Quote:
“I chose to become an art therapist because of both of my interests in art and community outreach. I have always enjoyed making art, but never felt that my artistic skills were strong enough to pursue a career in graphic arts. My volunteer work helped me find a way to use art in a very positive way.” – Megan Robb, Art Therapist, Clinical Research Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
Definition of Profession:
Art therapy is an established mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight.
About the Field:
An art therapist may work as part of a team that includes physicians, psychologists, nurses, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, rehabilitation counselors, social workers, and teachers. Together, they determine and implement a client’s therapeutic goals and objectives. Other art therapists work independently and maintain private practices with children, adolescents, adults, groups, and/or families.
How To Get There:
Art therapists are masters level professionals who hold a degree in art therapy or a related field. Educational requirements include: theories of art therapy, counseling, and psychotherapy; ethics and standards of practice; assessment and evaluation; individual, group, and family techniques; human and creative development; multicultural issues; research methods; and practicum experiences in clinical, community, and/or other settings. Art therapists are skilled in the application of a variety of art modalities (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other media) for assessment and treatment.
On The Job:
Art therapy integrates the fields of human development, visual art (drawing, painting, sculpture, and other art forms), and the creative process with models of counseling and psychotherapy. Art therapy is used with children, adolescents, adults, older adults, groups, and families to assess and treat the following: anxiety, depression, and other mental and emotional problems and disorders; mental illness; substance abuse and other addictions; family and relationship issues; abuse and domestic violence; social and emotional difficulties related to disability and illness; trauma and loss; physical, cognitive, and neurological problems; and psychosocial difficulties related to medical illness. Art therapy programs are found in a number of settings including hospitals, clinics, public and community agencies, wellness centers, educational institutions, businesses, and private practices.
Salary Range:
Earning for art therapists vary geographically depending on the type of practice and job responsibilities. Entry level income is approximately $32,000, median income of $45,000, and top earning potential for salaried administrators ranges between $50,000 and $100,000. Art therapists with doctoral degrees, state licensure, or who qualify in their state to conduct private practice, have an earning potential of $75 to $150 per hour in private practice. State requirements for private practice vary across the country, so please check with the licensing board in the state in which you plan to practice for rules and regulations.
State of the Art:
Visual expression has been used for healing throughout history, but art therapy did not emerge as a distinct profession until the 1940s. In the early 20th century, psychiatrists became interested in the artwork created by their patients with mental illness. At around the same time, educators were discovering that children’s art expressions reflected developmental, emotional, and cognitive growth. By mid-century, hospitals, clinics, and rehabilitation centers increasingly began to include art therapy programs along with traditional “talk therapies,” underscoring the recognition that the creative process of art making enhanced recovery, health, and wellness. As a result, the profession of art therapy grew into an effective and important method of communication, assessment, and treatment with children and adults in a variety of settings. Currently, the field of art therapy has gained attention in health-care facilities throughout the United States and within psychiatry, psychology, counseling, education, and the arts.
Art therapy is an expanding field and employment continues to increase as art therapy becomes recognized by professionals, work settings, and clients. Graduates of art therapy programs are successful at finding employment in both full and part-time positions.
Tools of the Trade /Lifestyle:
As an art therapist you could be based in a general or specialised hospital, day care or community centre. You may need to travel between centres, so a driving licence would be useful. Your hours would be 9am to 5pm.
You are:
• patience
• emotional stability
• attentive listener and a keen observer
• flexibility and a sense of humor
• experience in working within the arts
• a strong interest or background in psychology
• a mature outlook, and the ability to handle sensitive and difficult issues
• the ability to gain clients’ trust and confidence
• strong communication skills for working with people on an individual basis or in a group
Related Professions:
psychologist
psychotherapist
secondary school teacher
social worker
