2009 Nomination Information

The Nominating Committee is pleased to present the slate of candidates for President-Elect, Secretary, Board of Directors and Nominating Committee. The candidates' bios and answers to three questions are listed below. You will receive notice about the ballot procedure in the mail this summer. Please visit this section for more information as the election process moves forward.

We look forward to your participation in this important annual opportunity to select the Association's leadership.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Ainley Anand, Chair

Frances Anderson

Holly Feen-Calligan

Paula Howie

Deborah Sharpe

2009 AATA ELECTION NOMINEES’ BIOS AND ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

Questions for President-Elect, Secretary and Director Positions

1. Identify and describe two ways AATA can collaborate with other professions to strengthen the field of art therapy.
2. Discuss two ways to increase job opportunities for AATA members.
3. What are some ways AATA can increase member involvement and participation?

NOMINEES FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT

Mercedes ter Maat, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC

Mercedes is an associate professor at Nova Southeastern University. She taught at Virginia Tech and George Washington University, and has 22 years experience in art therapy in school and mental health settings. Since 1985 Mercedes has served on many counseling and art therapy boards and task forces (PATA, FATA, AATA, FSCA, ASCA), including AATA’s BOD, multicultural, legislative, nominating, publications, leadership, and conference committees (often as chair), as newsletter associate editor and member of AATA’s Journal review board. Mercedes participates in local, state, and national forums including presentations on ethics and her research on multicultural issues.

1. Having had my own career strengthened in a personal way through collaboration among professions, this is something about which I am particularly passionate. First, collaboration can strengthen art therapy by joining legislative agendas with associations with similar long-term vision (e.g., valued and essential services, appropriate compensation, educational support, title protection). Secondly, collaboration in educational forums, coursework, conventions, conferences, and professional development institutes produces more well-rounded therapists. And the more other professions understand art therapy, the more they and their clients will appreciate the value of art therapy. This leads to increased job opportunities, greater numbers of art therapy students, and broader acceptance within our community as a whole.

2. I believe in AATA and art therapists recognizing and embracing change. Our times have proven that change is necessary, and the changes occurring in the arts, health care, and human services must be recognized to increase job opportunities for art therapists. At the individual level, AATA and art therapy programs can focus on empowering the art therapist to recognize and build personal and professional strengths, skills, ways to market ourselves, and ways to create job opportunities for ourselves (through presentations, demonstrations, volunteer work to start). At the institutional and organizational level, AATA’s collaboration efforts must lead to professional recognition and equity among the mental health professions. National certification, state licensure, and aggressive marketing are ways to increase employment opportunities for art therapists. I would encourage all of us to be proactive in learning and understanding the nature of change in the mental health field, how it affects our employability, and to recognize that licensure has been the way of the present and is the way of the future.

3. Three ways: communication, communication, and communication. Promoting open, honest and frequent communication among various constituents (including the Board, affiliate chapters, and individual members) is my first priority. This is for two reasons. First, as the Board and committees communicate the association’s vision and activities, members will realize how fulfilling volunteering for AATA can be. We know that service to the profession and networking among peers are contagious. But too many potential committee leaders among our members have yet to be infected. Secondly, as the bedrock of any relationship, greater communication will be required to restore the tradition of trust among the association’s various constituents. More transparent reporting of association activities and our husbandry of association resources would be the hallmark of my efforts to foster greater dedication among our members.

Terry Tibbetts, PhD, ATR

Terry is a clinical psychologist and attorney employed in the public schools. He has served in multiple board capacities with the Southern California Art Therapy Association, and with AATA as Chair of the Ethics Committee, Chair of the Task Force on Ethical Standards and Professional Practice, and on the AATA Board as liaison to the Journal, Bylaws/Policies & Procedures, Nominating and Multicultural Committees, while serving two terms on the AATA Board of Directors. He has published numerous articles on art therapy, and been honored as Outstanding Psychologist of the Year by the California Association of School Psychologists.

As a reform candidate for President, I believe that this election is a pivotal moment in determining the heart of what AATA can and will become. To that end, I support the reestablishment of three crucial pillars of governance: all actions and deliberations of the Board must reflect Transparency, Organizational Integrity (personal and professional ethics) and Responsiveness to Member Needs. I believe that dialogue among all AATA members is a critical part of this process.

1. I believe that the key response to this (and each) question is that AATA must support and sustain an organizational ethic of inclusiveness rather than divisiveness. This is particularly important in efforts to collaborate with allied mental health practitioners. Efforts should include consideration of redefining the role of ATCB, organizational and financial commitment to quantitative research, increased collaboration with state licensing boards and continuing education providers, dialogue with HMO and health management systems, formal linkage to other professional associations and organizations, consideration of the function and purpose of AATA associate membership, increased public relations and awareness activities, and supporting and encouraging art therapists in service to the community and the field.

