, Michaele Barsnack, Craig Balfany, and public member Ruth
Smith.
EPAB was very busy in 2012, reviewing six universities for approval. We are happy to announce that schools
approved were Ursuline College, Marywood University, University of Louisville, and Caldwell College. In addition, Adler
Minnesota and Southwestern College were both approved with a 1-year status, pending changes. EPAB has
contacted several universities and colleges who have art therapy programs, not accredited by the American Art
Therapy Association, to invite them to become surveyed and gain accreditation.
The EPAB Chair has had monthly conference calls with Board Liaison Juliet King to discuss ongoing
improvement. Furthermore, Juliet King has initiated regular contact between EPAB and the Education Committee
Chair, Governmental Affairs Committee Chair, and AATA President. Continuing communication between all boards on
a regular basis is a goal for EPAB.
Exciting news from the board is that in the future, EPAB will be an independent entity from AATA, which will be
similarly run like ATCB. In addition, the National Office will be taking some of the load off the EPAB chair. Starting in
January 2013, the National Office of the American Art Therapy Association began a contract for an EPAB
Administrator who now manages the operations for EPAB. Operations include the following tasks: (1) financial
Management including maintenance of EPAB’s annual financial reports and statements and invoicing for all fees
related to EPAB approval of art therapy education programs; (2) technical Support for Services which includes
preparation of the notice of approved educational programs on the website, adjustment of the surveys for the programs
to be reviewed; (3) follow up with educational institutions interested in being approved through EPAB; (4) storage of
confidential records and information.
Education Committee - Patricia St John, EdD, ATR-BC, LCAT, Chair
Education Committee Focus. The Education Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, June 26,
2013, from 9:30 am to noon at the American Art Therapy Association conference in Seattle, WA. Key items under
discussion are anticipated CACREP standards revisions and the American Counseling Association’s portability
initiative (national licensing across states) and how these changes may affect art therapy education programs.
President ter Maat e-mailed materials pertaining to this discussion to the Coalition of Art Therapy Educators (CATE)
where concerns will be discussed. These materials were re-sent to CATE members along with an explanatory paper
by Dana Elmendorf, Education Committee member and Associate Professor of Art Therapy at Seton Hill University,
titled “Factors Which May Potentially Affect Graduate Art Therapy Programs in the Future.”
CACREP’s standards revisions and ACA’s portability initiative have the potential to severely impact the identity
of art therapy as a credible field. In a phone conference on April 4, 2013, chairs of the Education Committee (Patricia
St John), Governmental Affairs (Margaret Carlock-Russo), Education Programs Review Board (EPAB) (Jennifer
Jackson), the Education Committee Board Liaison (Juliet King), and AATA President (Mercedes ter Maat) discussed
CACREP proposed revised standards, ACA’s portability initiative, and the identity of art therapy. AATA has begun to
work toward state licensure of art therapists across the country; such as already exists in six states (Kentucky,
Maryland, Mississippi, Mexico; the Creative Art Therapist License offered in New York; and in Texas, the Licensed
Professional Counselor-Art Therapist is offered) with the long-term goal of portability across state lines. This
discussion will be continued in each committee as well as in CATE, EPAB, and at meetings of Art Therapy Program
Directors and the Art Therapy Educators at the 2013 conference. Watch for specific meetings dates and times.
Survey. As I write this report, initiatives are under way to address concerns pertaining to CACREP and ACA. It
is important that the Education Committee understands what is occurring in each state regarding licensing, how
CACREP and/or ACA changes will impact art therapists, especially in terms of education and training and
employment, and what the Education Committee and AATA might do to help these programs. To gather information
about what is occurring in each program and state, in the Education Committee’s Board Liaison, Juliet King, created a
short survey that was sent in late April 2013, to the program directors of the EPAB approved master’s programs, and
to CATE members. Results will be available to education partners at the conference, and to the Association’s
members.
Doctoral Panel at AATA 2013 Conference. The Education Committee is hosting a panel on doctoral
programs for art therapists. On Friday, June 29, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m., directors and faculty from five doctoral
programs will speak about their programs followed by a lively compare-and-contrast session based on specific
questions. If you are considering doctoral studies or are curious about them, be sure to attend this session. Panelists
are Richard Carolan (Notre Dame de Namur University), Nancy Gerber (Drexel University), Lynn Kapitan (Mount Mary
College), Michaela Kirby (Lesley University), and Marcia Rosal (Florida State University).
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Ethics Committee - Cheryl Doby-Copeland, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC, LMFT, Chair
Throughout the past year, the Ethics Committee (EC) continued its primary function of responding to member
inquiries. We are endeavoring to expand the scope of our committee activities, and requested a change to the Bylaws
Article XI, that was offered for membership ratification on the recent election ballot (and approved), to reflect the need
to educate Association members and the general public on the Ethical Principles for Art Therapists (in addition to our
current role of endorsing and making recommendations for revisions).
This spring the EC submitted to the AATA Board of Directors the revisions of the Ethical Principles for Art
Therapists. The current version reflects a comprehensive review of each ethical principle. Throughout our deliberations
on the ethical principles, our intention was to indicate trends in ethics inquiries and provide additional guidance that
enables art therapists to make ethical decisions. In addition, we have worked to modify the language of the previous
document to be consistent with contemporary thinking. The EC collaborated with Technology Committee Chair Natalie
Carlton and research experts Donna Betts and Sarah Deaver, and we thank them for their thoughtful contributions to
the document. We also appreciate the editorial feedback received from Mercedes ter Maat. We feel the current version
of the Ethical Principles under consideration by the AATA Board of Directors is a comprehensive document, and we
look forward to receiving feedback from the membership. All voting members should have received an e-mail inviting
them to share their feedback. Please do so by May 31, 2013. The revised principles include aspirational ethical
principles in the preamble, new section 5.0 Exhibition of Client Artwork, expansion of 9.0 Responsibility to Research
Participants, changes in the language of 13.0 Independent Practitioners to be consistent with allied mental health
professional organizations, e.g., APA, ACA, AAMFT and NASW, and new principle 15.0 Professional Use of the
Internet, Social Networking Sites, and Other Electronic or Digital Technology, which serves as additional guidance to
16.0 Art Therapy by Electronic Means. Stay tuned for more information on the newly revised Ethical Principles for Art
Therapists.
In keeping with the EC Strategic plan goals, this year we will offer a preconference ethics course entitled
Engaging Ethical Decision Making in Art Therapy Practice. In addition, this year our Ethics Committee panel will focus
on Art Therapy Ethical Practice and Multicultural/Diversity Competence. We look forward to engaging in a robust
dialogue on these important topics, which will inform our committee on the experiences and preferences of our
membership in these critical practice areas.
The current EC members are Jordan Potash, PhD, ATR-BC, REAT, LCAT; Savneet Talwar, PhD, ATR-BC;
and Rita Klachkin, EdS, ATR-BC, LPC, LCAT. Savneet Talwar will be completing her service on the EC this summer,
and I/we thank her for her years of service. We are pleased to have Rita Klachkin as our most recent member. Rita
has made numerous thoughtful contributions to the committee’s discussion of inquiries. The EC continues to function
without the required number of members. Therefore, we will need to add two members to the Ethics Committee in
order to function as a complete committee. We will be recruiting new members this summer. On behalf of the entire
EC, I sincerely express appreciation of Juliet King for her support of the EC as our board liaison.
There is much work to be done, and we encourage you to contact us via the [email protected].
Finance Committee - Joseph Jaworek, MA, ATR, Treasurer
The 2013 Finance Committee (FC) consisted of Christianne Strang, Tony Labrosse, Craig Siegel, Katherine
Schwartz, Stella Stepney, and consultant, Mercedes ter Maat. This has been an active and working committee
addressing multiple financial challenges as well as transition of leadership by election of the membership. The
committee is focused on realistic budgets and makes recommendations to the Association’s Board of Directors for
appropriate interventions to contain costs. While the majority of FC business is completed through electronic
communications, members of the FC met briefly to discuss transition at the July 2012 conference.
Annual Historic Commentary - The approved 2012 budget was reviewed in March 2012 where it was
determined that the Executive Director and the FC take immediate action to dramatically reduce the expenses once it
became evident that expenses and revenue for forthcoming annual conferences was incongruent with financial plans.
Revisions were identified and approved by the Board, and cost containment was strictly adhered to by the Executive
Director. It is also noted that despite reduction in National Office staff, the services to members continued. It is from
their hard work, careful management, and many extended hours beyond the typical work week that we may attribute
the underlying reason for the positive financial gain.
It is important to note that some expenses, such as the move to the current National Office space, had not
been budgeted. Some of the cuts made including the office relocation, despite having to utilize temporary facilities,
saved the Association $25,000 per year. Additional savings were incurred through reorganization to accommodate
accessibility of the archives, which could have cost the Association $30,000 for the year. Commitment to meet the
aggressive budget cuts was also the result of fast action by the Board in reducing their reimbursable expenses to
attend the annual conference, and at the recommendation of the FC, to change the accounting management firm.
These and other changes have positioned us well for 2013 and beyond. Specifically cost-cutting accomplishments and
results included:
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Finance Committee – Continued from page 15
 $130,000 of expense was reduced through changes introduced midyear while increasing revenue above original
2012 Cash Budget goal.
 $25,000 per year in lease expense was saved; not just one time, but allowing those funds to further the strategic
priorities of the Association.
 A further saving of $48,000 in accounting costs going forward.
 In making the archives accessible to members and relocating to the National Office, the Association ended $27,000




in annual archives management cost.
A $37,000 long-term conference obligation was terminated.
Reduced staff costs through attrition by nearly $90,000.
Paid for the move while remaining on budget.
Added planned revenue to investments.
In addition to these changes, the FC is guided toward greater transparency and accountability by establishing
a monitoring reporting system for separate investment accounts and tracing investments back since the years that
management has been separated from the management of the American Counseling Association.
Financial Position Overview - The FC wishes to bring the following financial achievements to your attention:
 The December 31, 2012, cash goal was: $113,565, the Actual result was $208,521.
 Our equity position improved by 9.49% over the prior year, which is outstanding.
 Majority of gains were derived from contributions. The goal was $5,831, and the actual contributions were $24,532.
This was accomplished through funding outreach to foundations and online donations by members to special funds
that were established to address the national crisis events that occurred.
 Membership funds and conference revenue met the revised budget.
 The investment gain was $56,120 as compared to the $25,000 projected amount.
