Art Therapy Heals, LLC

We are excited to announce that registration for our 2026 Fall Symposium is now open! This year's event will be held November 5-7th at the Mount Vernon Estates in Ashland, OH, and features a full day pre-conference course with our Keynote Speaker Krystal Demaine Ph.D., REAT, MT-BC, RYT, followed by two days of symposium panels, papers, workshops, performances, and our annual membership meeting! All sessions incorporate various expressive therapies, and the conference fee includes all CEUs. Registration links are in our bio. Hope you can join us!!!

Today we recognize the legacy of art therapist Tracy Dee Councill who passed on September 4th, 2026. Tracy spent more than 30 years working as an art therapist for pediatric cancer patients, eventually starting a national nonprofit, Tracy's Kids. Her organization has served more than 100,000 patients and their family members. To summarize her entire career and accomplishments in one single paragraph would be impossible, but we do want to share an excerpt from her obituary.

"In a recent letter to Tracy, one former patient said, '[My doctor] played a pivotal role in saving my life, but you and your team were essential in saving my soul.'"

A celebration of life and final art show titled "Tread Softly" will be held on October 4th, 2026 at 2pm at 4819 Monument Avenue in Richmond VA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Church of the Holy Comforter, One Voice Chorus, and Gold Chicken Friends. To read the full obituary, visit: https://everloved.com/life-of/tracy-councill/obituary/

Ready to level-up your career in collaboration with a dynamic group of art therapy colleagues? Feeling isolated as the only art therapist at your job? Want to help advance the profession???
Nominations for BATA officers and committee chairs for the 2026-2028 BATA Board of Directors are now open! We hope you'll consider nominating yourself or another. Nominations close on June 15th. Eligible BATA members recently received nomination ballots via email.

For more information or questions contact: Melissa Hladek, Nominations Committee Chair, [email protected] or Heather Denning, Secretary, [email protected]

Save the date for our 45th Annual Symposium, to be held November 5, 6, 7th 2026 at the Mt. Vernon Estates, Ashland, OH! This year's theme will be "Amplifying Expressive Therapies," with keynote speaker Krystal Demaine, PhD, REAT, ATR-BC, RYT! Please mark your calendars and consider proposing a paper, panel, or workshop! The call for papers will be forthcoming.

Donations help fund therapy sessions, art supplies and program activities so patients can experience the healing power of creativity.
https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E360384&id=14

Call for Art!🚨📣 🎉

🎨Art plays a key role in helping people and communities find peace during turbulent times. It always has and it always will. These remarkable times we are currently in are no different!

📥We are seeking submissions from artists, art therapists/ expressive therapists, creative counselors, artist communities, local groups, schools, therapy programs, and other creatives. Show us how you're using art as a path to peace in these turbulent times! Our spacious host gallery at Cuyahoga Community College's Eastern Campus (4250 Richmond Rd., Highland Hills, OH, 44122) can accept 2-D work, 3-D work, interactive installations, and performance art for opening night. Details for submission requirements, artwork drop-off, special arrangements, and other details can be found here: https://myglobalarts.com/art/

📆Exhibition dates are March 5th - April 9th, 2026. Artwork drop-off dates are February 24-26th.

🎉We are pleased to be celebrating the 25th year of our FREE community healing arts annual exhibit, in collaboration with the Undergraduate Art Therapy Program at Ursuline College, Counseling & Art Therapy Program, Ursuline College, and Cuyahoga Community College's Pre-Art Therapy program. We have extra special plans to mark this joyful occasion, as we express years of gratitude for the impact of this annual event that raises awareness about the power of art and the benefits of art therapy.

🤩We hope you will join us for our opening night reception on Thursday March 5th, 5:30-8:30, which will include interactive displays, performance art, silent auction, research displays, and a keynote speech "Art Speaks for Social Justice" from BATA President Katherine Jackson, Vice-President Melissa Perry Hladek, and Legislative Chair Shayna Mell. Register ahead and earn a free CEU! On Friday March 6th, we are offering two hands-on workshops (4 CEUs each!), both 9am-1pm. Our keynote presenters will offer one workshop to share art activities they have used in their social justice work, and art therapist Barbara Trauger-Querry will offer "A peaceful space: Personal Altars & Sacred Space." Both workshops cost $45 each and include art supplies and light refreshments. Registration for all CEU bearing activities can be found here:https://myglobalarts.com/art/Reg-Form-2026.pdf

😍 Thanks to Ursuline College undergraduate art therapy major Giavanna Victor for her powerful painting, "Solace," featured here!