2. First, in conjunction with the efforts of the Ad Hoc Legislative Committee, it is essential to increase support for embedding licensing for art therapists into existing counseling law. To this end, relationships with counseling and mental health organizations must be nurtured and maintained, and legislation must be sponsored at state and national levels to ensure that art therapists can provide services as new regulations are written into law. Second, protecting and promoting the practice of art therapy must be a measurable keystone of all AATA plans and actions. All activities must be focused on increasing professional/job opportunities for AATA members.

3. An integral part of my responsibilities as AATA President is to set clear expectations for individual and organizational accountability and transparency. Involvement and participation will increase only when members recognize that there is a consistent and responsive chain of command willing to take appropriate action to get AATA back on track. It is time to return AATA to a path that can be seen and understood – so that all members can know how their organization is being run – and have an expectation that they will encounter responsiveness and direct answers from those who are elected to guide our organization.

NOMINEES FOR SECRETARY

Gaelynn P. Wolf Bordonaro, PhD, ATR-BC

Gaelynn is the Director of the Art Therapy Program at Emporia State University. She has taught art therapy courses at Florida State University, the University of Louisville, and La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia), and presented on art therapy topics in Australia, the Bahamas, England, India, Jamaica, Germany, South Africa, Thailand, and the United States. Her primary areas of interest are international art therapy, pediatric medical art therapy, photography in therapeutic settings, and art therapy with special populations in schools. She is the Clinical Director of Communities Healing through Art (CHART), and has served as AATA’s “Official Conference Photographer” for five years.

1. One of the most powerful collaborative efforts in which AATA can engage with other professions is the design and implementation of empirical research. Data demonstrating the efficacy of art therapy is imperative in the validation and substantiation of our field. In addition to juried art therapy publications, we need to disseminate our knowledge and expertise through juried publications and professional conferences of related fields.

A focus on outcomes studies need not alienate talented art therapists who don’t identify as researchers; collaborations can draw upon the passions and strengths of our members. In a recent lecture, a knowledgeable psychologist suggested there is an absence of literature addressing the spiritual lives of clients. Of course, art therapy literature is rich with spiritual references. AATA can work to ensure the literature of our field is integrated in electronic searches by continuing to invest in the technology associated with our professional journal.

2. Recently, the 2008 AATA Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Issues, including Laura Greenstone, Linda Gantt, and Paula Howie, presented a comprehensive report to the AATA Board. The committee’s rigorous investigation revealed that partnering with related disciplines, including counseling, is imperative in the creation of art therapy jobs. This is a topic that prompts passionate philosophical debate; as an art therapy educator, I am acutely aware of licensure issues across the country, and within my own states. As AATA continues to explore prospective collaborations, it is essential that AATA support art therapy education programs. Collaborations amongst art therapy educators, as well as commitment and support from the Board, will make possible the sensitive modifications needed to assure career opportunities are available to art therapy program graduates.

Though research initiatives and our Director of Public Policy, AATA can develop relationships with the Veterans Administration and public education systems. The fruit of policy and research initiatives will be increased job opportunities, as will careful attention to new legislative healthcare developments.

3. Members could be prompted to call or email immediate responses to elected officials through automated electronic advocacy alerts on time-sensitive legislative issues.

AATA has initiated a “listening post” on the website. Members’ voices must be heard, particularly as the organization experiences change. Members with special interests can be invited to participate through committees and chapters.

AATA members support our professional organization; I hope that our new and exciting membership benefits will return the favor!

Gretchen M. Miller, MA, ATR-BC

Gretchen received her Master’s in Art Therapy from Ursuline College and practices in Cleveland, Ohio. Her work specializes in children, adolescents, and families impacted by childhood trauma, domestic violence, and grief and loss. She is presently serving her second term as President of the Buckeye Art Therapy Association. Gretchen has been active in AATA since 1994, including serving as Web Editor (2005-2008). She currently serves on the Journal Advisory Board and is the 2009 Conference Program Chair. Gretchen is also an adjunct faculty member for Ursuline College’s Master of Arts in Art Therapy & Counseling Program.

1. Collaboration is key to strengthening our profession. I believe creating partnerships with national professional organizations associated with counseling, disaster response, advocacy groups, and allied health to develop research, publications, and other resources could be ways for collaboration with others outside our field and to help increase the recognition of art therapy.