Investment Management Overview - Our portfolio is diversified in both conservative bond and stock-based
mutual funds. The mutual funds have been selected to provide a good but conservative gain; as a result, our
annualized rate of return for the period of January 1, 2012 to January 15, 2013 was 15.39%.
Scholarship and Awards Funds - A thorough review of all of the scholarship and awards funds was
completed. Through the assistance of Board member Laura Loumeau-May, an annual report of these funds will be
produced and made available to the Association at the time of the 2013 Annual Business Meeting.
Governmental Affairs Committee - Margaret Carlock-Russo, MA, ATR-BC, LCAT, Chair
The purpose of the Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC) is to monitor state and national policy actions to
ensure that the Association‘s interests and objectives are adequately represented at all levels of government, and
support and advocate for legislation and policies that promote the profession and practice of art therapy. The
Governmental Affairs Committee has addressed its 5-year Strategic Plan goals. This report provides information on
the goals and the related activities.
Goal #1: To ensure that art therapy is recognized as a credentialed profession by legislators and
regulators on the state and national levels. (1) Ask each chapter to submit their definition of art therapy. (2) After
review of definitions, develop and adopt a standardized definition and distribute it to the Assembly of Chapters and
chapter presidents. Ask chapters to adopt the standard definition of art therapy. (3) Work with Director of Public Policy
to review/refine the AATA scope of practice statement and other public policy statements as they relate to legislative
efforts.
The GAC Committee discussed the challenge of retrieving definition statements from each chapter. The
committee developed an alternate plan to assess and revise the current “What is Art Therapy” document on the AATA
website. The statement was reviewed and a final draft was brought forward to the Board for approval. The Board
approved statement is available on the AATA website. All chapters are encouraged to use this document as the
definition of art therapy on their respective websites with the intention to promote consistency of message and unity
among chapters.
The Director of Public Policy position vacancy has recently been filled. The new Director of Public Policy
began on April 15, 2013. The committee is working toward the refinement of the AATA scope of practice statement
and other public policy statements related to legislative efforts. The committee worked on an action agenda that
prioritizes initiatives for the new Director.
The GAC focuses on legislative actions to support programs that employ art therapists within a variety of
mental health settings. Recently, there has been significant federal attention to fund and increase mental health
services. More than 33 bills related to mental health are currently under consideration in Washington, DC. The U.S.
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) has indicated that they are considering five bills
as the core of possible omnibus mental health legislation: (1) Garrett Lee Smith Suicide Prevention reauthorization, (2)
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Governmental Affairs Committee – Continued from page 16
Mental Health First Aid Bill (S. 153), (3) Mental Health in Schools Act (S. 195), (4) Excellence in Mental Health (S.
294), and (5) Children’s Trauma Recovery Act (S. 380). The GAC will continue to keep chapters updated as an
Omnibus Bill or others emerge so chapter representatives can inform respective state senators and representatives of
the importance of specific bills. As part of overall legislative efforts, the GAC drafted the Association’s National Agenda
for Mental Health Services and Legislation that is currently being reviewed b the Board.
Goal #2: Develop integrated state and national policies and measures. (1) Forward reviewed public
policy statements to the Board for adoption. (2) Keep membership informed of state and national legislative efforts and
actions affecting art therapy through GAC quarterly chapter conference calls and Newsletter reports. (3) Ask chapters
to submit a quarterly report to the GAC chair, including status of any chapter updates.
The GAC revised policy number 7.72, Governmental Affairs Committee Advocacy Project Grant Program. The
revised policy was approved by the BOD and adopted.
A GAC column was added to each Chapter and Monthly Updates. This initiative helps keep membership
informed regarding progress toward licensing in various states as well as national initiatives in a timely manner. We
hope that it will also promote consistency of message and initiatives among chapters.
As an additional measure to increase chapter communications, the GAC has increased the frequency of
committee meetings from quarterly to seven times per year. Beginning in 2013, there are six scheduled conference call
meetings and one in-person meeting at the annual conference. The additional meetings have generated increased
attendance, consistency in communication among chapter representatives, and have facilitated the sharing of
information related to licensing initiatives and other state legislative efforts. Quarterly chapter reports will continue to be
requested.
In addition, state chapters have been encouraged to link their existing Facebook pages with the AATA
Facebook page. To date, 16 chapters have been linked. This effort has helped increase communication among
chapters.
Goal #3: Develop advocacy training tools, educational opportunities, and mentorship among chapters.
(1) Communicate updates and news to chapters through e-blasts, chapter websites, and GAC committee calls. (2)
Develop guidelines for the GAC mentor program. (3) Develop an advocacy webinar on how to address legislative
representatives as well as how to start a legislative bill in your state. (4) Develop a student-focused conference session
on professionalism and how to support the profession. (5) Offer an advocacy training session at the national
conference.
As mentioned above, the GAC has increased the frequency of committee meetings, developed a GAC column
in the Updates, and encouraged increased communication with chapters through social media connections.
Informally, the GAC has begun to provide mentorship to interested chapters as they negotiate the political
landscapes in their respective states. Committee members familiar with the licensing process have met with chapter
representatives and offered guidance. Additionally, legislative examples of language, steps, and directions that have
been used in chapter licensing efforts are available in the members-only section of the website located in the
“Information Center for research and background to support the state art therapist license efforts.” The initial
efforts mentioned above will be assessed as part of the process to establish guidelines for a formal GAC Mentor
program in the coming months.
The GAC is developing a series of 2013 webinars including how to prepare and present the case for an art
therapy license; how to write Newsletter articles; and Medicaid & Medicare updates and initiatives. An advocacy
article, written by a GAC committee member, is being converted into a webinar. Once completed, it will be posted on
the AATA website to provide convenient access by all chapters interested in reviewing the process that others have
followed to move toward a state art therapy license or classification within an existing license. Initiatives in several
state chapters to gain the art therapy license or review licensing options are under way. More than 10 state chapters
are moving forward to gain an art therapy license to enable credentialed art therapists to practice as other comparable
health professions. Several of these states have reviewed other successful state procedures and language and are
using the same. The licensing initiative further promotes consistency of messaging and licensing language. The GAC
hopes efforts will help strengthen the art therapy professional identity at the state and federal levels.
The GAC has supported successful licensing efforts in Maryland. In addition, members of the Mississippi
chapter have been leading efforts to establish acceptance of art therapists as approved Medicare providers in that
state. There are several other states currently moving forward with licensure initiatives with the support of the GAC
including Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
Ohio efforts were not successful, but the chapter plans to continue advocacy efforts. New York efforts to clarify
the current licensing law regarding scope of practice by including diagnosis and increasing limited permit periods were
defeated. However, New York members were successful in defeating the Governor’s effort to create a permanent
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Governmental Affairs Committee – Continued from page 17
exemption for state agencies to hire licensed mental health providers. New York chapters plan to continue legislative
efforts.
Plans are in place to provide a specific student-focused session on professionalism and how to advocate for
the profession during the June 2013 AATA conference. An advocacy training session will also be provided for
members at the June conference.
To further these goals, GAC members, along with Board members, formed a review committee and recently
hired a new Director of Public Policy. The new director began on April 15, 2013. Initial priorities include addressing the
issue of reimbursement for art therapists through Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, and other insurance providers,
support for art therapy licensing, and increasing art therapy services to the military.
Goal #4: Assist Chapters in meeting their licensing goals. (1) Develop a system to promote GAC grants to
chapters and refine dissemination of information so all chapters have an opportunity to apply. (2) Enhance the State
Advocacy Toolkit and develop standardized PR materials. (3) Request chapter PR information to help develop a “print
on demand” resource for chapters. (4) Select chapter recipient(s) for the GAC grant.
The GAC announced the Project Grant Award to chapters via GAC conference call meetings, and special
announcement notices published in the Monthly Updates. This year two chapters, Florida and North Carolina, were
awarded grants to begin licensing efforts.
The GAC revised and updated policy number 7.72, Governmental Affairs Committee Advocacy Project Grant
Program. An Ad Hoc Grant Proposal Review Committee was formed and included members of the GAC, AATA board
members and the AATA executive director. Once grant applications were received, the Ad Hoc Committee members
met in December 2012 to review the applications and presented an award proposal to the Board. The Ad Hoc
Committee recommended to the AATA Board that Florida receive a partial funding award and North Carolina receive
the full award amount requested. The Board approved the Committee recommendations and award notification letters
were sent out the first week of February 2013. The first award checks were sent by February 15, 2013. In recognition
of the awards, the GAC received thank you e-mails from the Florida Art Therapy Association and the North Carolina
Art Therapy Association Presidents.
The Assembly of Chapters, with support from the GAC and the National Office, issued a survey to chapters to
find out more information about which chapters are in the process of considering an art therapy license and where they
are in the process. Support from the Assembly of Chapters, the GAC, and the National Office is being coordinated to
gather materials, templates, and other background documents that will guide chapter efforts. The materials will be
available as part of the “print on demand” feature through the member-only section of the AATA website under
Advocacy Information.
As we close the 2012-2013 year, the GAC plans to continue advocating for licensing wherever and however
possible and to build upon the advocacy resources available to members. There will also be continued efforts to
encourage the use of common definitions and language regarding art therapy practice, profession, and education
when communicating with the public.
Honors Committee - Terry Towne, MA, ATR-BC, Chair
The Honors Committee has just completed deliberations on several award recipients. As you are aware,
Gussie Klorer was put forth on the ballot, and has been selected to receive the 2013 Honorary Life Member Award.
We have also identified recipients for the following awards: Distinguished Service and Distinguished Educator. The Jim
Consoli Video/Film Award is in the hands of the Video/Film Subcommittee Chaired by William More and assisted by
subcommittee members Deborah Behnke and Deborah Good. Their decision on the Consoli Award was completed by
the end of April. There were no nominations for any of the Clinician Award categories in 2013.
This year, in an effort to stimulate more nominations in every award category, we worked with the AATA office
to send two separate emails to Professional Members of the Association (potential nominators). It was the feeling of
the Honors Committee that targeting the nominator pool with a direct message about the Call for Honors might be an
effective way to generate more nominees. The effectiveness of this strategy is hard to determine. It is the
recommendation of the Honors Committee that this practice continue for the 2014 Award cycle.
In another effort to stimulate nominations, members of the Honors Committee will be holding an Open Forum
at the Conference in Seattle. The program is designed to help demystify the nomination process and explain the
procedures for compiling a complete nomination packet.
Happily, we are in the final stages of our review of the Honors Committee P&P, which has required thoughtful
consideration on a number of ideas that will reflect how the procedures of the committee have been altered by the
change in conference dates and will include some innovations to the policies on at least two of the Associations
honors.
