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 AATA News In recognition of Black History Month, AATA is offering a virtual Continuing Education session, Exploring Art Therapy Groups Among African American Black Women: From Research to Program Implementation, free for all AATA Members and at a discounted price of $30 for non-members. The session was led by AATA Member Michelle “Starr” Starling, M.Ed., MA, LPC, ATR. It examines the development of a culturally responsive art therapy program supporting the mental health and wellness of African American/Black women. Participants may earn 2 CE credits.
There is a little over a month left to submit a proposal to present at our AATA2026 In-Person Conference, October 14–17 in Charlotte, North Carolina, or at our Virtual Conference, November 14–15, or both! Whether you are a student, early-career professional, researcher, or mental health practitioner in a related field, your insights and expertise are invaluable to growing the field of art therapy. AATA provides resources and support to help you develop and submit your proposal successfully. All proposals are due by March 17.
Due to a lack of comprehensive formal training in the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC), many myths have arisen and continue to spread about the ETC framework for responsive, outcome-informed, client-centered care. These misconceptions often stem from limited encounters with the framework, whether through written material or brief presentations. Megan L. VanMeter, LPC, LMHC, LPC-AT/S, ATR-BC, and Lisa D. Hinz, PhD, ATR-BC, students of the ETC’s co-creators, will be leading today's CE session, Separating Expressive Therapies Continuum Truth from Myth: Guidance for Art Therapy Practitioners, Educators, and Researchers. Free for AATA Student Members to attend and discounted for AATA Members. Everyone is welcome! Cannot attend “live" tonight? Register to receive the recording and watch at your own pace.
 Member CornerTo ensure the learning opportunities at our conferences reflect the breadth and depth of our field, we seek reviewers from a wide range of professional backgrounds and experiences. AATA Members who hold an ATR-BC credential are eligible to volunteer and will receive 10–15 proposals to review on a rolling timeline. If you are interested, please email conference@arttherapy.org.
ADVOCACY UPDATES
The Department of Education has issued a proposed rule that would define “professional student” for purposes of determining federal student loan amounts based on the type of program in which a student is enrolled. Under the proposal, “professional students” would be those enrolled in one of 11 designated professional degree programs: pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, theology and clinical psychology. Students enrolled in these programs would qualify for up to $50,000 in federal loans per year, with a $200,000 aggregate limit. All other graduate students would be eligible only for up to $20,500 in federal student loans per year, with a $100,000 aggregate limit. This narrow definition of “professional degree programs” leaves out art therapy as well as many other critical health professions, from nursing and physical therapy to social work. At a time when our nation is experiencing health care workforce shortages, this will further hinder access to care. Art therapists and art therapy students have relied on federal loans to help pay for their graduate education. If these rules are finalized, art therapy students would not be able to borrow more than $100,000 in total through federal student loans beginning July 1, 2026. TAKE ACTION!
⇒ Take the survey to share your student loan story. Your insight will help AATA advocate for changes to this proposed rule. ⇒ Learn more and write your own comment to the Dept. of Education about why you think excluding art therapists and other mental health professionals as "professional students" for student loan purposes hurts access to care. Last year, Governor Hochul vetoed legislation that would have expanded insurance coverage for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists, citing the need for it to be addressed through the state budget process. To move this forward, the LCAT Advocacy Coalition will be in Albany on Thursday, March 5, to advocate for Medicaid and commercial health insurance budget proposals and raise awareness of the vital psychotherapy services LCATs provide to New Yorkers. If you’re interested in joining or learning more, email lcatadvocacy@gmail.com.
JOURNAL NEWS
Psychedelics and Art Therapy: Therapeutic Intersections and Clinical Applications will focus on ways that psychedelic-assisted therapies might impact the creative process and how art therapy can complement, support, and extend the healing potential of psychedelic medicines. This special issue, edited by Rebecca Wilkinson and Alyssa Gursky, seeks clinical models, theoretical and educational paradigms, case reports, cultural and ethical positions, and research into how art therapy may be leveraged and integrated with psychedelic healing. Submission Instructions:
• All submissions should be relevant to the aims and scope of Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association. • Please include a title page with “Psychedelics and Art Therapy” and “Special Issue” marked in the online submission system. Read the instructions for authors and submit an article here. • Manuscript deadline is June 30, 2026. Events
From the AATA Career CenterWant to post or apply for art therapy jobs? Visit the AATA Career Center, the one-stop-shop to help art therapists at all levels find new opportunities. For questions about the career center, please email info@arttherapy.org.
Art Therapy in the News |
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The AATA's Art Therapy Today includes a digest of the most important news selected for the AATA from thousands of sources. Guest articles may be submitted to info@arttherapy.org. Publication of any guest article is at the sole discretion of the AATA. The opinions expressed and/or contents of guest articles, advertisements, and external links included in any AATA publication do not represent the positions or policies of the AATA. The AATA makes no warrenty or representation concerning the accuracy of such content. |
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