2. One way to increase employment includes supporting state legislative efforts for art therapy title protection and safeguarding the practice of art therapy through licensure. These efforts are essential actions towards reimbursement in the mental health and health care arenas, as well as distinguish our scope of practice from non-art therapists who incorporate art-making and creative counseling modalities into their work. A second way, I believe to increase job opportunities for art therapists is to promote and highlight the use of art therapy and publish evidence based research and PR news with populations such as, but not limited to: older adults, trauma intervention and PTSD, autism, disaster/crisis response, and veterans. These populations in particular include agencies, officials, and governing bodies that could open the employment door for more job opportunities within our field.

3. Increasing member involvement begins by empowering members with the recognition and validation that they are valuable stakeholders in the life of this organization. Providing regular communication, opportunities to provide feedback and be heard by AATA’s leadership related to important decisions, and complete transparency about association issues builds investment towards service. Cultivating and encouraging interest (especially with students and new professionals) through promoting and inviting involvement with committee work, Chapter mentoring, publishing, presenting, and developing more opportunities to network and share ideas provides important opportunities to grow participation.

Statement/Philosophy on AATA Issues:
I feel the morale of this Association continues to be in need of desperate repair and healing. I believe there needs to be a rebuilding of trust and stability. Existing and new members of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors need to work together and take action to restore integrity, improve communication, and create more connection with AATA’s membership. If elected to serve as Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee, I will work for the members, their best interests and what they deserve as investors of this Association.

NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR

Tracy Councill, MA, ATR-BC

Tracy directs the Tracy’s Kids Art Therapy Program, which grew from her work at Georgetown University Hospital from 1991-2006. It employs six Art Therapists in four Pediatric Hematology-Oncology centers in the DC Metro area. She lectures on Medical Art Therapy at The George Washington University, where she earned her Master’s in 1988. She conducts the “Bridges to Art Therapy” research study with Pediatric Cancer Survivors at Georgetown. In 2007, she attended the Middle East Cancer Consortium, which inspired a traveling and web-based “International Art Exchange” show (www.tracyskids.org). She enjoys painting, block printing, gardening, and her family.

1. Throughout our history, Art Therapists have worked collaboratively with other healthcare professionals. My own work adapted the practice of art therapy in mental health to meet the needs of medical patients.

Art Therapy has become a valued “niche profession,” a powerful agent for healing and change, but special--not as basic as other professions to the mental health field. Efforts at licensure have been successful in some states and not in others, often because we remain a small group.

Aligning our training programs to qualify Art Therapists as Counselors is a practical solution to that dilemma. Belonging to a larger profession offers us greater credibility and more professional opportunities, but it also blurs the outlines of our professional identity.

Each of us must work to balance the competing demands of professional credibility and creative individuality. Rigorous and credible training and licensure promote the growth of our profession, but so does defining ourselves through our own artistic development, publication, education, and research.

2. Credentialing art therapists as Counselors is a practical strategy to qualify Art Therapists for positions we previously could not hold. It is a big part of AATA’s recent efforts at professional development, and sustaining that effort should help us grow.

By disciplined practice, creative adaptation, and a willingness to educate our communities about what Art Therapy has to offer, we can leverage opportunities to grow where we are. Countless art therapists reach out to their professional and local communities and educate the public about their work. Many years of hard work and good luck have grown my own grant-funded position at a hospital into a small foundation that employs six art therapists in four treatment centers. I have had to take on the challenges of advocacy-- public speaking, scholarly writing, grant-writing, developing a website, and (hardest of all for me) appearing on tv! Though it may not be appropriate for every art therapy practice, telling the stories of our work (following HIPPA guidelines always!) touches people outside our profession and gives us meaning and relevance in our communities.

3. Given the difficulties of the past year or two, I think transparency is key. Frankly, AATA needs to rebuild trust with its membership. Transparency, fiscal responsibility, and listening to the concerns of members are values I would place very high on the list. If AATA is accountable, members will become engaged.

Sarah Deaver, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC

Sarah has been an art therapy educator, researcher, and clinician for over 25 years. Her primary professional interests include art therapy educational theory and practice and art therapy assessment and outcomes research; clinically, she specializes in art therapy with adolescent girls. She has served the profession in several capacities including AATA Research Committee Chair, ATCB Director, and Art Therapy Editorial Review Board member. Educated and credentialed in both art therapy and counseling, she is keenly interested in the interface between the professions, and in strengthening the scope of art therapy’s professional identity.

1. One crucial method for strengthening our field is through research proving art therapy’s clinical efficacy. It is time to prioritize and act upon AATA’s commitment to a multi-site efficacy study of art therapy with veterans with PTSD. This will involve collaboration with departments of psychiatry and psychology at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers across the country. Other opportunities for large-scale research collaborations include medical centers that serve the geriatric population and school systems serving at-risk children with special needs.