Continued on page 19
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Honors Committee – Continued from page 18
The end of my 3-year term is approaching, and I have informed members of the Honors Committee, our Board
Liaison, Laura Loumeau-May, and President Mercedes ter Maat that I will be stepping off the Honors Committee at the
conclusion of the Conference in Seattle.
It has been both a pleasure and a privilege to serve on this committee. I would like to extend my sincere
gratitude to the members of the 2013 Honors Committee: Yasmine Awais, Daniel Blausey, Marcia Rosal, Shelley
Zimmerman, and William More. Thanks also go to Laura Loumeau-May for her service as Board Liaison and to the
staff at the National Office for all their assistance in coordinating our work.
Ad Hoc Journal Editor Search Committee - Deborah Sharpe, MA, ATR-BC, Chair
The Journal Editor Search Committee is midway through the search process for the next editor. Several
candidates have been identified and are completing the application process. June 1 is the committee’s deadline to
receive applications for those who want to apply as the editor-designate. If all goes as planned the editor-designate will
begin the 1-year transition period with current editor, Lynn Kapitan, and will select an associate-editor. We are still
accepting applications but will begin to review and make the selection soon.
Membership Committee - Tracy Councill, MA, ATR-BC, Chair
The Membership Committee has created two surveys to be rolled out at the annual conference in Seattle in
June, 2013. We have written and piloted a Student Survey, and created a Professional Survey as well. We look
forward to learning from art therapists about what they are looking for from the Association, what benefits they find
most meaningful, and how we can improve.
In piloting the Student Survey to several chapters, we have learned already that students value AATA’s
leadership in publicizing and directing research initiatives to develop the field, promoting the professional identity and
credibility of art therapy, and they are interested in becoming involved in disaster-relief efforts. On the chapter level,
there were suggestions about providing a forum to exchange textbooks, opportunities to present and learn from case
material, and provide a forum to support students in fundraising, such as art sales, to pay for their membership and
conference attendance fees.
The Membership Committee is in the process of redesigning the Mentor program. The goal of the program is
to connect art therapists in a way that supports professional development and exchange of information between
newcomers and seasoned professionals. We have some ideas about how to restructure and reenergize this program,
and we will make a proposal to the Board soon.
The Membership Committee is excited to again host the Newcomer’s Welcome Session immediately
preceding the President’s Opening Reception at the upcoming conference in Seattle. All first-time conference
attendees are invited to attend this networking meeting.
AATA’s Membership numbers remain strong and vital, especially in the professional categories, which is great
news for our Association!
Multicultural Committee - Lindsey Vance, MA, Chair
This report contains updates on several initiatives to move forward the Multicultural Committee Strategic Plan.
It briefly highlights several updates for ongoing projects being carried out by various coordinators.
The Multicultural Exchange is designed to promote increased participation, foster participation, foster
professional validation, promote networking, and provide opportunities to build cross-cultural relationships. At the 2013
Conference in Seattle, Dr. Simone Alter-Muri will highlight her recent travel to several European countries where she
presented workshops and met with international art therapists in an attempt to broaden relationships and an
understanding of the multiple issues that affect art therapists across cultures.
The Embracing Diversity: Piece by Piece Quilt Project will continue at this year’s conference and will include a
workshop to create the quilt and a raffle of the previous year’s quilt. Table 8 has been reserved in the Art & Crafts
Marketplace to be held on Thursday, June 27, from 5:15 to 7:15 p.m. at the 2013 Conference in order for us to sell
raffle tickets for the quilt project. Dr. Diaz will continue to assist with the quilt project for the 2013 conference and has
offered to assist with the raffle table.
Jordan Potash is coordinating the efforts to update the Multicultural Bibliography and Resource list. He has
received new and updated resources to add to the bibliography list from several art therapists. He is seeking
assistance in the revision of the current list in order to prioritize art therapy publications, rather than general therapy
and counseling articles, as the list has become too large.
Evans Baker continues to work as our Student Outreach Coordinator and has begun to develop an instrument
to measure curriculum design and program content as it relates to multiculturalism in art therapy. She is working with
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Multicultural Committee – Continued from page 19
Dr. Calisch to further the development of the instrument for art therapy into one that is similar to the Multicultural
Competency checklist, widely used by the counseling profession.
The Pearlie Roberson Award received six applications, and they are currently under review by Elizabeth
Hartzell, Chair of the Scholarship Committee. The committee is seeking to have more assistance with the review
process.
In addition to traditional projects, our Board Liaison Stella Stepney was highlighted in the 32nd annual edition
of the Aetna calendar, Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Celebrating African Americans Practicing Physical
and Alternative Healing. Stella can be found poised in front of a canvas sharing art therapy with all of its viewers.
Newsletter Committee - Jeanette DeLalla, MA, ATR-BC, LMHC
This reporting period has been filled with continued progress toward our strategic plans and goals. We have
put forth many efforts to maximize electronic navigational accessibility through the use of links within the text of the
Newsletter that instantly connect readers with websites, videos, and blogs. This helps readers link to
information quickly and easily. We will continue to explore the use of technology and stay abreast of advancements
from which the membership can benefit.
Additionally, to address our strategic goal of providing a brief “one time only” complimentary subscription for
nonmembers, we sent out a courtesy copy of the winter Newsletter to nonmembers encouraging them to renew their
membership.
The Newsletter committee will continue to examine our progress toward these and future goals as we aspire to
provide an informative and professional electronic platform to benefit the membership.
Nominating Committee - Irene Rosner David, PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT, HLM
The Nominating Committee members are Richard Carolan, David Gussak, Donna Kaiser, and Sarah Kremer.
Our board liaison is Laura Loumeau-May. The Nominating Committee was pleased to have submitted a strong slate of
candidates to the membership. Thought-provoking questions were composed to elicit candidates’ thinking about
leadership issues and member concerns as related to the Strategic Plan. The ongoing challenge of low voter turnout
was addressed by encouraging messages from this Chair and President Mercedes ter Maat.
We are pleased to report that the electronic
voting system was used by 99% of the voting members
to cast their votes; the remaining voting members used
mail ballots. On behalf of the American Art Therapy
Association, please accept our appreciation for
participating in the 2013 election process.
The Tellers Committee confirmed the election
results on May 8, 2013. The results of the election are
included in this article. Those marked with an asterisk
are the newly elected leaders. Please join us in
welcoming our newly elected Association leaders.
The committee also reviewed Policies and Procedures
in an attempt to update wording for greater clarity. A
good deal of time was spent in considering
contingencies for tied elections, given the occasional
occurrences of close votes, an issue that the
committee will continue to undertake in the upcoming
term.
President-Elect:
*Donna Betts, PhD, ATR-BC
Craig Siegel, MA, ATR-BC
480
237
Secretary:
*Charlotte Boston MA, ATR-BC
Terry Tibbetts, PhD
465
240
Director:
*Cheryl Doby-Copeland, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC, LMFT
*Stella A. Stepney, MS, ATR-BC, LCAT
*Laura V. Loumeau-May, MPS, ATR-BC, LPC
Raquel Farrell-Kirk, MS, ATR-BC
Charles Marshall, MA, ATR-BC, LPAT
Lariza Fenner, MS, ATR, NCC
468
370
278
264
257
212
Nominating Committee:
*Megan Robb, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, NCC
*David Gussak, PhD, ATR-BC
*Michaela Kirby, PsyD, ATR-BC
Betty Hartzell, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC
Brian Tepper MPS, ATR-BC, ATCS, LCAT
Richard Carolan, EdD, ATR-BC
407
365
354
281
257
255
It has been a pleasure to serve as Chair of this
hard-working and dedicated committee. Each member
has risen to the occasion of unusual challenges, such
as the aforementioned tie-vote issue, as well as the
absence of this Chair for a period of time because of
Hurricane Sandy. Appreciation is extended to David
Honorary Life Member:
Gussak for stepping in and providing seamless
*Gussie Klorer, PhD, ATR-BC, LCSW, LCPC
671
leadership for the interim period, as well as to the
committee members for their steadfast commitment to
our goals. This report would be incomplete without acknowledging the committee’s board liaison, Laura Loumeau-May,
who has always been accessible and a clear guide, even at odd hours and under untenable circumstances─liaison par
excellence!
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Research Committee - Donna Kaiser, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC, LMFT, Chair
The Research Committee has been working hard on several projects to promote art therapy research. The
Outcomes Bibliography is being updated thanks to Renee van der Vennet, who is undertaking the project again this
year with help from members who search far and wide for research on art therapy that may be published in hard-tofind sources. The updated version from 2012 should provide art therapists and researchers with critical information
about outcomes in our field until the 2013 update is posted on the AATA website.
Research award submissions are at an all time high this year. Over the next several weeks, committee
members will complete reviews for the Agell Award for Excellence in Student Research, the AATA Research Award,
and the new Rawley Silver Research Grant Award. Committee members volunteer their time to conduct blind reviews
of these submissions. Winners will be announced at the conference this summer.
Megan Robb is working with the AATA office to reorganize material relevant to the committee’s work to make it
more readily accessible to the membership. Gaelan Harmon-Walker is in the beginning stages of creating a database
of art therapy thesis and dissertation projects that can be easily accessed by educators, students, and practicing art
therapists. We look forward to launching this database in the next year and adding to it in subsequent years.
At the annual conference this year, we will again offer the well-attended and popular Research Roundtable
originally developed by Sarah Deaver and currently organized by Patricia St. John. In addition, there will be a special
presentation this year on grant funding by Donna Betts and Caroline Peterson. Several other research presentations
are also being presented by committee members at the conference.
The Research Committee will hold its annual meeting at the conference on Wednesday June 26 at 5:30 pm.
The location will be announced prior to the conference. I am extremely grateful for the hard work and valuable time
that our committee members have devoted this year and in past years in the effort to promote art therapy research.
Scholarship Committee - Betty Hartzell, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC, Chair
The Scholarship committee is again in its busiest season evaluating the student applications for AATA’s six
different scholarships: Levick (1), Silver (1), Drachnik (1), AATA Scholarship (1), Conference Attendance (3), and
Prasad Family Foundation-International Student Scholarship (1). The committee membership includes Rebecca Beers
Miller, Rita Klachkin, Nancy MacGregor, Susanne Pitak-Davis, Michele Rattigan, Carolyn Szala, Carol Chu Lai,
Carmen Drew, Lisa Furman, and Sangeeta Prasad. The board liaison is Laura Loumeau-May. For the 2013 year,
Carmen and Carol are stepping off the committee, and Lisa will join active involvement again in 2014.
