Our Mission
Improving the social welfare of all New Yorkers by advocating for improved access to mental healthcare provided by Licensed Creative Arts Therapists
“When the pain is too big, creative arts therapies can help.”
— Theresa Bimka, LCSW
What is an LCAT?
Licensed Creative Arts Therapists are Masters-level licensed mental health practitioners who are “trained in psychotherapy and in specific arts disciplines, which may include dance/movement therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, poetry therapy and art therapy. They have training in areas that include clinical practice and human development as well as the use of the creative arts to provide appropriate [psychotherapy] services” (NYS Office of Professions)
Licensed Creative Arts Therapists are the second largest Masters-level mental health license in New York State with over 2,000 clinicians serving New Yorkers.
“The use of art as a pathway to therapy was the necessary access point our daughter needed.”
— Parent of a 10 year old creative arts therapy patient
The Facts About LCATs
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LCATs have been licensed as mental health practitioners in New York since 2006 (same as licensed mental health counselors, marriage & family therapists & psychoanalysts). LCATs represent 14% of the licensed mental health practitioners in NYS.
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LCATs treat children, adults and the elderly in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, community mental health clinics, forensic facilities, substance abuse treatment facilities, eldercare facilities, hospices and private practices. Often, LCATs excel at treating patients who are not responsive to traditional talk therapy due to cultural, cognitive or language barriers or trauma responses that limit a patient’s ability to verbalize their feelings and experiences.
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LCATs are licensed psychotherapists cross-trained in evidence-based psychotherapy modalities and arts-based approaches. To qualify for licensure they must complete a masters degree with coursework spanning psychology, psychotherapy and arts-based methods. supervised fieldwork and internship, board certification in their arts-based discipline and multiple years of pre-licensure supervised employment. To maintain their license, they must complete the same number of hours of continuing education as all other masters-level clinicians in New York state.
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While psychotherapy provided by LCATs is covered by many Medicaid and commercial insurance plans, coverage is not mandated in the same way it is for psychotherapy provided by all other mental health clinicians licensed by New York state. Despite LCATs using the same CPT billing codes as all other psychotherapists, Governor Hochul has removed LCATs from a bill mandating coverage for psychotherapy by commercial insurance plans and vetoed bipartisan legislation with near universal support that would rectify the issue. These vetoes leave patients vulnerable to the whims of their insurer, especially New York’s most vulnerable who depend on Medicaid coverage for psychotherapy.
“This month alone, two of clients have ended trauma therapy with me - not by choice - but because of insurance red tape.”
— Jillian Kolarz, LCAT
New Yorkers deserve access to care that works for them
New York state law mandates psychotherapy coverage, but leaves some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers without the care they need by excluding LCATs from coverage mandates and the Medicaid provider list.
We applaud Assemblymember Harry Bronson, Senator Samra Brouk and the bipartisan caucus who supports legislative efforts to close the coverage gap.
“The need is clear. The support is there. The solution is ready.”
— Assemblymember Harry Bronson and Senator Samra Brouk
Support the cause
If you want to support our mission, please consider making a one-time or recurring donation.
We can’t do the vital work of trying to fix New York’s mental health crisis without your donations.
Get in Touch
If you’d like to support our legislative efforts, join us over at the LCAT Advocacy Google group to get updates & action steps.
For other questions/inquiries, please send us a message via the below form.