While it is imperative to engage in large efficacy studies, AATA must also embrace the heart of our profession: the value to all people of creative expression through art. This can be enhanced through collaboration with NCATA, and through partnering with national arts programs such as VSA Arts and Americans for the Arts.

2. Employment opportunities for newly graduated art therapists are enhanced if they are eligible for licensure. Therefore, AATA’s Education Committee must continue to closely monitor state licensing boards, and update education standards to be congruent with licensure requirements. Furthermore, AATA’s Governmental Affairs Committee must continue to work with state and regional chapters to ensure that art therapists are included as eligible practitioners in relevant licensure laws.

AATA must develop an initiative to promote public knowledge of the diverse applications of art therapy and the work of art therapists in a range of settings beyond the traditional mental health model. These include public and private schools, community service boards, museum education programs, medical hospitals, open studios and community arts programs, rehabilitation centers, and artist-in-residence programs.

3. Despite information on the website, e-blasts, and newsletters, many members remain inactive and uninformed about issues in our professional organization. Sending officers and directors to meet face-to-face with state and regional chapters would increase members’ awareness of AATA’s organizational structure, functions and roles of the board and committees, strategic plan, and the need for member participation. These meetings would yield volunteers who could be nurtured through leadership trainings to be future AATA leaders.

Other ways to increase member involvement would be (a) to offer high quality, cost-effective online coursework that would fulfill members’ need for CEUs, (b) to create focused interest groups, or “divisions”, within AATA that would support members’ special interests (for example, art therapy education or art therapy and spirituality) through web-based exchanges and special conference sessions, and (c) to offer lower-cost conference opportunities or online education geared toward new professionals in our field.

Evie Lindemann, ATR-BC, LMFT

Evie was a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist prior to her entry into the world of art therapy. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in the Graduate Program of Art Therapy at Albertus Magnus College, where she also coordinates clinical site experiences for fieldwork and internship students. Her background includes Human Resources Management, critical incident debriefing, EAP panels, research on chronic illness, private practice, international site work, and work with combat veterans who have complex PTSD. She remains committed to personal creativity and self-expression through her printmaking art.

1. I believe there is an increasing need for us as art therapists to increase the range of our roles. In this expansion of identity, we will strengthen the view of ourselves as having skills and tools that can be increasingly shared with other professionals who are not art therapists.

Collaboration and publicity in our local communities helps to awaken various sectors to what we can contribute toward improvements in the quality of life where we live and work. Willingness to speak to business groups, libraries, universities, arts groups, and the press will help build a broader base of support and recognition for this amazing profession.

2. Because I am involved in graduate art therapy education, I find that art therapy interns are one of our best resources for the future of the profession. When sites are carefully chosen, interns are sometimes offered employment because their skills are recognized as adding richness and depth to clinical sites.

This is part of a long-term strategy, requiring us to collaborate across professional boundaries and to actively network in our local communities.

3. Members at large need to know that they matter to the organization. I believe this requires not only more transparency at the national level, but also requires greater outreach at the local level, so that both levels of participation are targeted simultaneously.

A new members initiative could be undertaken to provide organized mentorship and support to those who are, perhaps, new to the profession or new to the organization, and are looking for ways to become connected to a larger whole and to feel valued on a more personal level.

Lisa Manthe, MFT, ATR-BC

The focus of Lisa’s clinical work has been developing and providing day treatment services to SED adolescents within New Directions Adolescent Services, known for its integrated and innovative approaches within art therapy. She has a background in residential treatment, and was involved in a collaborative intervention providing art therapy services to families affected by HIV, homelessness, and mental health issues. An Adjunct Professor at Notre Dame de Namur University, Lisa is also a practicing artist who exhibits regularly. She believes that art is a way of creating community, vision, and voice.

1. Groundbreaking work has been done on the legislative front to strengthen AATA and the field of art therapy. Further legislative collaboration within the fields of mental health, education, and creative art therapies will only strengthen our political power and create more opportunities to be heard. I believe it will be crucial for AATA to be a strong unified voice in the national development of health and education policies to support both our mission to heal others, and the future of our field. A network of collaboration could be created through the development of smaller shared conferences with other mental health organizations. These conferences would have several purposes - education, collaboration, and the development of a more broad legislative voice. These experiences would also strengthen our shared legislative connections. Further collaboration with international mental health and art therapy organizations in the development and implementation of international mental health projects would also create connection and exposure while serving our mission.

