Defunding art therapists damages mental health
Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.: On Dec. 30, Gov. Hochul cut 14% of mental health practitioners from a bill that requires all insurance companies to cover therapy. This will drastically impact New Yorkers’ access to affordable mental health care from qualified providers at a time when waitlists are already very long and many are struggling to afford therapy for themselves and their children. This was a hypocritical decision given her recently unveiled $1 billion plan to address New York’s mental health crisis. Licensed creative arts therapists (LCATs) were the only therapists struck from this bill despite some insurance companies already covering their services for more than a decade. LCATs are psychotherapists, fully trained and working with some of New York’s most vulnerable. As an LCAT, I personally work with trauma survivors and those who are experiencing severe anxiety and depression. Some of my colleagues work with children (who often don’t do well in talk therapy) in psychiatric hospitals across NYC and the state, in outpatient clinics and on Rikers Island.
Despite constant education and communication with the governor’s team and legislators, this decision to cut LCATs from this bill was based on inaccurate information and was done via a non-public memo. It is important to note that LCATs were the only group in the bill without lobbyist representation in Albany, a distinct disadvantage amidst constant pressure from the social work lobby. New Yorkers deserve increased, not decreased, affordable access to all therapists in the state, including LCATs.