On Wednesday February 13, 2019, The Connecticut Art Therapy Association (CATA) hosted Art Therapy Advocacy Day at the capitol in Hartford, CT. CATA’s mission is to establish statewide recognition of the art therapy profession through community outreach, education, public awareness, and disaster recovery efforts.
Art therapists and art therapy students gathered to share information with representatives from across the state. State Attorney General, William Tong, was present and engaged in informative conversation with CATA board members about the importance of licensure for art therapists. The event included artwork on display, videos of art therapy processes, and speakers. Simone Alter-Muri, director of the Springfield College Art Therapy Master’s program, spoke in depth about the rigorous training and requirements in completing an art therapy master level program.
On Monday February 11, 2019 the bill HB5444, was presented to the Public Health Committee. The proposed bill will require licensure for art therapists. Several members of the Connecticut Art Therapy Association Board submitted testimonies to the committee. Representative Mitch Bolinsky gave a testimony in support of the licensure bill and noted the importance of making art therapy accessible and covered by insurance plans.
Several students from our Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling (MAATC) program attended the event. Caroline Heilbroner-Hammel, a first year student of the MAATC program, stated “I found the event to be enlightening in seeing the passion of art therapists throughout our state coming together with so much energy to push legislation forward for those coming in to the field after them.” 14 current students and alumni of Albertus Magnus College MAATC program were present at the event.