2. Increased legislative action and exposure will lead to greater recognition and job possibilities. If we are able to represent ourselves as a strong, diverse but unified voice, in the legislative process of mental health education and national health policies we will see greater job security. Networking through collaboration with other fields both in policy development and shared conferences will lead to more diverse job opportunities. Further Internet out reach to agencies, schools, and clinics, educating them about our field and encouraging them to easily post job opportunities on our web site could also be beneficial.

3. Membership in AATA could be strengthened and diversified by creating more financial support for the developing art therapist (students and interns) and those working within the non-profit sector. It can be financially difficult in these situations to be a member in AATA, thereby precluding involvement. Financial assistance would increase membership, while also taping into the wellspring of creativity and passion that is inherent in this group. Legislative and collaborative work would also increase participation by highlighting common goals and purpose.

Craig A. Siegel, M.A., ATR-BC

Craig is a graduate of The George Washington University currently residing in Boca Raton, Florida. Mr. Siegel is affiliated with the Miami-Dade County Public School System where he has worked for the past fourteen years with students identified as Emotionally/Behaviorally Disabled. In addition to his clinical practice, he has served as President (2004-2007), Treasurer (2007-2009), and Governmental Affairs Chair (2007-2009) of the Florida Art Therapy Association (FATA).

1. One way in which AATA can collaborate with other professions is having members act as liaisons to allied groups. Secondly, through shared involvement, collaborative conferences on the national, state, and local levels will serve the goal of capacity building. Increasing both membership and financial numbers is necessary, especially in smaller art therapy communities, in the pursuit of licensure. The caveat of building any alliance is to make certain that art therapists maintain their unique identity; being mindful that art therapists are not engulfed by larger counseling professions and that the value of art therapy sacrificed as it relates to professions with other educational and credentialing standards.

2. The mission statement of the American Art Therapy Association clearly defines the organization’s purpose to serve its members by promoting knowledge of the field of art therapy. I believe this to be crucial in the development of job opportunities. Individual art therapists have made personal strides in the area of self-promotion through publications in print and digital media. AATA needs to follow this lead by embarking on an unprecedented PR marketing campaign to potential employers such as school districts, hospitals, drug treatment centers, and geriatric care facilities. Raising public awareness of art therapy’s unique role will be the first step in ensuring that others know we are present to help fulfill the needs of special populations. As a profession, we need to stop inwardly promoting ourselves and begin meeting our mission to serve our communities.

Additionally, we must maintain our ongoing pursuit of state licensure throughout the country. The opportunity to be licensed within a state will assist in overcoming a major obstacle preventing art therapists from more opportunities in the workforce-funding, specifically third-party reimbursement for services provided. AATA should target five states a year that meet potential for licensure and aggressively support efforts by offering both expertise and monetary support.

Strengthening our visibility will help to open doors to new employment opportunities and further growth as a profession.

3. As past-president of the Florida Art Therapy Association, I learned that communication is the key to maintaining an active membership. I will work toward strengthening the communication process between the AATA Board and membership. Within the realm of increased communication is the need for complete transparency of all AATA board actions so that AATA members have access to information and decisions. Additionally, the AATA board needs to look at conferences that are more cost-effective to meet the needs of all members. Through active communication the board can help reframe the message that member involvement is an opportunity rather than a burden.

Stella A. Stepney, MS, ATR-BC, LCAT

Stella is a New York State Licensed Creative Arts Therapist and holds a Teacher Certification in Art Education. Ms. Stepney is the author of Art Therapy with Students At Risk: Introducing Art Therapy into an Alternative Learning Environment for Adolescents. She is on the Adjunct Faculty of Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. Ms. Stepney is Chair of the AATA Multicultural Committee. She holds memberships in the American Counseling Association, Association for Creativity in Counseling, and Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development. Ms. Stepney is affiliated with America’s Promise Alliance which focuses on student drop-out prevention.

1. I advocate that the field of art therapy can be strengthened through a commitment to social justice and professional networking.As Art therapists for social justice, the therapeutic role expands to artist-therapist-activist. The new paradigm of multiculturalism includes not only race and ethnicity but also other aspects of diversity, such as sexual orientation, disability and socioeconomic disadvantage. This paradigm warrants a new knowledge base and a new sense of social responsibility and activism. Social action strives to make collective change. The art therapist who is not afraid of change can become a mentor, role model, and advocate, who can use art therapy in a collaborative way to challenge long standing traditions and preconceived notions that may stand in the way of an individual’s optimal health and development.

Professional networking promotes knowledge in and of the field of art therapy. Disseminating online information about art therapy degrees, certification, and licensure by state is an excellent tool. I network through the Association for Creativity in Counseling, which was created as a forum where professionals interested in creative and complementary approaches to counseling and therapy could collaborate. Networking provides outreach opportunities to expand membership in AATA by highlighting the value of art therapy as an enhancement to related careers.

