Our communities need more access to mental health resources. In view of the mental health crisis in our state, and the lack of adequate resources for Virginians who would benefit from mental health treatment, I am contacting you as an art therapist regarding these proposed art therapy regulations. Establishing licensure for art therapists would protect the public and serve to expand access to vital mental health resources for all Virginians. Empowering the Board of Counseling to issue licenses to Virginian art therapists will serve to provide clarity in the marketplace by instituting title and practice protection around art therapy, protecting the public from bad actors or untrained professionals from other fields who would otherwise market themselves as art therapists while providing dangerously substandard care.