About The Art Therapy Association of Vermont

Art Therapy Members workshop

The Art Therapy Association of Vermont  (ATAV) is a not-for-profit organization and a chapter of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA)  (arttherapy.org). The Art Therapy Association of Vermont shares AATA’s vision “to advance art therapy as a regulated mental health profession and build a community that supports art therapists throughout their careers”.

In order to become a member of ATAV it is necessary to join AATA. Information about membership can be found on AATA’ s website: arttherapy.org

Advocacy

The Art Therapy Association of Vermont has an active Governmental Affairs Committee, supported by the National Office team and Public Policy Advisor, and advocates for the profession on behalf of our members and the clients whom they serve.

Networking and Professional Development

ATAV provides opportunities for members to meet and network. It holds monthly peer supervision groups and sponsors case presentations and workshops. Members have the opportunity to network nationally through bi-monthly on-line meetings.

Brief History

The Art Therapy of Vermont Association started in 1986-1987 at Vermont College in Montpelier Vermont. A group of alumni from the Master’s Art Therapy Program at Vermont College met to discuss the profession of art therapy in Vermont, to network and explored opportunities for professional educational programing. The meetings included presentations from the professors who were teaching at the Vermont College Art Therapy programs as well as art therapists working in the local area. 

In March 1997, Edith Kramer was the key note speaking for our first conference " Visions: Art Therapy and Mental Health". Workshops included Art and the Process of Healing: A Personal Journey led by Dr. John McKenna; Spontaneous Art Expression with Behavior Challenging Adolescents led by Sarah Klionsky, MAET; and Understanding Art as a Visual Language led by Sandy Hartley, M.S., ATR.

In 1999, the group spent a year creating our bylaws to become a Chapter of the American Art Therapy Association. For over 26 years, Art Therapy Association of Vermont has sponsored educational programming for art therapists and provided outreach to community services. ATAV members have continued to support art therapists in Vermont by providing resources to find employment and supervision. The chapter members have organized many art exhibits for clients, organized art- making activities for the community and provided peer consultation for art therapists. The ATAV board members has been involved on pursuing licensure of art therapists for many years.