As art therapy grows as a field—we have the opportunity to advance as a profession and strengthen our own unique identity as mental health professionals. Some professions laid the groundwork, like medical doctors who established licensure at the state level in the late 1800s and went on to create a very strong professional identity. 

Please join us Tuesday, Sept. 9, for this special CE session and learn with us about the key elements of a thriving profession, what AATA is doing to make the art therapy profession stronger, and how you can help. The session will be led by AATA President-Elect Raquel Farrell-Kirk, MS, ATR-BC, and AATA Board Member Traci Bitondo, PhD, LPC, LPAT, ATR-BC, ATCS, ACS, NCC, DRCC. 

Everyone is welcome to attend. Attendees may receive 2 Continuing Education credits. The AATA Board would like to make this Monthly Learning Session FREE for all AATA Members to stress the importance of the topic and how we can help the art therapy profession flourish. 

We're reaching out to organizations that align with our mission to invite them to join us at AATA2025 as sponsors or exhibitors. If you work with an organization interested in being a part of our conference or supporting the art therapy profession, please share this 2025 Sponsorship Prospectus. 

We want to secure the Exhibit Hall by Sept. 5. Please reach out to the AATA National Team at info@arttherapy.org to set up a conversation about AATA2025 exhibiting opportunities.

AATA's Board of Directors is gathering input from the art therapy educator community to better understand your current needs and priorities. Your feedback will help us shape resource planning, conference sessions, networking opportunities, curriculum supports, and professional development tailored to educators at all levels.

Whether you are a professor, administrator, or program director, we want to hear from you! Please take this detailed survey by September 8. 

A few important updates about our upcoming annual conference...

→ Hotel room block for the Annual Conference in Portland is 98% full!
The conference will be held at the Hilton Portland Downtown located in the heart of city center. All learning and networking sessions will take place here, and staying here will help you connect with other attendees! We have negotiated special room rates, which expire Sept. 14. Please reserve your room using this link.

As an AATA member, you’ll receive exclusive access to resources and connections, including:
♦  Unlimited virtual access to Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association 
♦  Access to the MyAATA Community, an online forum where members can connect, support each other, and share resources
♦  Registration discounts on conference and special events, as well as continuing education courses through the AATA Online Learning Academy.
♦  Discounts on art supplies, including a 30% discount from Faber-Castell and 20% from Grabie.
♦  The Art Therapy Career Center, the leading resource for making employment connections, with free and confidential resume posting, automated weekly email notification of new job listings, and access to employment services.
♦  Free, no-cost referrals through our public Art Therapist Locator tool designed to help grow your practice

Source: The New York Times

Featuring AATA Member Emily Davenport
Source: Martha Stewart

Featuring AATA Member Jessica Grimm
Source: Cleveland.com

Featuring AATA Member David Gussak
Source: Colorado Sun

CareOregon, the state’s largest provider of Medicaid benefits, will soon stop covering routine mental health and addiction treatment from out-of-network providers.