the American Art Therapy Association

The American Art Therapy Association (ATA) is a professional organization that supports art therapists—licensed mental health professionals who use creative art-making as a process to improve psychological well-being. The ATA sets standards for education, practice, and ethics in art therapy, promotes research, and advocates for the discipline within healthcare and community settings. Its goal is to advance the understanding of how art therapy can help individuals manage mental health issues, trauma, or stress, leveraging the therapeutic power of creative expression as a path to healing and personal growth.