Art Therapy Association Mentor Program

 "The American Art Therapy Association is expanding its professional development service offerings, including the implementation of a new Art Therapy Mentor Program.  The Mentor Program will specifically target student members of the Association enrolled in art therapy graduate programs, and new professionals who are entering the field.  The talents, experience, and wisdom of the Association's seasoned Credentialed Professional, Professional, and Retired Professional members will provide the cadre of mentors to ensure that the next generation of art therapists has the support needed for success.

The Art Therapy Mentor Program had its official launch at the Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas this past November.  As of January, 2010, 34 of the Association's members including mentors and mentees are now actively participating in the program."
- AATA Newsletter, Volume XLIII, Number 1 Winter 2010, Page 18

For more information about the AATA Art Therapy Mentor Program, please visit the website or send an email to mentor@arttherapy.org.

To become a member of the AATA click here.

AATA Scholarship Opportunities

American Art Therapy Association (AATA) Awards are granted to student members who have been accepted or are attending an American Art Therapy Association approved Graduate Art Therapy Program (that's us).  You can find all information regarding the application process on the AATA website.  The deadline for application packets is July 15th.  All students are encouraged to apply!

In 2009 a Naropa art therapy student received a scholarship specifically designed to provide financial support to students interested in attending the annual AATA Conference. This fund is available to 3 student members who can demonstrate financial need, enrollment in an AATA approved art therapy program, prior involvement in art as healing events and potential for becoming a leader in the AATA community.

Other scholarships available include:

AATA Anniversary Scholarship Fund (1 award)
Available to a stude]npt with a current GPA of at least 3.25 who can demonstrate financial need and acceptance and or enrollment in an AATA approved graduate art therapy program.

Myra Levick Scholarship Fund (1 award)
Available to a student with a current GPA of at least 3.00 who can demonstrate financial need and acceptance and or enrollment in an AATA approved art therapy program.

Rawley Silver Award for Excellence (1 award)
Available to a student whose academic record or prior experience is deemed excellent (3.50) who can demonstrate financial need and acceptance and or enrollment in an AATA approved art therapy program. Where there is no financial need, a $100 honorarium will be granted.

Cay Drachnik Minorities Fund (1 award)
Specifically designed for the purchase of books, this fund is available to members of an ethnic minority group who can demonstrate financial need and acceptance and or enrollment in an AATA approved art therapy program.

Pearlie Roberson Award (1 award)
Specifically designed to provide financial support for a project, undertaken by a student or professional member of AATA that targets multicultural aspects and capacities of art therapy.

Prasad Family Foundation-International Student Scholarship (2 awards)
Specifically designed to provide financial support for international students enrolled in an AATA Approved Graduate Program.

Naropa Students to Present at 2010 AATA Conference

Four Naropa art therapy graduate students have been selected to present two presentations at the 2010 American Art Therapy Association (AATA) Conference in Sacramento, California.  Here are a couple of short blurbs about the presentations:

Laptops & Twitter & Blogs, Oh My!

Chelsea O'Neil & Donica Snyder

Can we responsibly integrate technology into the practice of art therapy without jeopardizing the therapeutic alliance? We think so.  An overview of both sides of the technology debate will be presented as well as examples of technology being used to build relationship in therapy and within a larger community context.

Art Therapy on the Home Front: 

Coping with Military Deployment of a Parent

Beth Fisher, Annice Johnson, & Chelsea O'Neil

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have brought about unprecedented cycles of deployment.  The increasing frequency of these cycles has resulted in raised stress levels for military families.  This presentation will identify the implications of military deployment on the psychological development and mental health of children within military families.
 

  
We'll see you in Sacramento!