2. As a membership benefit, a job fair is an excellent venue to enhance employment opportunities. Hosting a job fair at the annual AATA Conference would attract health care systems, universities, and educational programs that could offer jobs of interest to AATA members.

Continuing education through distance learning is another excellent venue. As a member benefit, advanced level online training courses in specialized applications of art therapy could be offered at reduced cost to members that provide continuing education credits (CEUs) for professional development and enhance employment opportunities.

3. The Multicultural Committee is collaborating with the Membership Committee to develop strategies to increase diversity among the AATA membership. Members of the MCC were asked to answer the question, “What can the American Art Therapy Association do to increase diversity recruitment?” Three new projects and three reinstated projects have been initiated to expand membership and increase member satisfaction. The new projects include: Student Research Exchange, Cross-Cultural Exchange, and Focus Groups to promote increased participation, foster professional validation, and provide networking opportunities for members sharing common interests. The reinstated projects include: Multicultural Exchange and Multicultural Open Forum at the AATA Conference and MCC Art Therapy Mentors.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Doris Arrington, EdD, ATR-BC

Doris is a Psychologist and former President of NoCata, served 28 years as founding Director and Professor of the Art Therapy Psychology Department at Notre Dame de Namur University. Arrington served as a National Director of AATA for 8 years and currently serves as AATA’s Scholarship Chair. Since 2007 she has spoken in China, Ethiopia, Ireland, Mexico, Africa, South Korea, Taiwan and the USA with a Fulbright Senior Lecturer appointment to the Ukraine. On the editorial board of The Arts in Psychotherapy she is the author of Home is Where the Art Is and Art, Angst and Trauma.

1. Today, AATA can strengthen the field of art therapy by collaborating with other professionals to support state licensure. For 25 years licensure in California has provided well paying jobs for those art therapists trained in California. In 1985, universities providing art therapy training located in California worked very hard with the state Boards to insure not only Family Therapy students but also Art Therapy students the ability to qualify for license in California and in almost every state in the USA plus the military. I believe AATA working with Art Therapy associations at the state level where licensure is available can help those Art Therapy associations where licensure is not available but desired. I also believe that it is helpful to encourage art therapists to show case their unique expertise by participation in other professional organizations, submitting proposals for workshops or inviting other professionals to submit proposals for local art therapy conferences and workshops.

2. Over the 30 years I have been an art therapy educator I have found the following ways to increase job opportunities for graduates and AATA members. They include: Supporting high educational standards demonstrated by competent self-starters, enthusiastic group leaders and ethical art therapists; publicizing art therapy in local papers, magazines and TV through articles and pictures of art therapy directives; Encouraging Art Therapy training schools to place internships only in those agencies that will hire art therapists when there is an appropriate opening; Educating graduates to volunteer and present art making to community programs and mental health agencies as healing and life enhancing; Establishing and publicizing creative web pages that include articles on public service and advocacy for the dignity and self worth of creative endeavors. Finally, grant writing continues to be an important learning tool in our school, funding new programs that include public service and social justice jobs.

3. Having served on both local and national boards of art therapy associations I have always found my previous volunteer experience in serving locally or nationally helpful. I found my education, fiscal practices, and work experience as a manager equally important. In addition, without ethical experience, service orientation and ethnical opportunities my contributions as a Board member would have been limited. I also know that an effective Board member must know how to be a group member with leadership qualities that are both innovative and positive.

Phoebe Farris, PhD, ATR

Phoebe is a professor at Purdue University where she teaches art education, art therapy, feminist art criticism, and contemporary Native American art and culture. Also an independent curator, photographer, and writer, Dr. Farris explores issues involving race, gender, indigenous sovereignty, mental health, and social justice from an interdisciplinary perspective. Her books, Voices of Color: Art & Society in the Americas, Women Artists of Color: A Bio-critical Sourcebook to 20th Century Artists in the Americas, and Art Therapy & Psychotherapy: Blending Two Therapeutic Approaches, create a dialogue about the intersections of social activism and the arts.

1. One way to collaborate with other professions is to attend their national conferences and encourage them to also attend ours. National conferences such as CAA (College Art Association) and NAEA (National Art Education Association) offer collaboration opportunities for art therapists teaching at the university level. Another collaboration strategy is to work closely with public health/hospital administrators and encourage our members who work in clinical settings to consider public health/hospital administration as a career advancement option.

2. One way to increase job opportunities is to offer courses and/or workshops on small business management and the development of entrepreneurial skills. This can assist art therapists who want to go into private practice. Another option is to offer technical assistance on writing, publishing, and marketing art therapy books.

