It’s difficult to fathom, but workplace bullying is a commonplace occurrence in job settings worldwide. Workplace bullying is a form of relational violence that leaves targets with mental health issues ranging from anxiety and depression to suicidality. The likelihood that members of the art therapy community will provide treatment to targets of workplace bullying and/or be targets of workplace bullying themselves is high. Yet, clinicians in general know very little about how to support targets and what to do if one is a target. 

This presentation is being provided by an art therapist who was a target of workplace bullying and now volunteers with the National Workplace Bullying Coalition’s target resource team. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the cast of characters and the plot typically involved in workplace bullying so they can recognize and accurately contextualize the people and events encompassed within this traumatic experience. Attendees will also develop an awareness of common bullying tactics, which span from incivility to physical violence and exist on a continuum of implicit to explicit aggression. Resources for targets, bullies, and therapists will be covered, as will treatment considerations that address the unique needs of targets; standard trauma treatment alone does not suffice due to the nuances of workplace bullying that most therapists aren’t aware of. 

The presentation will conclude by exploring the presenter’s recovery from workplace bullying as viewed through the structure of the Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC). The ETC is a nervous system-oriented assessment and treatment framework that was co-developed by art therapy pioneers Vija Lusebrink and Sandra (Kagin) Graves-Alcorn. Components and levels of the ETC will be highlighted as the presenter’s daily “doodle diary” is mined for clues about shifts in information processing and the restoration of physical, emotional, and intellectual integration.

Training diverse therapists in a rapidly evolving cultural and social context can be challenging. Need tools for developing DEI practices and your personal pedagogy? This highly interactive workshop will support you with knowledge and skills. Let’s work together on growing training programs rooted in creativity, curiosity, compassion, joy, and liberation.

This presentation will outline an 8-session telehealth-based art therapy protocol for Veterans with PTSD; and describe its impacts on self-reported quality of life, PTSD symptoms, and default mode network connectivity as measured by pre and post therapy fMRI.

Did you know that nearly a quarter of the people who enter your treatment room in the U.S. are likely to be neurodiverse and process their experiences differently than their neurotypical counterparts? Join the AATA community for a deep dive into the experiences, needs, and clinical treatment for neurodiverse clients (with autism, ADHD, learning differences, etc.). In this seminar, discover how ableism (social prejudice against people with disabilities) inflicts psychological harm on individuals with “invisible disabilities”. Explore an original art therapy social skills treatment approach designed to accept the client for who they are, create positive social feedback cycles, and stimulate social and emotional coping skill-building. You will acquire powerful skills for this cohort that has useful applications for most clinical populations, such as “Reverse Art Therapy” Social-Coping Skills Lessons, Targeted Positive Reflection, Compassionate Social Coaching, and a range of group and dyadic art therapy tasks that develop social skills.

Our individual identities are important to mental health and growth.  This presentation will cover identity work, the intersection of layers of identity, and use of art therapy interventions to aid in working with clients in LGBTQIA+ populations.  The session will incorporate the presentation of information as well as discussion, and art making elements throughout. There will be dedicated discussion on self-disclosure, terminology, and interventions for creative arts therapists to use.  

As a way to honor AAPI Heritage Month, this panel brings us an opportunity to critically examine the lenses that we use to perceive race, cultures, art, and identities from social-justice oriented perspectives.

Part three of our three-part 2023 Ethics Series.

This presentation will include a live panel discussion on ethics and art therapy. The purpose is to engage attendees in a stimulating discussion about ongoing issues related to ethics within our field. Participants will learn diverse thoughts of practicing art therapists and how they navigate these issues from various vantage points within the field.

Part two of our three-part 2023 Ethics Series.

The world of social media is presenting art therapists with new opportunities and challenges that can be tricky to navigate. This training will explore the ethical issues surrounding the topic of social media for art therapists. It will include a discussion about privacy concerns for clients and therapists, potential boundary issues, and strategies to approach these topics in clinical practice. We will also discuss concerns about how social media may impact our work with clients, their perception of art therapy, and what we can do to help. 

Part one of our three-part 2023 Ethics Series.

Positive Ethics is a perspective that encourages therapists to see overarching ethical principles as integrated with their personal values, as opposed to efforts focused on avoiding punishment for violating rules and regulations. This training will stimulate our creativity around ethics, and we will discuss how to rethink our approach to ethics so that in challenging situations we can consider “What I can do.” rather than “What I’m not allowed to do.” 

Part three of our three-part 2023 Supervision Series.

In this third session, the presenters will discuss identifying ethical dilemmas and evaluating the difference between ethics, legal issues, and professional liability. Participants will learn about clinical documentation, art material presentation, and problematic dynamics within supervision.