{"id":792,"date":"2015-07-20T17:06:33","date_gmt":"2015-07-20T21:06:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/perceptatherapeutic.com\/?p=792"},"modified":"2015-08-07T08:35:18","modified_gmt":"2015-08-07T12:35:18","slug":"highlights-of-the-aata-46th-annual-conference-in-minneapolis-july-8-12-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/perceptatherapeutic.com\/?p=792","title":{"rendered":"Highlights of the AATA 46th Annual Conference in Minneapolis, July 8-12, 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Chioma Anah, EdD, ATR, LCPC, NCC, ACS<\/p>\n

The 46th Annual American Art Therapy Association (AATA) Conference was held in Minneapolis, from July 8-12, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency on Nicollet Mall. The theme of the Conference, Bridging Cultural Terrains: Expanding the Lens of Art Therapy, <\/strong><\/em>focused on, “The wide variety of settings in which art therapy promotes healing, health and wellness” (AATA2015).<\/p>\n

Not only did I attend this amazing event, I was also invited as a presenter; my subject matter was Racial Microaggressions. Given all our recent racially provoked\u00a0unrests within many\u00a0United States\u00a0cities, particularly my beloved Baltimore City, I felt strongly that a dialogue was necessary among my Art Therapy friends\/colleagues about racial inequality, the psychology of racism, racial microaggressions, and issues surrounding social justice-particularly in its manifestations within the counseling relationship between White therapists and Black\/African American clients.<\/p>\n

Captions\u00a0of my Presentations:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Session Title: Experiences of Racial Microaggressions and Coping Skills among Professional African American Men<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Date of Session: Friday, July 10, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Time of Session: 11:30am – 12:20pm<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Number of CECs: .5<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Microaggression<\/p>\n

Session Title: Unmasking Racial Microaggressions within the therapeutic Relationship: Working with African American Clients<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Date of Session: Saturday, July 11, 2015<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Number of Continuing Education Credits: 1. 5<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Unmasking<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Anah’s Workshop @ AATA2015- July 11, 2015<\/a><\/p>\n

**A big Thank you to all those who attended my presentations<\/strong>. Not only were the presentations\u00a0well attended,\u00a0but, participants were actively engaged in the topic. In addition,\u00a0judging from the feedback I received from participants, it was\u00a0a much needed topic for dialogue.<\/p>\n

It goes without saying that all discussions about race and racism between different racial\/cultural groups is often filled with very powerful emotions that may sometimes lead to guilt, confusion, ambivalence\u00a0and misunderstandings (Sue, 2015 from book- “Race Talk”).\u00a0Let’s not be discouraged; let’s continue the much needed\u00a0dialogue and trainings about race and racism in our country.<\/p>\n

**I gave out some handouts to participants\u00a0who attended\u00a0both my presentations. Those handouts are copyrighted material. When referring to the works\/ presentation\u00a0from the\u00a0conference, please cite where you got the material, or heard\u00a0the work,\u00a0and give the presenter\/author the appropriate credit. Thank you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There were also many other wonderful things going on:<\/p>\n

July 9, 2015- Bruce Moon and Friends playing~<\/p>\n

\"Bruce
Bruce Moon- AATA2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other sites of the Conference:<\/p>\n

\"Dr.
Dr. Anah Presenting on Racial Microaggressions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"AATA<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Presentation<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0528\"<\/p>\n

\"Art
Art Materials<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"IMG_0526\"<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0525\"<\/p>\n

Sites of Downtown Minneapolis:<\/p>\n