The parameters of the scholarships were clarified during this past year to specify that the recipients of the
awards be active students in either their first or second year of art therapy graduate education or if part time with at
least four classes to complete. In addition, the amounts of the scholarships were posted online to inform the students
as they complete their submissions. Awardees are encouraged to attend the conference and those winning the
Conference and the Prasad Family awards are required to attend. The eight active members of the committee are
evaluating the submissions with each applicant receiving the attention of at least two evaluating members. With these
stipulations and the earlier deadline of April 1st (moved earlier because of the move to summer of the conference), the
number of applicants has decreased this year.
Fundraising for the scholarships has centered on showing films at the conference with a donation suggested at
the finale, “Dancing for Dollars” with a chance to donate at the annual conference dance, and the “Quick Draw” event,
which is being reinstated on an every other year basis. For this year’s conference in Seattle, Brian Tepper has worked
with Susan Boxer-Kappel of the Conference Committee to organize the fundraiser. Artwork will be created by directors
of art therapy education programs and auctioned at the conference. The program directors who will be dedicating their
time, talent, and creative products in order to raise money for student scholarships are: Dr. Richard Carolan, EdD,
Notre de Namur University; Craig Balfany MPS, ATR-BC, Adler Graduate School; Abbe Miller, MS, ATR-BC, LPC,
Albertus Magnus College; Marcia Rosal, PhD, ATR-BC, Florida State University; Gaelynn Wolf Bordonaro, PhD, ATRBC, Emporia State College; Simone Alter-Muri, EdD, ATR-BC, ATCS, LMHC, Springfield College; Deborah Schroder,
ATR-BC, LPAT, Southwestern College; Margaret Carlock-Russo ATR-BC, LCAT, Hofstra University; Ellen G Horovitz,
PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT, E-RYT, Nazareth College of Rochester; Linda Siegel MPS, ATR-BC, LCAT, Pratt Institute;
Donna Kaiser, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC, LMFT, Drexel University; Barbara Parker-Bell, PsyD, ATR-BC, LPC, Marywood
University; Abby Calisch, PsyD, LPC, ATR-BC, Eastern Virginia Medical Center; Bruce Moon, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM,
LPC, Mount Mary College; and Patricia St. John, EdD, ATR-BC, LCAT, College of New Rochelle. Come to watch the
creation of these art pieces by the directors in the Open Art Studio from noon to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, and
be sure to put in your bids!
This year in Seattle, “Steel, Concrete and Paint” will be screened on Thursday, June 27 at 8:00 p.m. followed
by a discussion led by Dave Gussak, PhD, ATR-BC. This film centers on the Mural Arts Society in Philadelphia and a
specific mural involving both prisoners and victims of crimes painting under the leadership of an artist member of the
society.
Continued on page 22
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Scholarship Committee – Continued from page 21
The scholarships will be awarded at the annual conference at the Awards and Honors Celebration during the
closing plenary session on Saturday, June 29, at 8:00 a.m. Special seating will be provided for the award recipients
and committee members. See you at the conference and the special event for the scholarship winners.
Technology Committee - Natalie Carlton, MA, ATR-BC, LPCC, Chair
Current members of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) Technology committee are Natalie Carlton,
Basia Mosinski, Nancy Choe, Rachel Brandoff, Karen Gibbons, Ricky Garner, Jody Johnson, and Kelly Darke. Our
committee is continuing to accomplish and look ahead to goals for our 5-year strategic plan. Recent and current
activities will be summarized below. However, critical to the accomplishment of many goals we identified for the last 2
years, was a website hyperlink on the AATA website and to the Technology Committee website that is “still under
construction.” We are hoping to provide this soon to the AATA membership.
The committee projected that a Technology Committee website and blog linked to the AATA website would be
critical to assist the AATA membership with digital media resources. It would open up member exchange regarding
technology use in therapy that is occurring on other social media sites. Committee member Nancy Choe and others in
2011-2012 authored, designed, and developed the Technology Committee Website and Brochure with a link to that
prototype website here: http://arttherapytech.wordpress.com/. We have been working on this prototype and will be
submitting it to the board for approval. We hope in the near future to accomplish multiple strategic plan goals to inform
and assist AATA members with digital media practice, resources, ethical and best practices, and ongoing
bibliographies and research outcomes. Ongoing communication through the blog is essential to all AATA members
since technological change is often rapid and continuous, and we want to do our best to keep up with its pace of
development.
The AATA Ethics Committee chair and our Technology Committee chair recently exchanged communication
on edit suggestions for updating AATA technology media ethical codes. The collaboration was valued as the ideas and
concerns related in the ethical codes are critical concepts forming now in the expanding practice of using digital media
in art therapy. There are further forward motion goals we want to activate from our 5-year strategic plan to identify
membership needs in regard to technology permission forms and reviews of software and applications that can be
provided and reviewed on the future Technology Committee website.
Our technology committee’s dual 2012 AATA conference panel presentations had great attendance and rich
discussions in Savannah, GA, last summer. Thank you to all who attended and presented. Both panels represented
Media Arts and Technology in Art Therapy with one presentation focused on “Research and Education” and the other
on “Practice and Ethics.” For the 2013 Seattle AATA conference, a doctoral pilot research video project will be
presented titled, Four Digital Art Therapy Interviews.
There is active research and digital media practice occurring among our committee members but also within
the broader interdisciplinary digital arts in therapy community. We are networking, dialoging, and identifying needs for
further exploratory research and increased digital media training opportunities for art therapy graduate programs and
professional workshops.
Tellers Committee - Raquel Chapin Stephenson, PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT, Chair
The Tellers Committee met at the American Art Therapy Association’s National Office on May 8, 2013, to
review and verify the voting process and results. Association members were given the option to vote electronically or
via mail. Of those who voted, 99% used the electronic voting system. Electronic submission greatly simplifies the work
of the Tellers Committee and ensures a more efficient and accurate process. In fact, the cost of the mailing was $4.88
for each of the 34 members who were unable to access the electronic voting system. Included in the cost were two
large envelopes, both printed and stamped, and color copies of the materials. With a return rate of only 26% of those
receiving the mailed ballots, the cost per mail-in vote was $20.72. By way of comparison, the cost of the electronic
ballot was $ 0.23 for each vote received. The Tellers Committee strongly recommends that all members who vote
select the online voting system.
In recognition of the importance of this democratic process, we wish to thank all of the candidates who stood
for election. The Tellers Committee confirms that the report of the Nominating Committee, included in this Newsletter,
accurately presents the votes cast for each candidate, as confirmed by the Tellers Committee. The Nominating
Committee report also confirms the selection of Gussie Klorer, PhD, ATR-BC, LCSW, LCPC, as an Honorary Life
Member.
The proposed amendments to the Bylaws presented on the ballot were approved by more than two-thirds of
those who voted. The specific results of Bylaws changes are included in the Bylaws, Policy, and Procedures
Committee report in this Newsletter.
With only 24% of the membership voting in this election, the Tellers Committee was disappointed in the low
voter turnout. While there was a 1% improvement from last year, the Tellers Committee strongly encourages members
Continued on page 23
Page 22
Tellers Committee – Continued from page 22
to exercise their right to vote, and wishes to emphasize the importance of voting for candidates and amendments that
will shape our field in the years to come. The Nominating Committee, the President, and other leaders promoted the
importance of voting throughout the election so everyone had the opportunity to vote presented a number of times.
The Tellers Committee is composed of voting Association members who are geographically located in
proximity to the National Office, who are not candidates on the current ballot, who are selected by the President, and
who are available to meet within 10 days after the close of the election. This year’s Tellers Committee members
included Heidi Bardot, MA, ATR-BC, Mary Ellen Ruff, ATR-BC, and Raquel Chapin Stephenson PhD, ATR-BC, LCAT.
The Tellers Committee’s obligation is to:
1. Verify that the Association has followed election policy (Verified).
2. Randomly select ballots to verify computer input (Verified).
3. Sign a statement of verification of election process (Signed and Filed).
4. Report the tally of votes to the National Office, President, and Nominating Committee Chair within 10 days of
election (Confirmed on May 8, 2013, to all parties).
5. Conduct a recount of ballots if requested.
6. Destroy the paper ballots and envelopes 30 days after final determination of election results (Ballots will be
shredded by July 15, 2013).
7. Submit a written official report to members for publication (This Newsletter article presents the report).
2012 Annual Business Meeting Minutes (unapproved)
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, July 12, 2012
Savannah, GA
Board Members Present:

Mercedes ter Maat, President

Sarah Deaver, President-Elect

Christianne Strang, Treasurer

Charlotte Boston, Secretary

Laura Loumeau-May, Director

Barbara Parker-Bell, Director

Deborah Sharpe, Director

Craig Siegel, Director

Stella Stepney, Director

Pat Grajkowski, Speaker, Assembly of Chapters
Absent:
Erica Curtis
Special Guest: Mary Lou Stark, Parliamentarian
AGENDA
I.
II.
Call to Order, Mercedes ter Maat
Meeting Business:
A. Introduction of the 2011-2012 Board of Directors and Staff from the National Office.
B. Introduction of the Parliamentarian: Mary Lou Stark, Professional Registered Parliamentarian, member of the
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
National Association of Parliamentarians and the District of Columbia Association of Parliamentarians.
Establishment of the Quorum.
Adoption of the Standing Rules.
Appointment of the Timekeeper.
Adoption of Agenda.
Appointment of members of the Minutes Approval Committee for 2012 Minutes Review Committee: Jennifer
Chen, Lisa Wasserman, and Heidi Tournoux-Hanshaw.
III.
Report of the Minutes Approval Committee for 2011
Cathy Moon, Gwendolyn Short, and Maureen Harvey
IV.
Report of the Minutes
V.
President’s Report and Accomplishments
VI.
President-Elect’s Report
Charlotte Boston
Mercedes ter Maat
Sarah Deaver
Page 23
Christianne Strang
VII.
Treasurer’s Report
VIII.
Audit Committee Report
IX.
Directors and Committee Chair Reports
(See Reports in the Spring Newsletter)
X.
Executive Director Report
XI.
Report on Resolutions from 2011 Business Meeting
XII.
2012 Resolutions Committee Report
XIII.
New Items
XIV.
Presentation of Chapter Awards
XV.
Presentation of Board & Service Awards
XVI.
