Create and Send Your Letter 

Template to get you started
Option 2 (Longer letter) 

1/13/2025

Dear enter name of your rep here,

Please accept this letter in support of licensing clinical art therapy in the state of Minnesota.  I support the professional recognition of art therapy, and I urge the state to support the professional and ethical practice of art therapy during a time when mental health in Minnesota is at the forefront of the conversation.

On a personal level, my experience with clinical art therapy (Your words here - how art therapy has helped you, your business, someone close to you, your clients/patients/students/ or why licensure is important to you as an art therapist. List specific, but HIPAA compliant examples. Hospitals/clinics: Our clinical art therapy program has been an important component of the care provided to our patients...Our clinical art therapy program has been an important component of the care provided to....) 

As a legislator, your constituent families and communities have benefited from art therapy and ongoing mental health support services heavily in the previous decade. Ranging from veterans returning home after service, immigrants arriving in Minnesota, locals experiencing infrastructure failures, a large scale social community uprising, shootings, COVID-19 shut downs, losses, and front line workers serving us during the pandemic- your prominent and impactful voice in supporting mental health in times of trauma is crucial.

Clinical art therapy is practiced by mental health clinicians every day in Minnesota who have at minimum Master's degrees with specific art therapy coursework and registered Nationally.  Art therapy is a distinct and integrative mental health and human services profession that heals brain trauma, enriches the lives of diverse individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, knowledge of human development, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.

Art therapists are credentialed by the Art Therapy Credentialing Board (ATCB) (www.atcb.org). Today, more than 5,000 art therapists hold credentials with the ATCB nationally. More information on the requirements to become an art therapist can be found by visiting the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) (www.arttherapy.org).

I support the much needed licensure of clinical art therapy, and I urge our state representatives to support the professional and ethical practice of art therapy.  

Sincerely,

Name First and Last, Credentials (if applicable) , 

Business (if applicable) 

City and District

Phone # (optional) and email (optional) 

FAQ:

Benefits to support licensing clinical art therapists who are credentialed in the state of Minnesota:

+ Protects the public: Minnesotan consumers and providers. 

+ Prevents potential harm by ensuring non-trained professionals do not practice outside their scope of education and qualifications.  

+ Promotes essential growth of a specific practice; something all mental health professionals must undergo. 

+ Sustains equality and representation. 

+ Ensures growth, necessary refinement, and adherence to state laws and regulations. 

+ Influences policy making and standards of practice. 

+ Qualifies practitioners for reimbursement from insurance companies; giving access to mental healthcare to the public. 

+ Ensures quality of art therapy services by a specifically trained and experienced provider.      

+ Provides a distinct service and reimbursement code under public and private insurance for which art therapists are qualified.  

+ Enables art therapists to provide their distinct services within state law.