Art Therapy
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a form of recreational therapy that uses art forms such as painting, sketching, and sculpture to assess and treat mental health patients. Therapists use art therapy to give patients a method of communicating thoughts and feelings that are difficult or even impossible to verbalize. According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy “uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages.” Benefits of art therapy include conflict resolution and increased self-awareness.
Art therapy is often used in clinical settings, such as hospitals, clinics, schools and private practices, by licensed therapists and in workshops by wellness gurus. In either setting, art therapy is used to treat children and adults as well as to improve relationships between family members and coworkers.
The practice of art therapy involves reading non-verbal and metaphorical cues expresses in art. Art therapists do not interpret the cues but enable clients to recognize and articulate the feelings expressed through these cues. The tools used by therapists in an art therapy are usually open-ended questions and patient silence.
Art Therapy Degree Programs
According to the American Art Therapy Association, Art therapists are “masters level professionals.” There are those who practice art therapy with only a bachelor’s degree, but these therapists are not licensed and do not work in a clinical setting. Also, graduates with an associate degree in art therapy or significant training in art may find positions in the field as paraprofessionals.
Degree programs in art therapy offer courses in art modalities, theory, psychotherapy, counseling, ethics, intervention, assessment, and research. A bachelor degree or a master degree program prepares students to work with rehabilitation team members, and instructs students in professional standards and regulations. Master degree programs also prepare students for licensing exams or registration requirements.
Internships with mental health agencies or clinics are commonly required.
A Career in Art Therapy
The American Art Therapy Association reports the entry level income of art therapists as $32, with a median income of $45,. The top earning potential for salaried administrators is between $5, and $1,.
Art Therapy Online
Online colleges offer certification programs and degree programs in art therapy. Courses in art therapy are offered one-hundred percent online by Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center, Saint Mary of the Woods College, International University of Professional Studies, and Warnborough College.