Report of the Teller’s Committee and Installation of Officers & Directors
Barbara Parker-Bell
Mercedes ter Maat
Susan Corrigan
Mercedes ter Maat
Matthew G. Bernier
Pat Grajkowski
Mercedes ter Maat
Mercedes ter Maat
for Brigid Guttmacher,
Mary Ellen Ruff, and
Terry Svat
XVII. Announcements
XVIII. Adjournment
Item
Call to Order
Supplemental Information/Discussion
Mercedes ter Maat welcomed the membership and called the meeting to order at
3:04 p.m.
Mercedes ter Maat introduced the 2011-2012 Board of Directors and staff from
the National Office:
Board of Directors:
 Sarah Deaver President-Elect
 Charlotte Boston, Secretary
 Christianne Strang, Treasurer
 Laura Loumeau-May
 Barbara Parker-Bell
 Deborah Sharpe
 Craig Siegel
 Stella Stepney
 Pat Grajkowski, Speaker Assembly of Chapters
Staff:
 Susan Corrigan, Executive Director
 Barbara Florence, Director of Communication, Education, and
Conference
 Michele Basham, Director of Membership, Information, and Services
It was announced that Erica Curtis was unable to attend.
Mercedes ter Maat introduced the Parliamentarian: Mary Lou Stark, Professional
Registered Parliamentarian, member of the National Association of
Parliamentarians.
Establishment of the Quorum: Mercedes announced that there were 102 voting
members present; a quorum was established.
Adoption of the Standing Rules
American Art Therapy Association
Proposed Annual Business Meeting
STANDING RULES
1. All meeting attendees shall register at the welcome desk at the Annual
Business Meeting.
2. Identification badges issued for the annual conference shall be worn for
Page 24
Action
Quorum was
established
Adopted
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Appointment of
Timekeeper
Adoption of the
Agenda
Appointment 2012
Minutes Review
Committee
Report of the 2011
Minutes Approval
Committee
Motion to Accept
the Report of the
2011 Minutes
Approval
Committee
President’s Report
admission to the meeting.
Voting members shall be seated in a designated area of the assembly hall.
Cell phones and pagers shall be silenced during the business meeting.
The President shall appoint a timekeeper.
The President shall appoint a committee of three to approve the minutes.
The chair of the Tellers Committee shall make a report at the Annual
Meeting.
Only voting members shall be permitted to make motions, debate, and vote.
Proposed resolutions shall be submitted to the Resolutions Committee at
least 24 hours prior to the meeting and follow the guidelines for proper
submission. The author(s) shall be available during the Resolutions
Committee Meeting to work with the Committee and Parliamentarian to
clarify and amend the written resolution so as to ensure it is in proper order.
A two-thirds vote of the voting members shall be required to hear any
resolutions that were not submitted to the Resolutions Committee 24 hours in
advance of the Annual Business Meeting. If by a two-thirds vote the voting
members agree to suspend the rules and hear any new resolution submitted
from the floor, then the resolution shall require a majority vote of the voting
members.
All main motions and resolutions shall be presented to the Secretary in
writing and shall be signed by the maker of the motion.
A voting member who wishes to speak shall go to a microphone, address the
President and, when recognized, shall give his or her name and city,
state/province, and country.
No voting member shall speak longer than 2 minutes at any one time or more
than twice to the same debatable question without the consent of the
assembly.
Resolutions with a majority vote of the voting members shall be addressed
by the board as earnest recommendations for actions.
Mercedes ter Maat motioned that the members adopt the agenda. Barbara ParkerBell seconded.
Mercedes appointed Deborah Sharpe as the Timekeeper. There were no
objections.
Motion carried
Appointed
Mercedes presented the agenda for adoption. There were no objections.
Adopted
Appointment of 2012 Minutes Review Committee: Jennifer Chen, Heidi
Tournoux-Hanshaw, and Lisa Wasserman.
Appointed
Gwendolyn Short reported on the Minutes Approval Committee for 2011. The
readers approved the minutes as posted on the website and in the Newsletter;
copies of the Newsletter were available at the meeting.
2011 Minutes Approval Committee: Cathy Moon, Gwendolyn Short, and
Maureen Harvey.
Charlotte Boston thanked the 2011 Minutes Approval Committee. She also
reported that Roberts Rules published a new edition of the rules, fall 2011. The
Board will adopt the new revisions for future meetings. This change may result in
the Association needing to review the Bylaws and possibly Policies &
Procedures.
Mercedes ter Maat moved that the members approve the report of the 2011
Minutes Approval Committee. Seconded by Charlotte Boston.
President’s Report and Accomplishments
The President reported on the accomplishments of the Association in the past
Page 25
Approved
Motion carried
and
Accomplishments
year and during her term. Particular focus was on the importance of membership,
volunteers, the work of the chapters and committees, the new multicultural
competencies, the increasing media coverage of art therapy, the U.S. Department
of Labor’s review of a new job classification code for art therapists, and the
inspirational conference developed by the Conference Committee. Additionally,
the president thanked all the committee chairs, volunteers, and elected leadership.
She noted that all the Association’s work is done by that large body of people,
along with our dedicated and skilled staff.
President-Elect’s Report
Sarah Deaver reported on the progress of the Strategic Planning initiative.
The 2011-2016 Strategic Plan Development Process began in Spring 2011. The
Board, committees, chapters, and members were involved to develop a 5-year
plan. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) were analyzed.
Core Program Goals were created and reviewed by the board and approved in
March 2012. All of the strategic plans are related to the overarching goals of the
Association, with great opportunities for committees to collaborate; some
chapters have also created strategic plans. She thanked the board, committees,
chapters, and members for participating in this gigantic effort and continuing to
be active in moving the Association forward.
She emphasized the three Association goals and the programs that the committees
have developed to support the goals over the next 5 years.
President Elect’s
Report
Treasurer’s Report
The goals are:
1. Grow a diverse, professional network of art therapists and other healthcare
professionals worldwide with a shared knowledge of the effectiveness of art
therapy as a healing profession.
2. Build a well-known art therapy professional identity through which art
therapists are recognized and respected as effective healthcare professionals;
art therapy is known as an effective research-based healing art; and art
therapy is recognized as a health necessity.
3. Positively influence the ability of art therapists to build a rewarding career
through outstanding education, research, career development, and
networking opportunities.
Committee chairs received feedback on submitted budgets and reports, and will
make needed updates by September 1, 2012. The strategic plans of each of the
Committees will be posted on the website in the members-only section. The
Board of Directors will vote on final strategic plans soon thereafter.
Treasurer’s Report
Christianne Strang expressed her appreciation for the support received from
everyone, especially the members of the finance committee and Susan Corrigan.
Christianne Strang, Treasurer reported:
 Completion of the Association’s 2011 Tax Return Form 990.
 Completion of the Accounting Procedures Manual for the Association.
 Change to a different investment firm, resulting in a reduction in fees.
 Return of $30,000 to reserve funds in 2011.
 Funding scholarships from scholarship funds would be made from those
restricted funds rather than the operations budget.
 Continued strong monthly reporting; the Finance Committee review process
allowed flexible response and timely budget adjustments.
In March, the 2012 Budget was adjusted to reduce expenditures because of the
impending shortfall in revenue from the 2012 Annual Conference.
Expense reductions in 2012 included the:
Conference
Personnel
Office rent/operations
Page 26
Treasurer’s
Report
Archives
Ms. Strang spoke to the accrual and cash financial reporting methods. Accrual
budgets allow funds to be applied only to the year for which they were intended,
regardless of when they were received. This means that 2012 membership dues,
or 2012 conference registration received in 2011 could be used and applied to the
cash budget, but these funds could not be applied as income in the 2011 accrual
budget. In fact, funds paid early are carried over as liabilities and must be
subtracted from 2011 accrual budget and counted as a loss.
Member Dues for 2012 received in 2011 that had to be shown as a liability were
$355,619 and Conference registration revenue for 2012 that was received in 2011
and had to be shown as a liability was $13,695.
The May 31, 2012 balance sheet was presented.
She reported that the expectations for December 31, 2012, was the following:
Total projected income
$1,151,052
Total projected expenses
$ 977,100
Projected net December 2012 $ 151,512
The goal was to return $60,000 to investments.
The proposed 2013 Budget was prepared by the Executive Director in concert
with the Chair of the Finance Committee and the Committee itself. Committee
and program budgets were based on the Strategic Plan presented by each
committee. The proposed budget was reviewed in detail and approved by Finance
Committee, then approved by the Board of Directors at its July 2012 Board of
Directors’ meeting.
No changes in Professional Membership dues will be made in 2013.
Audit Committee Report
Audit Committee
Report
Directors and
Committee Chair
Reports
Executive Director
Report
Barbara Parker-Bell, Chair of the Audit Committee, reported that the Association
had received an unqualified draft report from our Audit firm, Raffa, P.C., and
explained that this meant we had the highest level of accuracy and clarity.
Directors and Committee Chair Reports
Mercedes ter Maat recognized the Association’s committee chairs and reminded
members that the committee reports are printed in the Newsletter. Mercedes
recognized Jeannette DeLalla for her work as editor of the Newsletter.
Executive Director Report
Executive Director Susan Corrigan reported on the current, strong foundation of
the Association which includes how in the past several years that Association
has:
 Created a customer driven culture.
 Expanded the national reach by encouraging and supporting chapters, which
grew from 34 to 40.
 Launched electronic data management systems and processes.
 Improved internal management.
 Developed a broad range of membership services.
 Implemented a brand initiative across service platforms and communications
vehicles.
 Developed strong strategic partnerships with government and businesses.
 Created special events with national partners so as to promote art therapy
with recognized and respected national partners.
She noted that the term “art therapy” is widely used and considered to be
positive. But the public is unclear about the profession of art therapy, which
ranges from clinical assessment to art as therapy. The fundamentals are in place,
including:
 Master’s and above level art therapy degrees.
Page 27
The 2011 Audit
was accepted by
the Board of
Directors
Executive
Director Report




Institutions approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or a
DOE-approved entity.
EPAB approval of master’s programs.
NBCC-approved continuing education courses.
Art therapy credentials, such as ATR and ATR-BC.
Ms. Corrigan reported on her meeting with the Office of Management & Budget,
Chief Medical Officer who oversees all health coverage provided under OMB’s
massive oversight including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and the Federal
Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHB). During the meeting she encouraged
inclusion of art therapy as an “allied mental health provider” and/or “other mental
health providers” in the OMB “call letters.” She also met with top insurancerelated entities to discuss a path for art therapists to participate as eligible
providers.
The key questions the OMB team and all other insurance-related groups asked
were:
 What outcomes studies and research related to art therapy is available?
 What are the profession’s education standards and how do they compare with
other mental health professionals?
 Are art therapists licensed?
