ART THERAPY ASSOCIATION OF COLORADO

The Colorado Art Therapy Association (COATA) is an affiliate chapter of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA). 

The American Art Therapy Association is an organization of professionals dedicated to the belief that the creative process involved in art making is healing and life-enhancing. 

Its mission is to serve its members and the general public by providing standards of professional competence, and developing and promoting knowledge in, and of, the field of Art Therapy.

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The Colorado Art Therapy Association is a mighty group of volunteer Board of Directors and dedicated members, who identify as and support Colorado Art Therapists!

We enhance awareness about the benefits of Art Therapy to increase well-being for ALL Colorado communities!

We engage in legislative efforts to work towards title protection for Art Therapists in Colorado!

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Our Mission is to Engage, Educate and Unite through Art Therapy

Engage: We keep our community of professional Art Therapists updated on meetings, art-making gatherings, art-oriented workshops, peer supervision, job listings, and more. We will work to engage members and non-members as well as advance our field through building and maintaining a cohesive, collaborating, and sharing community of Art Therapists and friends.

Educate: Educate the community on what Art Therapy is and its benefits through presentations, distributing brochures, and sponsoring community events.  For Art Therapists, this means access to information on professional development and educational opportunities.

Unite: We host events for members to networking, gain peer support, create art in the community, and socializing with other Art Therapists and future Art Therapists. We also advocate for the professional identity of Art Therapy and coordinate with legislature on various topics that uphold Art Therapy.

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How We Support ALL Colorado Communities through Art Therapy

👯 Peer Consultation

🤝 Community Partnerships

🖼️ Annual Art Exhibition

🖌️ Open Art Studios

💎 Annual Art Therapy Conference

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Art Therapy with a Social Justice Lens

- We honor all cultural, religious and faith holidays.

- We aim to reduce white-washed wellness in Art Therapy history.

- We promote the teachings, work, and guidance of Art Therapists of color.

- We take accountability for any harm perpetuated to others and create change.

- We work with the Colorado community to uphold social justice awareness.

- We promote the work of local Art Therapists of color in Colorado.

- We collaborate with local non-profit organizations that support marginalized communities to provide multifaceted, Art Therapy-based programs to the public.

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Help Us Spread Awareness About Art Therapy in Colorado

Title Protection: What it Means

Inaccurate use of “Art Therapy” often occurs due to a lack of knowledge about the profession. Such instances provide an opportunity to offer accurate information and educate the public. It is with this in mind that the American Art Therapy Association and Colorado Art Therapy Association encourage outreach to individuals and/or companies that may be found to inaccurately categorize activities (such as trainings that are offered by non-Art Therapists) or products (such as adult coloring books) as “Art Therapy.”