3. Preparation and skills important to AATA leadership are the ability to navigate 21st century technologies and to be able to use those skills to interact with the worldwide population of art therapists and related professions. Experience with distance-satellite conferences and interactive networking utilizing on-line sites such as Facebook are important for national and international leadership.

Linda Gantt, PhD, ATR-BC, HLM

Linda is Executive Director of Intensive Trauma Therapy, Morgantown, WV, an outpatient clinic specializing in treating trauma-related disorders via art therapy. She has been an art therapist for 30 years and has published articles on art therapy assessment, research, and art therapy as a scientific discipline. She and Carmello Tabone developed and continue to study the Formal Elements Art Therapy Scale (FEATS). Dr. Gantt served AATA in a number of positions including President. She also served as the Chair of the National Coalition of Creative Arts Therapies.

1. First, AATA can develop and sustain coalitions at the national level with organizations (such as the Society for the Arts in Healthcare and certain divisions of the American Counseling Association dealing with mental health, school counseling, and creativity) that have missions that are similar and/or overlapping with AATA’s as well as with other Master’s level professionals. Such coalitions will enable us to define how our field fits into the larger picture. Such coalitions will enable us to be more proactive than reactive. Second, we should actively cultivate relationships with those professional groups with which our most likely employers identify (ex., the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors or the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry).

2. Having a strong public policy program is one of the best means of increasing jobs. Advocating for changes in public policies to increase services to underserved populations will lead to more employment opportunities. If we make the case to policy makers that our educational requirements are on a par with the other Master’s level professions we can pave the way for our members to apply for jobs in the public sector that have supervisory as well as direct care responsibilities. Another way of increasing jobs is to advocate for broader job categories in the public sector. Often we are not eligible for certain jobs because AATA has not led the way in changing state or county job descriptions so that art therapists may be included.

3. Candidates for the AATA Board should have some practical experience in leading one of the major committees or holding a leadership position in one of the Chapters. Experience in other organizations is also beneficial so that the candidate has a broad concept about organizational structures and how they function. Even if a candidate is not running for the Treasurer’s position some experience in managing a program or agency budget is helpful in understanding the complexities of our association’s financial picture.

Coretta Harding LPC, ATR-BC

Coretta lives in Oklahoma and received her educational training from the University of Oklahoma. Her work experience includes various outpatient settings, consultations for military, forming a nonprofit, art teacher, offered open art studios locally and internationally. Also, she has worked with the Norman Arts & Humanities Council, Oklahoma Arts Institute, and Americorp Vista. She has presented at a variety of conferences, co-chaired an Expressive Arts Conference, panelist for Arts Power Grants Review, member of Partners of America, and has been a visiting professor at the University of Oklahoma. She was awarded two grants from Oklahoma Arts Council.

1. One idea is to offer more local seminars to invite other therapists and professionals to learn more about what art therapy can be. These seminars should include some form of written information about the art therapists in the community and what types of issues they work with. This information can also be offered to art therapists in other states as a reference for networking and collaboration. Another idea is to have local monthly therapy meetings in which local therapists can network with the art therapists. These gatherings can involve the demonstration of a technique but the purpose is to introduce the local art therapists to other therapists or professionals in the area for networking.

2. The ideas discussed in question one would also be helpful in increasing job opportunities for AATA members. These networking opportunities can be used to help collaborate with other professionals and increase job opportunities by helping to bring the members together as a collaborative force. Lastly, more effort should be placed on diversity and cross-cultural inclusion. This can be done at the local level by the chapters exploring more areas for promotion of the field. In order to facilitate this, there has to be more support from local leadership to actively expand membership. I feel that when members feel supported and encouraged by their organization, both locally and nationally, they become a great resource for spreading the word about the field of art therapy. This means the potential for more professionals to hear and share the information is increased.

3. I think that in keeping with the long-term vision of AATA progress starts with the leadership. In AATA's desire to attract more in membership, we have to explore how to be more responsive to the members. There are several qualities an AATA leader should have which include: active membership, willingness to listen to and communicate with the members, actively using art therapy skills, willingness to learn new skills, personable, and engaging. My hope is that through my work, travels, play, and possible service on the committee I can share our organization with others.

Patricia Isis, PhD, LMHC, ATR-BC

Patricia has practiced art psychotherapy for nearly thirty years. Currently, she provides clinical art therapy services full time in the public schools, holds a private practice, and facilitates mindfulness-based stress reduction classes at South Miami Hospital as well as serving on the Arts and Healthcare Committee. She is a local, national and international presenter on art therapy and mindfulness.