Ms. Corrigan noted that the high standards of education and practice established
by other mental health professions will greatly influence the future standards
required for licensure and for government and private insurer companies in
approving reimbursement.
For ease of national implementation, insurance companies will name licenses in
their national policies that indicate:
 The highest level of national standards for education including but not
limited to: academic accreditation and review, course hours, internship and
practicum, work experience, continuing education, faculty ratio, periodic
credential exams, and so forth.
 As a profession’s name is used in the license, the definition of the services
provided must be consistent with the scope of practice.
The Board approved policy to encourage the art therapist license across the
country. Ms. Corrigan reported that for “art therapy” to be included as a
recognized provider named in national government and private insurance policies
and procedures, there will need to be an art therapist license or license that names
art therapy in its qualifications in all states. The license qualifications and scope
of practice will have to match or exceed the qualifications of other leading mental
health providers.
The art therapist license will provide:
 A distinct identity respected in the healthcare field and in other fields in
which art therapists work.
 Protection of “art therapy” against those who seek to capitalize on the
positive image of art therapy while potentially harming the public.
 Equitable reimbursement for quality art therapy services.
National outcomes research conducted with well-respected research entities is
crucial to support the acceptance of art therapy as a proven mental health service.
Educational institutions have a vital role related to educational standards and
other “meets or exceeds” measurers. Education partners and the Association must
continue to work closely and collaboratively, as together art therapists move
toward a shared future. Concentration on “education to employment” efforts was
encouraged to ensure future leaders in the profession begin their careers with a
strong employment experience.
Page 28
All members are strongly encouraged to flood the media market and social media
with accurate and positive information about the work of art therapists. Attendees
were advised to use social media, print media, radio and TV, career partners,
educators, and chapter websites, and to use consistent communication messages
developed through the Association to reinforce the profession of art therapy.
Business Meeting Items
During the 2011 Business meeting, Matthew Bernier, Chair of the Resolution
Committee facilitated reports on resolutions.
Report on
Resolutions from
2011 Business
Meeting
Jordan Potash presented a motion on behalf of Myra Levick;
Article 5: Section 5.4-“Member Resolutions”
Current
Resolutions with a majority vote by the members will be addressed by the board
as earnest recommendations for action.
Proposed
Resolutions with a majority vote by the membership will be acted on by the
board as a passed motion, as defined in Roberts Rules of Order.
Since the resolution had to do with amending the Bylaws, the procedure for
amending the Bylaws was explained. The secretary, Charlotte Boston, contacted
Myra Levick to share the information with her, and she submitted her request
according to procedure.
The Board voted in 5.Motion.E.2012 not to approve the amendment to the
Bylaws as presented in the 2011 Business Meeting.
2012 Resolutions
Committee Report
Resolutions 2 and
3
New Items
Rationale: Bylaws represent best practices. This was too general and far reaching.
Member representation was not reflected in this motion.
The 2012 Resolutions Committee, Matthew Bernier, Paula Howie, and Margaret
Russo, reported that there were two resolutions submitted for review. These were
modified for form. Matthew Bernier, Chair of the Resolutions Committee,
reported that there were three resolutions submitted for review. Resolution 20121 was withdrawn by the sponsors prior to the Business Meeting. Matthew read
the other two resolutions.
Resolution: 2012-3 Marcia Sue Cohen-Liebman and Dave Gussak submitted a
resolution to reconsider the Association’s Annual Conference refund policy.
Therefore, it is resolved that the Association Board of Directors reconsider its
conference refund policy and procedure.
Resolution: 2012-2 David Gussak and Cathy Moon sponsored a resolution for
reconsideration of the time of year of the Annual Conference.
Voting members spoke to the resolutions. Sponsors agreed to submit a report to
the Association that takes into consideration summer attendance patterns and
suggestions as to better times during the year to host the Annual Conference.
Mercedes ter Maat stated that the Board would review the Resolution and the
report submitted by the sponsors as soon as submitted. Outcomes will be reported
at the Business Meeting in June 2013.
Ellen Horowitz spoke about the certification process in New York. Counseling
graduates can sit immediately for board certification exams. Why not art
therapists?
Michael Franklin stated that there is a non-AATA affiliated program saying it is
“training” art therapists.
Bobbi Stoll asked if AATA contributes to the 25th anniversary fund. Christianne
Strang responded: The 25th Anniversary scholarship fund is included in the
scholarship funds. There have been no donations to that fund since 2008. One
25th Anniversary scholarship of $2,000 was awarded in 2010.
Members suggested the use of a celebrity spokesperson at all of the partnerships.
Page 29
Carried
Members appreciated efforts made by the Association to create long range
planning; similarly, members urge the Association to make efforts to collaborate
with other expressive therapies associations.
Mercedes ter Maat reported on her meeting with NCCATA leaders in June 2012.
Members expressed concerns in regards to professionals not affiliated with the
Association and the role of art therapists and title protection.
Members expressed concerns that “arts and crafts marketplace” has a fee, and
that this may influence art therapists not to sell their craft. Mercedes ter Maat
recommended that conference committee further examine this.
Presentation of
Chapter Awards
Mercedes expressed thanks to all who participated in the exhibit in the art studio
and informed members that the artwork would be returned to them. Unclaimed
artwork will be donated.
Pat Grajkowski, Speaker for the Assembly of Chapters, announced the following
awards that have been given by the chapters this year:
 Dr. Patricia Isis—Florida Chapter HLM
 Myra Levick—Delaware Valley Chapter’s—Ron Hays Award
 Katie Lineweber—Drexel University Collegium Award
 Callie Siers—Arcadia Research Award
 Nancy McGregor—Outstanding Supervisor Award
 Susan Worthington-Duffy—Innovating Art Therapy Award
 Mary Ann Sender—BATA Outstanding Art Therapy Program, Outstanding
Faculty Award
 Jiwon Yoon—Illinois Chapter—Emerging member
 Laura Jacob—Illinois Chapter—Distinguished Service Award
 Deborah Behnke—Illinois Chapter—Honorary Lifetime Achievement
Award
Mercedes ter Maat recognized Pat Grajkowski for her dedication. During her
time as Speaker, the number of chapters grew from 36 to 39. Chapters also
unified by using the Association’s brand logo and by helping to promote art
therapy within their states.
Presentation of
Awards to
Outgoing
Committee Chairs
Report of the
Teller’s Committee
Installation of
Officers &
Directors
Announcements
The incoming Speaker, Gretchen Graves, was welcomed by the President.
Plaques were presented to honor the services provided by the following board
members:
 Christianne Strang, Outgoing Treasurer
 Barbara Parker-Bell, Outgoing Director
 Erica Curtis, Outgoing Director
Mercedes ter Maat spoke about the dedication of all three of the outgoing Board
members.
Charlotte Boston, Secretary, reported that the Tellers Committee certified the
results of the online and mailed election ballots. The Committee reported the
election results, which appear in the Newsletter available at the meeting. She
thanked Brigid Guttmacher, Mary Ellen Ruff, and Terry Svat for serving as the
2012 Tellers Committee.
Mercedes ter Maat recognized the two new members of the Nominating
Committee: Donna Kaiser and Sarah Kremer.
The President asked the newly elected Board members to come to the stage:
 Deborah Sharpe (reelected for a 2-year term),
 Joseph Jaworek, Incoming Treasurer
 Juliet King, Incoming Director
 Gwendolyn Short, Incoming Director
 Gretchen Graves, Speaker of the Assembly of Chapters
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Installation of
Officers &
Directors
Announcements
Announcements
Mercedes ter Maat administered the oath of office to the 2012 elected members
of the American Art Therapy Association Board of Directors:
 Joseph Jaworek, Treasurer
 Juliet King, Director
 Deborah Sharpe, Director
 Gwendolyn Short, Director
Announcements Mercedes ter Maat
President Mercedes ter Maat invited attendees to the June 26-30, 2013,
conference in Seattle, Washington. She noted that the Association had adopted
the new version of Roberts Rules of Order. She thanked Tori Tinsley, chair of the
Local Arrangements Committee, for an outstanding and enjoyable Savannah
Conference. She also emphasized that the Association will continue to work
toward art therapy as a distinct and unique profession. She thanked the outgoing
Board Members for their service and recognized the outstanding leadership of all
volunteers, committee leadership, and the National Office staff.
There being no further business before the Board, the Annual Meeting was
adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
Announcements
Report of the Speaker, Assembly of Chapters - Gretchen Graves, MS, ATR, CDAT
The growth in numbers of chapters in the past year is enormously encouraging as it provides each of these
communities with valuable exposure and networking that helps increase recognition for the profession with many
important audiences. In the last year, Indiana, Utah, and Western New York have all become official chapters of the
American Art Therapy Association. Like a phoenix, the Connecticut Art Therapy Chapter has been revitalized at a
critical time.
With the drive toward the art therapy license, it is extremely important that each chapter has the ability to take
the actions needed and engage the entire membership in the process. Several states are currently working toward
licensure. Chapters and their members in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and others are reviewing licensure in general in their state and planning to gain
the art therapist license or equivalent. These state chapters are in various stages of the process. Some have bills
written, but not yet submitted. Some have bills moving through the legislative process and have enlisted the support of
lobbyists and/or House of Representatives/Senators to work together with them. Other chapters are at the stage of
exploring who to approach in their state government to help with the process. This is an exciting and pioneering time in
our profession, shaping how art therapists will practice for years to come. Each state will likely take a unique path on
this journey, and the American Art Therapy Association will be there to help guide the states.
This year our Nation has been gripped with several traumatic events and art therapists and chapters from all
over the country have responded to help as first responders and with ongoing art therapy services as needed.
Examples include the New Jersey Hurricane Sandy Trauma Recovery and the Connecticut Task Force. A national
Trauma Response and Recovery Management Plan to assist chapters address unexpected, traumatic events will be
outlined at the Assembly of Chapters Meeting in Seattle. We are pleased that part of that session for the chapter
delegates will be a course on “Trauma Signature” to begin the process of elevating the trauma training available on
the state level so all chapters have a plan in place and are plugged into its state’s response plan when the unexpected
happens.
During the Assembly of Chapters meeting at the annual conference, we’re looking forward to welcoming a
delegate from all new chapters as well as the established chapters. Come prepared with a report to share. We want to
learn how your chapter chose to recognize Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and Mental Health Awareness
Month. Be sure to get connected to the technology supports available, such as the Association’s new Facebook page
that will help your chapter communicate, react, and participate year round.
