Art Therapy Advocacy
The South Carolina Association of Art Therapists (SCAAT) is actively pursuing state licensure to address the mental health crises in the state of South Carolina.
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Did you know...
- According to SAMHSA (2019), only 44.5 % of adults with mental illness in South Carolina receive any form of treatment from either the public system or private providers. The remaining 55.5% receive no mental health treatment.
- According to Mental Health America (2018), youth ranked 42 out of 50 states and Washington D.C. in a high prevalence of mental illness and low rates of access to care. Psychiatric disorders in these notable youth included at least one Major Depressive Episode in the past year and demonstrated alcohol dependence and illicit drug use of marijuana, heroin, and cocaine (p.11).
- South Carolina ranked 50 out of 51 states and Washington D.C. for Access to Care Rankings. The access to care ranking includes access to insurance, access to treatment, access to special education, and workforce availability (p.13).
- South Carolina ranked 40 out of 51 for work force availability, and currently faces a shortage of mental health providers (p.36).
Why Does South Carolina Need Licensed Art Therapists?
- Increase access to care by supplying additional, state regulated mental health providers.
- Protect the public by ensuring that those in need of art therapy services receive them from qualified, trained professionals who meet the approved training, educational, and credentialing requirements.
- Attract and retain qualified art therapy professionals and art therapy students in South Carolina.
- Contribute to the economy of the state through expansion of art therapists’ businesses and practices, increased employment, payment of taxes, and state licensure and renewal fees.
State Licensure of Professional Art Therapists will offer South Carolina, Evidenced-Based Clinical Practice, Assessment, and Documentation for:
- Veterans, active duty military, and their families who are experiencing mental health problems, including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, depression, and significantly increasing rates of suicide.
- Individuals seeking recovery from addiction who need somatic-based interventions to identify and overcome the causes and systemic impact of their substance dependence.
- The growing numbers of older adults and their caregivers living with dementia and other geriatric neurological disorders.
- Individuals in medical settings who need integrative medicine to increase quality of life and cope with diagnosis, treatment, and symptoms.
- Individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities (i.e., autism) who need specially trained and qualified therapists.
- Those experiencing trauma who require trauma-informed practice treatment including, but not limited to, survivors of childhood abuse, victims of natural disasters and domestic violence.
Let your representatives know that licensure for art therapists’ matters to you!
SCAAT is currently collecting endorsement letters to bring to representatives when they advocate for the first art therapy bill. By simply filling in the template below, you can be a part of the charge. Once complete, contact us AND your representatives found at the link below.
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Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB)The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) regulates the field’s professional standards and ethics and is the only nationally recognized credentialing organization for art therapists in the United States.
Art therapy is growing substantially and professional art therapists, along with institutions of higher education are adding new evidenced-based research into the field. |
American Art Therapy Association (AATA)
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-partisan, professional, and educational organization dedicated to the growth and development of the art therapy profession. Founded in 1969, the American Art Therapy Association is one of the world’s leading art therapy membership organizations.
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Professional Ethics
According to the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), inaccurate use of “art therapy” often occurs due to a lack of knowledge about the profession. On occasion, non-art therapist practitioners might be found to advertise their services as “art therapy" although they do not meet the approved training, educational, and credentialing requirements (ATR or ATR-BC). Similarly, individuals and/or companies may be found to inaccurately categorize activities (such as trainings that are offered by non-art therapists) or products (such as adult coloring books) being advertised as “art therapy.”
If you encounter an individual or company inaccurately identifying themselves as an "art therapist" or falsely advertising products or services as "art therapy," please contact SCAAT using the button below.
If you encounter an individual or company inaccurately identifying themselves as an "art therapist" or falsely advertising products or services as "art therapy," please contact SCAAT using the button below.