1. One way is for art therapists to generously and regularly contribute to the call for proposals with workshops, papers, and panels to related professional group conferences.
Secondly, AATA can consistently offer and accept proposals from related professionals to present at national and state conferences.

2. AATA can create a newsletter online for all members and job opportunities. In addition, this newsletter can be made available to related professional websites to encourage more job offers. Also, courses on public relations, marketing tips, and public speaking scenarios can be offered free to all members at AATA and state art therapy and regional conferences.

3. Through personal art making and effective training, AATA leaders can develop a great deal of self awareness, mindfulness of intention, and the ability to regularly self evaluate thoughts and behaviors. Qualities such as flexibility, the capacity for skilled listening, communication and the willingness to collaborate with others can be cultivated in order to create a climate of acceptance and resonance.

Donna Kaiser, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC, LMFT

Donna is an active member of AATA, serves on the Educational Program Approval Board, the Research Committee, the AATA Journal Review Board and is Co-chair of the Efficacy Funding Committee. She is Director of the Graduate Art Therapy Program and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Albertus Magnus College. She has over 17 years of clinical experience in varied settings: residential, psychiatric, substance abuse, family therapy, and private practice. She received her MS in Art Therapy from Eastern Virginia Medical School and her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from The College of William and Mary.

I would be honored to serve on the Nominating Committee for AATA. As a long time AATA member and frequent participant in many AATA sponsored activities I have seen first hand the possibilities that a strong and vibrant professional organization and effective leadership provides for art therapists and for the profession.

1. In my private counseling practice and in educational settings I have found that collaboration with other professions is one way to open up new referral opportunities, create positions for art therapists, and strengthen the depth of practice of working art therapists. As an active researcher, I have seen directly that a second way to collaborate with other professions is through cross-disciplinary research efforts that bring to light the benefits of art therapy for a diverse range of populations. As a profession we absolutely need to join forces with other professions in both practice and research.

2. An on-going challenge for the field of art therapy is to continue growing employment opportunities. In addition to collaborating in practice settings and participating in cross-disciplinary research as mentioned above, we also need to continue to maintain strong educational, professional, and research standards to promote and demonstrate the professionalism of art therapy. I am encouraged by the on-going efforts of AATA in this area and with the professionalism of its members in general.

3. To achieve increased employment opportunities high standards of excellence, openness to working with other professions, and a demonstrated commitment to the field are all important traits for AATA leadership. We need leaders who are transformational—that is, they need to have the capacity to hold a vision for the future and inspire others to work together to make that vision a reality.

I have enjoyed serving AATA members and hope to continue to do so as a member of the Nominating Committee.

Patricia St John, EdD, ATR-BC, LCAT

Patricia is Associate Professor and, for over 24 years has been the Graduate Art Therapy Programs Coordinator at The College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY. Actively involved in trauma and other quantitative research, she and her research colleagues won the AATA 2007 Research Award. For over two decades she has continuously served AATA (e.g., Education, Journal Editorial Board, Research, Continuing Education, Chair of Strategic Planning, EPAB, past Journal Associate Editor, past Director on AATA’s Board). A practicing artist, her provocative mixed media works have been selected for juried exhibits from California to Manhattan.

1. AATA can collaborate with mental, medical health, arts, and education professions through joint research projects that result in joint publications in a wide range of journals. AATA also can collaborate with the media to create and disseminate a variety of documents that demonstrate the effects of art therapy with a variety of populations.

2. One way to increase job opportunities is to strengthen our training in empirical research to create more art therapist-researchers who can initiate and generate outcome studies. Outcome studies demonstrate that art therapy is a treatment of choice for a wide variety of diagnostic groups. In the current climate, empirical research is critical to support grant proposals that convince foundations to fund art therapy treatment.

Therefore, it follows that a second way to increase job opportunities by training art therapists to write effective grant proposals, locate viable funding sources (foundations), and thereby create job opportunities. Foundations require documentation that art therapy is an effective vehicle for treatment, bringing us back to the first point of creating a large body of empirical research studies that demonstrates art therapy’s effectiveness.

3. AATA’s leaders should demonstrate effectiveness as both a team member and leader through service on regional or state art therapy organizations in various positions: committee membership, committee chair, and elected office. Service to the AATA through membership and chairing committees should further demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and frequently in written, spoken, and visual formats. A record of transparency and openness in communications is critical to effective leadership, as is documentation of the ability to create, organize, and implement projects that benefit the AATA and its membership. Vision, perseverance, and the ability to laugh at oneself are at the core of leadership skills, and should be abundantly present in our leaders.

Background information for all of the candidates will also be included in the summer edition of the Quarterly Newsletter.