Chapter News
Arizona Art Therapy Association
Rory O'Neill Schmitt, MPS, ATR-BC, General Board Member
The Arizona Art Therapy Association (AzATA) hosted an educational session for the Psychology Club of the Paradise
Valley Community College, located in the greater Phoenix area on October 25, 2012. The Events and Workshops
Committees in both Tucson and Phoenix hosted workshops on October 27 and November 17, 2012. In Tucson, the
workshop consisted of a morning of documentary film viewings at Arizona State University (ASU) Art Museum,
followed by an optional self-guided tour of the ASU Art Museum Galleries. In Phoenix, Seema Bacons, Joy Thayer,
and Rory O’Neill Schmitt hosted the workshop at the ASU Art Museum in Tempe. Gail Ferens and Amanda Collins led
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MISSION STATEMENT:
this workshop in Tucson, as well. CEUs were available for attendees. On February 6,
2013, AzATA took part in a fundraiser called “Dough Riser.” Special thanks to the New
York Pizza Department for hosting the event in Phoenix. On February 26, 2013, Gail
Ferens, MA, ATR-BC, and Dani Moss, MA, ATR-BC, presented “What is Art Therapy” to
seniors at Marana Health Clinic in Tucson. This was part of Health Topics at Marana
Health Center Series for the Learning in Retirement at the Highlands.
Buckeye Art Therapy Association
Erin Brazill, MS, MSW, ATR-BC, LISW, External Relations Chair/Alternate Delegate
Over the past several months, the Buckeye Art Therapy Association (BATA) has been
busy carrying out our strategic plan goals. In February, BATA and the Capitol Consulting
Group, Inc. (CCG) joined together to create an advocacy partnership to help pass
legislation for art therapy licensure in Ohio. BATA also co-sponsored the Ursuline
College and Cuyahoga Community College 13th annual art therapy exhibit, “Celebrating
Differences: Exceptional People Exceptional Art.” The exhibit proved to be yet another
huge success, with more than 300 participants who attended the opening reception,
lecture, and workshop. In March, BATA held a regional board meeting in Akron, OH,
hosted by Akron Children’s Hospital Expressive Therapy Center. Molly Kohut, 1st Vice
President co-presented with Nicole Robinson, MFA on “Therapeutic Applications of
Creative Expression.” Over the next several months, BATA will be busy organizing and
planning for the 32nd Annual BATA Symposium, “Art Therapy: Self-Expression and
Healing” to be held September 26-28, 2013, in Columbus, OH. In May and June, board
members will meet to discuss exciting initiatives for the rest of the year. Visit the BATA
website for information about the call for papers for the BATA Symposium and the latest
news and events.
Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association
Rachel Oresky, MA, ATR-BC, Public Relations Chair
The Delaware Valley Art Therapy Association (DVATA) held its annual conference on
Saturday, February 9, 2013. Despite inclement weather, 130 professionals and students
were welcomed at the Conference Center of Great Valley, Malvern, PA! The conference,
entitled Art, Creativity, and the Search for Identity: Creativity and Self-hood featured
keynote speaker Laurie Wilson, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM. Laurie is a psychoanalyst, art
historian, and art therapist. The DVATA was proud to have many wonderful presenters,
panels, and workshops at this conference. Awards were given to members in categories
of Most Active Artist, Innovative applications of art therapy, and the Ron Hays presenter
award, which promotes the development of, and public awareness in, the field of art
therapy through the advancement of research, professional standards, education,
legislation, and public forums. In addition to the speakers and workshops, there was
time for socializing; networking; and enjoying the delicious breakfast, lunch, and snack
from Cornucopia Catering. We also found time to browse through many donations for
the silent auction and raffle! On May 9, 2013, the DVATA will once again partner with
the Please Touch Museum to provide art activities with visiting children and families in
honor of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. Volunteers from the board
and membership will provide a day’s worth of service to visitors and help them create
puppets to represent Heroes of Hope. The children responded so well to the puppet
making last year that we have decided to offer it once again.
Florida Art Therapy Association
Amanda Pike, PhD, ATR, President
Over the past 6 months, the Florida Art Therapy Association
(FATA) has been raising awareness of art therapy while
simultaneously fundraising for a membership grant program via
the sale of Art Therapy: Trust the Process bracelets. To be eligible
for the grant, individuals have to be active FATA members. Two
grant recipients were randomly selected. Members were asked to
select how they would like to use the funds from four categories:
self-care (e.g., spa day), professional development (e.g., CECs),
materials (e.g., pastels/paints), or marketing (e.g., printed materials,
website development). The Florida Art Therapy Association is hosting its statewide
conference February 7-10, 2014. The conference will be a weekend cruise departing
from the Port of Miami and the theme is “Networking.” The Call for Proposals is now
closed.
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The American Art Therapy
Association, Inc. (AATA) is an
organization of professionals dedicated to
the belief that the creative process
involved in the making of art is healing
and life enhancing. Its mission is to serve
its members and the general public by
providing standards of professional
competence, and developing and
promoting knowledge in, and of, the field
of art therapy.
ABOUT ART THERAPY:
Art therapy is a mental health
profession that uses the creative process
of art making to improve and enhance the
physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of individuals of all ages. Research
in the field confirms that the creative
process involved in artistic selfexpression helps people to resolve
conflicts and problems, develop
interpersonal skills, manage behavior,
reduce stress, increase self-esteem and
self-awareness, and achieve insight.
ART THERAPY: DEFINITION
OF THE PROFESSION
Art therapy is the therapeutic use of
art making, within a professional
relationship, by people who experience
illness, trauma, or challenges in living,
and by people who seek personal
development. Through creating art and
reflecting on the art products and
processes, people can increase awareness
of self and others; cope with symptoms,
stress, and traumatic experiences; enhance
cognitive abilities; and enjoy the lifeaffirming pleasures of making art.
Art therapists are professionals
trained in both art and therapy. They are
knowledgeable about human
development; psychological theories;
clinical practice; spiritual, multicultural,
and artistic traditions; and the healing
potential of art. They use art in treatment,
assessment, and research, and provide
consultations to allied professionals. Art
therapists work with people of all ages:
individuals, couples, families, groups, and
communities. They provide services,
individually and as part of clinical teams,
in settings that include mental health,
rehabilitation, medical and forensic
institutions; community outreach
programs; wellness centers; schools;
nursing homes; corporate structures; open
studios; and independent practices.
The American Art Therapy
Association, Inc. (AATA) sets
educational, professional, and ethical
standards for its members. The Art
Therapy Credentials Board, Inc. (ATCB),
an independent organization, grants
credentials. Registration (ATR) is granted
upon completion of graduate education
and postgraduate supervised experience.
Board Certification (ATR-BC) is granted
to Registered Art Therapists who pass a
written examination, and it is maintained
through continuing education. Some states
regulate the practice of art therapy and in
many states art therapists can become
licensed as counselors or mental health
therapists.
Georgia Art Therapy Association
Paige Scheinberg, MS, Programming Co-Chair
The Georgia Art Therapy Association (GATA) recently welcomed Dr. Ellen Horovitz, ATR-BC, LCAT, E-RYT, to Atlanta
for a weekend workshop experience. The workshop, “Embracing the Mind, Body, and Spirit: Integrating Art Therapy
and Yoga Therapy” was held Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, 2013. The workshop offered a lecture and two
experiential sessions, which focused on how to integrate yoga therapy and art therapy in therapy sessions with clients,
as well as in personal/self-care practices. Yoga therapy techniques and art therapy directives–via Meditation, Mudras,
Yoga Nidra, Hatha Yoga, Restorative/Gentle Yoga, breath work, and creation (art and writing)–were explored
individually, in pairs, and in groups to instill increased self-awareness and enhance contemplation and self-discovery.
Art therapists from Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama joined GATA for the workshop, as well as social workers,
psychologists, yoga and pilates instructors/therapists, and others interested in yoga and/or art therapy.
Virginia Art Therapy Association
Danica A. Henrich, ATR-BC, LPC, LMFT, Secretary and Director of Social Media
The Virginia Art Therapy Association (VATA) is brimming with excitement over upcoming events around our state. On
May 9, we participated in Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day for the 2nd year. VATA hosted and sponsored
events around the state, supporting art therapists in educating their communities on the importance of children’s
mental health. VATA has developed and compiled multiple resources, all of which are available online and are
downloadable. For more information, visit our website and follow us on Facebook or twitter @vaarttherapy
#CMHADvata. VATA is also continuing to support the art therapy community through our Art Sale fundraiser that
benefits CHART and NJATA’s Jersey Coast Creates program, an art therapy initiative for victims of Hurricane Sandy.
To help us in this effort, visit our blog. This year, VATA will be hosting the first members-only juried art show! This
exhibition will be held in the fall of 2013 and will be juried by Brad Thomas Birchett. Brad is a professional artist and
Assistant Professor and Advisor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts. Continuing education credits
will be available for participants and a monetary award for “Best in Show.” For complete information and to view the
call for artwork, visit the events page of our website. Several of VATA’s board members will be at AATA’s annual
conference in June and plan to host a small gathering for members and art therapists in Virginia. We hope to see you
there!
Wisconsin Art Therapy Association
Leara Glinzak, Student Representative
“Handmade Nation, The Rise of DIY, Arts, Crafts and Design” Wisconsin Art Therapy Association’s (WATA) movie
event on February 24 was a great opportunity to meet fellow association members. It was a mix of intrigue and
illumination about the current Do-it-Yourself creative movement. Attendees viewed “Handmade Nation” (released in
2009), a documentary film by Faythe Levine about the new surge of American arts, crafts, and design. In 2006, Faythe
Levine traveled 19,000 miles through 15 cities to interview 50 indie crafters, artists, and designers. These crafters have
transformed the word “craft” as these budding artists use various materials. They create calendars from paper cuts,
portraits from rug hooking, and large posters by individually printing each one, deconstructing old jewelry and
transforming it into a new piece, and handcrafting using many other materials. The crafters have expressed
determination, creativity, and networking as part of their craft community as they make their way into the world. A post
film discussion included topics such as what makes art, art; what is the difference between the art depicted in the
documentary and the art made by art therapy clients? Attendees made recommendations for local Wisconsin artisans
including Gracie’s Boutique, Plowshare Craft Show, and Sparrow Collective. The Racine Art Museum offers a
wonderful collection on American crafts. Click here to watch the trailer for “Handmade Nation.” Watch for details on
WATA’s next event–a stained glass workshop!
