The Voices for Voices TV Show and Podcast Episode 59 with Heidi Larew BONUS (Art Licensure)
Voices for Voices, Justin Alan Hayes:
Hi everyone. This is Justin Alan Hayes, Founder and Executive Director at Voices for Voices. And this is a bonus episode, current events as it relates to art therapy and what the recent legislative measure that was just signed into law by Governor DeWine is, what it means. And we're going to be discussing that today with one of our board members. But first I wanted to just give a highlight of what exactly we're talking about and what it means.
So, as I mentioned, there was a press release on July 4th this year in 2023 that spoke about the Governor of state of Ohio. He signed House Bill 33, looks like he signed that on July 3rd, the night before this press release went out in the law. And I'm going to be quoting directly from this press release, is, "The commencement of the persistent and committed advocacy that Ohio art therapists have put forth over the span of several decades. Many thanks to everyone who has participated. Your input was valued and your voice was heard."
And so at a high level... And Heidi will speak much more about specifics of it. But at a high level, what this legislation does is it really solidifies art therapy as a profession where an individual can go in, get that education and now be licensed to practice art therapy without having to go through funding that might have to come from out of pocket or grants or special programs that are earmarked for that. An individual can go get the education and be an art therapist and be backed really by the insurance industry, that now they can get approved, reimbursed. The client that is now seen, the now licensed our therapist, they can go into that relationship and that therapy session with an understanding that this is something that is solidified and validated by the state of Ohio.
So, with us today, you've seen her at our Brand New Day events, episodes of our TV show and podcast. She has an episode coming out later this year. Heidi Larew, she is again one of our board members with Voices for Voices. She is a senior supervisor, counselor, has a specialty among others in art therapy. She works for Alta Behavioral Healthcare. She also is big with the Helms Foundation. Does a lot of work really everywhere. And her goal, as our goal as an organization, is really to help people. So, thanks for joining us today, Heidi.
Heidi Larew:
Thank you. It's great to be here. This is a very exciting time. Thank you.
Voices for Voices, Justin Alan Hayes:
You bet. So, can you maybe talk about what this legislation means to you?
Heidi Larew:
Justin, when I read it, I thought maybe I read it wrong. I was so excited. Just overjoyed. So I happened to read it, and I had been following, but this week has been amazing. When I think about all the work people have done to make art therapy a licensed profession in Ohio, I remember that we have been working on this for 30 years. So, what it means is that people will be able to receive this service, like you said, in a more formalized way. So, if you take away everything else, and you look at the very basic idea behind licensure, it's about protection of the public. So just like when you get a driver's license, that's to keep the public safe. And if you lose your driver's license, that's to keep the public safe. It's the same idea. That's the most basic part of it. And so it really formalizes it and makes it a safe, ethical, legal practice. It has been, but it needed that backing behind it.
Voices for Voices, Justin Alan Hayes:
And we've talked off camera about this, that you do have additional education and certifications that you have then practice in art therapy for a long time and helping a lot of people. But now, if turn back the clock and you wanted to go into art therapy by itself as a profession, how an individual or yourself in this hypothetical example where you still may want to go and get other certifications and certificates and other education, but you don't have to now with this legislation in place.
Heidi Larew:
So, I'm not sure exactly how that will unfold in terms of the details. There's a lot with licensure and certification that gets worked out and then also funding. So, I'm trying to think of where to start. From my own personal experience, I got the master's in art therapy and then I was only able to work in certain settings. One of the first positions I had was an activities therapy position, which you can do, I think with a high school education. There might be another minor certification that you need, but I'm not sure. But it's definitely not the same as getting a bachelor's and then a master's degree. So that one. Then I worked with adults with terminal illnesses that was grant funded and I worked in the prison setting. But I couldn't find work in that first few years where I would have a full-time position with medical insurance, vacation time, just all the things that you would expect of any other master's degree.
So, I went back and I got a master's in clinical pastoral counseling and it was licensed counseling. So, many of my services over the years have been billed as counseling. And so then I have to translate and I have to make sure that I'm doing both at the same time. So, before I came through, I heard about this from the people who mentored me, and then once I became a supervisor, so for the past... Well, the first person I supervised was in '99. That was an art therapist. So, for the past 24 years, the people I have seen who have come after me have had the same struggles. They varied a little bit because later one of our graduate programs and lots of them across the United States have also included the counseling piece. That's an awful lot though. And the art therapy, it stands alone. It doesn't need another profession.
Voices for Voices, Justin Alan Hayes:
No, this is great. When I read about it and knowing you, and I mean not only you, but just the hard work that an individual that cares about the profession that they're in and what they value and want to do, and when you're talking about vacation, retirement and things that people just associate with a full-time position, and to now have that option and that ability I think is big. And we all have health, we all have mental health, that's just part of our health. Can you just end for us maybe on how you just foresee just at a high level this action being able to potentially help more people?
Heidi Larew:
I've been extremely fortunate because I have had those things. I have been able to get full-time work and have vacation time and medical insurance and all of that, retirement. But I have been able to do it through the counseling end of it. And what I'm really grateful for is that people coming after me will be able to do it with the art therapy. So, I'm not sure exactly how it will unfold, but at some point I believe that because of licensure insurances will cover this. That's where I think it makes an enormous difference.
Voices for Voices, Justin Alan Hayes:
I bet. Is there anything that you want to share here while we have our time together? I think we covered quite a bit, but you might have a closing thought.
Heidi Larew:
I think that there are so many people who would benefit through the art therapy aspect of it in some areas that have to do with healing and creativity and the nonverbal hands-on aspect of it. And so that would be one of the biggest differences. I would want to point out that people who might not seek therapy in a traditional manner would be much more likely to get a service that will be available. So, I think that's just something I'd like to highlight and also how grateful I am for the people that came before me that started working on this way back when it was called Studio Art Therapy. Even art therapists that worked in the '70s and '80s, and I'm really grateful for them.
Voices for Voices, Justin Alan Hayes:
[inaudible 00:10:24].
Heidi Larew:
And grateful for the people who will continue to work on these things.
Voices for Voices, Justin Alan Hayes:
Great. Well thank you for your insight and join us on our bonus episode to share this current event, positive news with everybody.
Heidi Larew:
Thank you for helping me celebrate.
Voices for Voices, Justin Alan Hayes:
Absolutely. And thank you, our listeners, our viewers for joining us on this bonus episode of the Voices for Voices TV show and podcast. So, until next time, I am your host, Justin Alan Hayes, Founder, Executive Director of Voices for Voices. And please be a voice for you or somebody in need.
Please donate to Voices for Voices, a 501c3 nonprofit charity today at: https://www.voicesforvoices.org/shop/p/donate
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