Why is Georgia Licensure for Art Therapists Important?
Licensure for Clinical Art Therapists is Needed in the State of Georgia
Art Therapy combines psychological knowledge and therapeutic skills with an understanding of art media, the creative process, and the neurobiological implications of art making. The power of art to make inner states real is the basis of Clinical Art Therapy. Art can help people because it has power, but that power is not innately helpful. Someone without Art Therapy training or an understanding of Art Therapy ethics can disrupt a person’s thinking process, and interfere with their emotional regulation—especially when attempting to interpret a person’s artwork.
Inappropriate interpretations may negatively influence or jeopardize a person’s emotional stability, as well as their perceptions of themselves and others, causing the person significant harm. Art Therapy is best provided by a Clinical Art Therapist in private practice, or as part of an interdisciplinary team where Art Therapy complements and informs the work of other health professionals. The unique approach of Art Therapy, as well as its usefulness in medical, mental health, educational, and community settings, makes Art Therapy ideally suited for licensure and regulation by the State of Georgia. Licensing of Clinical Art Therapists by the State of Georgia is needed:
To protect the public from harmful providers of therapeutic arts who lack proper training.
Presently there are no laws in Georgia preventing anyone from offering therapeutic arts services, regardless of educational background, experience, or professional standing in the mental health community of Georgia. On the other hand, Clinical Art Therapists are trained to assess the individual needs of the people they work with. Clinical Art Therapists have earned a MA degree or higher. They have completed internships with close supervision by Clinical Art Therapists as part of their education. This training teaches Clinical Art Therapists that certain Art Therapy techniques, interventions, and/or materials can be too powerful for some vulnerable people.
Because of their Art Therapy training, Clinical Art Therapists have the expertise to assess the effect of art materials and the creative process, and design supportive healing art interventions for the people they work with. This assures that vulnerable people in their care are not threatened, overwhelmed, or re-traumatized. Uniquely designed creative experiences are offered by Clinical Art Therapists to support persons’ learning to work through life’s difficulties; develop insight and healthy methods of coping; and strengthen social bonds that maximize the person’s productivity, healthy functioning, and life satisfaction. Licensure of Clinical Art Therapists will clearly identify the trained mental health professionals who are prepared to offer these helpful services.
To make the unique health reinforcing services of Clinical Art Therapists accessible to more people.
Special schools, agencies, homes, and hospitals where people need the services of a Clinical Art Therapist are often barred from hiring them because Clinical Art Therapists do not have the State of Georgia license the hiring guidelines require.
In order to pay for healthcare services, health insurance companies require that health services providers (physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, music therapists, etc.) be licensed in the state where they work. Presently, the State of Georgia does not have licensure for Clinical Art Therapists. For those who rely on their health insurance to pay for medical services, this denies access to the unique healing benefits of therapeutic arts provided by Clinical Art Therapists.
To assure that the vulnerability of the person seeking therapeutic arts services is respected, not exploited, and that the person’s privacy is protected.
Presently the State of Georgia allows anyone to provide therapeutic arts services. In contrast, Clinical Art Therapists are bound by a Code of Ethics specific to their profession that requires them, above all, to do no harm to the persons they work with. Therefore, Clinical Art Therapists maintain a safe office/studio space where persons can use art materials, and give instructions, as needed, in the way to safely use art materials. Moreover, Clinical Art Therapists protect the privacy of the persons they work with, and do not share information about them, their problems, or their art outside the therapeutic relationship.
To assure that art therapy providers are trained in the very latest methods for healing through art making.
Individuals advertising their services in Art Therapy, and using Art Therapy methods and art materials in their practice without appropriate training and education, pose significant risk to the emotional stability of the persons they serve. Lack of knowledge, skills, and supervisory structures can result in risk and harm to the public when non-art therapists use art with vulnerable populations.
Clinical Art Therapists are required to seek clinical supervision and peer consultation with other Clinical Art Therapists to ensure the safety of their clients. And Clinical Art Therapists continually update their knowledge through continuing education specifically developed for Clinical Art Therapists. State licensure will clearly identify Clinical Art Therapists trained in the latest most effective Art Therapy interventions.
