About the Potomac Art Therapy Association

The Potomac Art Therapy Association (PATA) was created in 1975 to increase contact and communication among art therapists in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. We are a non-profit affiliate chapter of the American Art Therapy Association.  PATA is active in promoting public awareness of the field of art therapy including the standards of clinical practice, and educational and training requirements. Since its inception, PATA has grown to include a variety of DC area art therapists, artists and mental health professionals and has expanded its service to the membership and community.

PATA now has over 100 members, and is a resource for information about art therapy to the general public and among local art therapists, and promotes professional growth by offering a quarterly newsletter, seminars, and workshops.  The Potomac Art Therapy Association promotes art therapy to the general public though this website and through partnering with local organizations like Automatic and the George Washington University. Since 2007, PATA's Blog  has allowed us to stay more current and connected as an art therapy community in and around Washington, DC.  Information about upcoming workshops, legislative action, art shows, and job and scholarship opportunities are frequently posted.

PATA hosts gatherings at galleries, parties at member’s homes, and art therapy education events which take place regularly.  We are proud of the programming we have offered to the community at low cost such as a recent lectures on Positive Psychology and Art Therapy or Using small art techniques in your art therapy practice.   In 2008-2009, PATA's Multi-cultural committee promoted a series of film screenings. PATA's aim was to eliminate negative stereotypes by presenting information through film and other types of artistic formats and to encourage appreciation and discussion of other cultures.

In 2009, two PATA board retreats, titled Visioning and Focusing on our Vision, were held.  The board identified concurrent planning for the following areas: updating our current website, interfacing with the public, increasing membership, creating an operating budget, and starting the nominating process for the 2010-2012 PATA board. Under the energetic leadership of current President, Amy Tatsumi, MA, ATR and incoming President, Deborah Bunkley, MA, PATA is looking forward to continued efforts in 2010. 

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Board Members

• President: President: Amy Tatsumi, MA, ATR-BC
• President Elect: VACANT
• Secretary: Dorothy Dvorachek, MA,
• Treasurer: Phillip Pradier MA
• Chapter Delegate: Diana Sabados, MA, ATR-BC

 

Committee Chairs

• Scholarships: Heidi Bardot MA, ATR-BC
• Publications, Newsletter, Blog: Gioia Chilton MA, ATR-BC
• Governmental Affairs: Megan Robb MA, ATR-BC
• Membership: Lisa Garlock, MA, ATR-BC
• Programs: VACANT
• Webmaster: Huyen MacMichael, MA, ATR
• E-Group: Amy Tatsumi, MA, ATR-BC
• Research: VACANT
• Ethics: Kimberly Hanrahan-Havern, MA, ATR-BC
• Public Information: Diana Sabados, MA, ATR-BC
• Student Representative: Kim Ottinger