Elizabeth Beck

…through regulation, and will be nationally licensed.

Read this article about George Washington art therapy students working with clients of the Banyan.

“The 16 women, all students of art therapy, have been quietly helping ease the pain of cancer patients, differently-abled children in schools, substance-abuse victims, and the homeless and mentally-challenged women of The Banyan. And they do it all with nothing more than pots of paint, and handfuls of clay.”


- Chithira Vijaykumar, The Hindu

Check out this video from the New York Times about the latest advancements in robots designed to teach children.

May’s online issue of the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology included a study that demonstrated the effectiveness of art therapy with pediatric asthma patients.

“In art therapy, patients create artwork that helps express their feelings about an illness, a trauma or medical concerns. The artwork can then serve as a starting point for discussions about these issues. Researchers believe that creating art helps participants establish distance between themselves and their medical concerns. They learn to understand that they have a personal identity outside of their illness. It is believed to be particularly effective with children because they often do not have the adult capabilities to verbally articulate their emotions, perceptions, or beliefs, and often can more comfortably convey ideas in ways other than talking.”


Science Daily

Thanks to Rachel D. who alerted me to Top 50 Blogs for Learning About Medical Art Therapy, posted on a radiology website she contributes to.

Take a look!

The artwork of Edith Kramer, one of the foremothers of art therapy. Also, the work of some of her patients too.

Thanks to Judy Weiser, who posted this link on the Art Therapy Alliance’s group Media and Materials in Art Therapy, via LinkedIn.

An interview with Dr. Cherryl Dellasega, Associate Professor at the Penn State University College of Medicine:

Just a few hours ago I received an e-survey from the AATA ethics committee. I was pleased to see that a portion of the survey asks whether posting client photographs or videos can be done in an ethical (or unethical) manner.

About a year ago Cathy Malchiodi wrote an excellent article on the subject, and the comments on her blog helped to further the debate. I also discussed my opinions on the matter in a series of posts that can be viewed here, here, here and here.

One of the main points in my analysis: AATA’s ethical codes are determined by what the majority of art therapists who are AATA members think is ethical. So, fellow art therapists, fill out the survey! Even if you feel you don’t have an opinion or a good understanding of the subject—that’s all information for the ethics committee to process, and hopefully provide more education about.

Lastly, ex-AATA president, Pegg Dunn Snow, informed me that the ethics commitee would be meeting during the 2009 conference to discuss the ethical considerations of art therapy and technology—essentially addressing her example of “what not to do” when you’re advertising your art therapy practice. The advice given by the AATA ethics committee parallels my analysis, and hopefully will serve as a compass until more specific guidelines are provided.

The Eyewriter from Evan Roth on Vimeo.