Art Therapy combines psychological knowledge and therapeutic skills with an understanding of art media, the creative process, and the neurobiological implications of art making. The power of art to make inner states real is the basis of Clinical Art Therapy. Art can help people because it has power, but that power is not innately helpful. Someone without Art Therapy training or an understanding of Art Therapy ethics can disrupt a person’s thinking process, and interfere with their emotional regulation—especially when attempting to interpret a person’s artwork.
Inappropriate interpretations may negatively influence or jeopardize a person’s emotional stability, as well as their perceptions of themselves and others, causing the person significant harm. Art Therapy is best provided by a Clinical Art Therapist in private practice, or as part of an interdisciplinary team where Art Therapy complements and informs the work of other health professionals. The unique approach of Art Therapy, as well as its usefulness in medical, mental health, educational, and community settings, makes Art Therapy ideally suited for licensure and regulation by the State of Georgia. Licensing of Clinical Art Therapists by the State of Georgia is needed:
To protect the public from harmful providers of therapeutic arts who lack proper training.
Presently there are no laws in Georgia preventing anyone from offering therapeutic arts services, regardless of educational background, experience, or professional standing in the mental health community of Georgia. On the other hand, Clinical Art Therapists are trained to assess the individual needs of the people they work with. Clinical Art Therapists have earned a MA degree or higher. They have completed internships with close supervision by Clinical Art Therapists as part of their education. This training teaches Clinical Art Therapists that certain Art Therapy techniques, interventions, and/or materials can be too powerful for some vulnerable people.
Because of their Art Therapy training, Clinical Art Therapists have the expertise to assess the effect of art materials and the creative process, and design supportive healing art interventions for the people they work with. This assures that vulnerable people in their care are not threatened, overwhelmed, or re-traumatized. Uniquely designed creative experiences are offered by Clinical Art Therapists to support persons’ learning to work through life’s difficulties; develop insight and healthy methods of coping; and strengthen social bonds that maximize the person’s productivity, healthy functioning, and life satisfaction. Licensure of Clinical Art Therapists will clearly identify the trained mental health professionals who are prepared to offer these helpful services.
To make the unique health reinforcing services of Clinical Art Therapists accessible to more people.
Special schools, agencies, homes, and hospitals where people need the services of a Clinical Art Therapist are often barred from hiring them because Clinical Art Therapists do not have the State of Georgia license the hiring guidelines require.
In order to pay for healthcare services, health insurance companies require that health services providers (physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, music therapists, etc.) be licensed in the state where they work. Presently, the State of Georgia does not have licensure for Clinical Art Therapists. For those who rely on their health insurance to pay for medical services, this denies access to the unique healing benefits of therapeutic arts provided by Clinical Art Therapists.
To assure that the vulnerability of the person seeking therapeutic arts services is respected, not exploited, and that the person’s privacy is protected.
Presently the State of Georgia allows anyone to provide therapeutic arts services. In contrast, Clinical Art Therapists are bound by a Code of Ethics specific to their profession that requires them, above all, to do no harm to the persons they work with. Therefore, Clinical Art Therapists maintain a safe office/studio space where persons can use art materials, and give instructions, as needed, in the way to safely use art materials. Moreover, Clinical Art Therapists protect the privacy of the persons they work with, and do not share information about them, their problems, or their art outside the therapeutic relationship.
To assure that art therapy providers are trained in the very latest methods for healing through art making.
Individuals advertising their services in Art Therapy, and using Art Therapy methods and art materials in their practice without appropriate training and education, pose significant risk to the emotional stability of the persons they serve. Lack of knowledge, skills, and supervisory structures can result in risk and harm to the public when non-art therapists use art with vulnerable populations.
Clinical Art Therapists are required to seek clinical supervision and peer consultation with other Clinical Art Therapists to ensure the safety of their clients. And Clinical Art Therapists continually update their knowledge through continuing education specifically developed for Clinical Art Therapists. State licensure will clearly identify Clinical Art Therapists trained in the latest most effective Art Therapy interventions.