Interview with Bryce Bailey, MA, ATR, President, Evergreen Art Therapy Association
Jeanette DeLalla, MAAT, ATR-BC, LMHC, Newsletter Editor
I am pleased to introduce to the membership Bryce Bailey, MA, ATR. Bryce is President of
Evergreen Art Therapy Association (EATA) and Local Arrangements Chair for the 2013
American Art Therapy Association Conference in Seattle. He has been an active member of
the EATA Board since 2006 in various roles including student liaison, treasurer, and delegate.
Bryce is a past presenter at AATA Conferences, currently an Adjunct Faculty Member at
Antioch University Seattle in the art therapy department, works as a community-based art
therapist, and part-time as an event/wedding planner. He is a registered art therapist (ATR)
with experience practicing in outpatient community mental health with adolescents, adults,
individuals, couples, and groups. His work with LGBTQ and homeless youth led to a research
project and publication in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association. Bryce
is most passionate about facilitating groups and workshops and using artwork to facilitate
communication and healing, especially with addiction recovery, sexual minorities, and personal empowerment.
It seems that many of us in this profession have an interesting or unique story of how we came into the field.
How did you become interested in art therapy, your course of study, and where you are currently practicing? I
have always been interested in combining creativity with helping others. Initially, I thought being an art teacher at the
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Continued on page 34
Interview with Bryce Bailey – Continued from page 33
elementary school level (BA degree) would suffice. But there was always a calling for something more. Through my
own earlier inner struggles of self-acceptance and battling my demons, art really saved me. My creative expression
was an outlet and savior to express my darkness through visual images. I remember Bruce Moon referred to the
visualization of the “storm on the inside.” My higher purpose was to provide this unique opportunity to others that were
open and willing to a new life of freedom. The concept of “wounded healer” led me to my initial volunteer work with
homeless and LGBTQ adolescents at Sanctuary Art Center and Lambert House in Seattle. Soon after I heard about
the field of art therapy which brought together everything that I believed in. I studied art therapy and mental health
counseling at Antioch University Seattle, where I now teach as Adjunct Faculty. I love giving back and sharing my
passion to 1st-year students who are just discovering this field. I currently practice as a registered art therapist in
Seattle providing mostly community-based art therapy groups, workshops, and retreats. EmpowerART Studio is the
name of my practice, in which I strive to collaborate with other expressive arts therapists in building a Seattle-based
community art studio.
Please tell us how you became involved with EATA and what positions you have held in the past? Evergreen
Art Therapy Association (EATA) was first introduced to me as an Antioch student. EATA meetings often meet at
Antioch University Seattle because of its central location and convenience. I was thrilled to meet other art therapists in
my city and learn how to become involved in the larger community. In 2006, I was appointed Antioch Student Liaison
to bridge the gap between Antioch art therapy students and EATA. Since then, I have been on the EATA Board of
Directors, serving as chapter delegate, treasurer, and president (since 2012). I am a firm believer in connecting with
AATA, to expand our awareness and inspiration in the field of art therapy. My first AATA conference I attended was in
2004 in San Diego, and I have been to seven annual conferences so far. I am forever grateful for the mentors and true
inspirations that I have met since my first conference, including Jordan Potash and Bruce Moon. In talking with my
students in the History and Theory of Art Therapy course, I emphasize, with enthusiasm, the unique opportunity to
meet pioneers, network with like-minded professionals, and become part of the unfolding history of AATA. I have made
some amazing connections with people I admire and respect. It all started by attending my first EATA meeting.
Who currently holds office in EATA? And how many members do you currently have? Can you share with us
your annual format for meeting and programming? Currently, EATA has an exceptionally strong board that has
served since January 2012 (elected for 2-year term). I am serving as President and Local Arrangements Committee
Chair for the 2013 AATA Conference in Seattle. Margaret Prescott is Vice President and Program Director, Valli
Rebsamen is Treasurer/Secretary, Jennifer Harkness is Membership/Communications Director, Joanne della Penta is
Chapter Delegate, and Catie Wilkins is Antioch Student Liaison. EATA currently has nearly 50 members (47 at last
report), which has more than doubled since this board was appointed. The EATA Board meets every month, along with
LAC for Conference planning, and EATA Chapter Meetings are bimonthly. We have welcomed guest speakers from
various backgrounds and art therapy settings, panels for art therapy private practice, yoga and art therapy, “tricks of
the trade” art directive sharing, and art making parties. We have conducted our meetings at the Seattle Art Museum
Sculpture Park and Frye Art Museum, and held other special presentations and events on various other creative
programming ideas.
Has EATA undertaken any efforts to address licensure for art therapists in the state of Washington? What are
some of your chapter’s short- and long-term goals? EATA has been focused on building community. Our shortterm goals were about engaging more art therapists and students to become involved in EATA. Our attendance at the
bimonthly chapter meeting has definitely increased, especially in anticipation for hosting the AATA conference in
Seattle this June. Currently, we have not been actively involved in legislative efforts for art therapist licensure but have
talked about the potential to expand our efforts. When I first attended EATA, it was really struggling to stay afloat and
we were discouraged by the lack of participation and membership. With renewed energy and momentum, I feel
confident that EATA will continue moving forward and go to the next level of dedication to supporting our profession.
I think I can speak for the membership when I express how excited we all are about the upcoming AATA
conference in Seattle. Can you tell us about your hospitality plans and give a glimpse into what Seattle has in
store? EATA is so thrilled and honored to host the 44th annual AATA conference in my hometown of Seattle, WA, this
June 26-30, 2013. Since its inception of a possible host city, I was involved with AATA and former EATA President
Jennifer Danczyk for the initial site visit to Seattle. We have an enthusiastic LAC team who has been meeting monthly
for 16 months to plan some amazing activities and offer Seattle hospitality, at its best. Highlights to look forward to
include: Night of the Town at the new and beautiful Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum, a Bruce Moon and Chris
Belkofer musical concert, the closing dance with a local DJ around the theme of “Sole of Seattle” that will include
some cool shoe art, our hospitality booth (complete with LAC Guide to Seattle/Map, 2013 Seattle buttons, Mirrors
Project, original Art Deck-O cards, local artwork), the Antioch Open House, a Men’s Group Outing, some local
Multicultural and Art Committee contributions, an exciting Tibetan Sand Mandala, and various outings/special
events/adventures to feature the beautiful Emerald City of Seattle. As an Antioch Faculty member, I am delighted that
nearly 45 Antioch students will experience their very first AATA conference, with ongoing fundraising efforts to provide
scholarship funds. Seattle is all abuzz with upcoming activity and preparation to welcome you to our city! Can’t wait to
see you there, and thanks for the opportunity to serve as your LAC chair, an absolute dream come true. For more
information on EATA please www.evergreenarttherapy.org.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
In Memoriam
Dianne L. Meixner, MA, LICSW, LMFT, ATR
Dianne Lynn Meixner, age 61, of Hudson, WI, passed away on March 4, 2013.
Dianne attended Iowa State University and the University of Minnesota from
which she graduated with distinction in art education and psychology. She
earned her Master’s Degree in Art Therapy from Norwich University in
Vermont. She had a wealth of professional experiences working within mental
health agencies and a private practice specializing in trauma and abuse issues,
chemical dependency, and eating disorders. She was passionate about her
work as an art therapist in her clinical practice and as an educator at University
of Wisconsin River Falls, St. Mary’s University, Century Community College,
Metropolitan University, and the Adler Graduate School in Minnesota. Dianne
loved teaching and her students loved her teaching. She was always
encouraging, compassionate, enthusiastic, and had a great sense of humor.
She was one of the pioneers of art therapy in Minnesota and involved in
supporting the Minnesota Art Therapy Association, as well as helping to
establish the art therapy program at the Adler Graduate School. Dianne’s social interest and creativity had an
international reach. She helped found Team Ghana, an agency that set up a woman’s sewing co-op to facilitate
economic support. Dianne loved working with children. Their drawings of figures and animals inspired her to create her
Deecha Dolls.
To continue her legacy in the education of art therapists, a scholarship in her name has been established at the Adler
Graduate School.
Editor Sought for Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association
The American Art Therapy Association, representing approximately 5,200 members, seeks applications for the position
of Editor of Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association. The journal is a peer-reviewed scholarly
publication that has a readership comprising educators, practitioners, and students. Its mission is to inform the
readership of research, recent innovations, and critical issues related to art therapy.
The appointment of Editor is for a 3-year term beginning January 2015. The appointment is made by the Board of
Directors with the recommendation of the Search Committee. The successful candidate will begin serving as EditorDesignate November 2013. The Editor-Designate will be mentored by the current Editor for a period of 12 months and
will receive an honorarium. During that time the current Editor will provide information and support to the EditorDesignate to assist in a seamless transition. The Editor may be reappointed for two additional 3-year terms, or a
maximum of 9 years. The Editor receives an honorarium as well as some reimbursement for journal-related expenses.
Appointment of the candidate is conditional upon the following qualifications:
(1) Art therapy credentials and active membership in the Association.
(2) A commitment to and command of research in the field of art therapy.
(3) A record of scholarly publications in refereed journals.
(4) Experience as an editorial board member of a professional publication or similar experience (associate editor
or editor of another publication).
(5) Managerial experience, which can include running a clinical or educational program, a large grant-funded
program, etc.
(6) A history of involvement in and contribution to the art therapy profession.
(7) An understanding of and commitment to the mission of the Association.
(8) A belief in the importance of promoting multicultural competence in art therapy.
(9) Demonstration of the candidate’s institutional or organizational support is highly desirable.
To review the position description and application requirements please click here. The Search Committee invites
nominations and applications for the position of Journal Editor. Deadline for nominations or applications is June 1,
2013.
A Trademark Announcement by the Sandplay® Therapists of America™ Inc.
The Sandplay® Therapists of America™ Inc. has advised the American Art Therapy Association that Sandplay® is
now a registered trademark. Sandplay®, the term describing the unique therapeutic method named by its founder,
Dora Kalff, is now protected as a federally registered trademark of The Sandplay® Therapists of America™ Inc. (STA).
To avoid trademark infringement, therapists not recognized by STA should refer to their work as “sand tray” therapy,
and to themselves as “sand tray” therapists. To read the full announcement, please visit the STA website.
Page 35
Leverage Your Marketing
Resources
Future Annual Conferences
Save the Dates!
Consider advertising with the American
Art Therapy Association and gain
visibility for your program!
Fantastic annual conference opportunities
are also available!
Click here to review the options.
45th Annual Conference
July 9-13, 2014─San Antonio, TX
46th Annual Conference
July 8-12, 2015─Minneapolis, MN
47th Annual Conference
July 6-10, 2016─Baltimore, MD
Mark Your Calendar!
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