Arts Therapy is an interdisciplinary form of psychotherapy; it was originally developed for treating people with mental health disorders.

Today, an art therapist is someone who uses the making of visual art or partaking in a form of entertainment arts as a therapeutic and diagnostic tool to help a patient/client; whatever their situation may be.

Art therapists work with people of all ages and can specialize in one aspect such as children’s art therapy, or on specific type of art form used during art therapy.

Art Therapist - Job Description:
An art therapist is someone who blends psychotherapy, counseling and art teaching to guide an person though a process of art making. It differs from traditional art though as the emphasis is on the process of creating art rather than on the end product. Often the process of art making provides the patient/client with the ability to express feelings that are difficult to discuss otherwise and in this way the art therapist can effectively treat the person.

The advantage of art therapy is that some people are not able to verbalize their thoughts, feelings or situation. Other people over verbalize as a way to avoid discussing their thoughts, feelings or situation. Interaction with an art therapist during art therapy may be totally non-verbal until there is confidence to communicate verbally or via a mild pre-occupation allow the person to speak more openly.

Arts therapists work with people of all ages. In particular they assist people experiencing life changes, trauma, illness or disabilities causing distress for the individual and for their family.

To pursue a career as an art therapist, it helps to have an interest in Fine Art, Teaching or Counseling.

Art Therapist - Employment Start:
Arts therapists currently work in public and private health related agencies or as part of in multi-disciplinary teams such as public and private psychiatric hospitals, prisons, family welfare agencies, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, drug and alcohol units, women's health centers and community health centers.

Art Therapists may work privately too, with their own premises working with single patients/clients, or with small groups.

Not all people using art therapy are qualified with a degree in a related field, some therapists engage art teachers simply to assist in their art therapy groups to provide the art making element only.

To be an art therapist, generally you will need an undergraduate degree, or masters degree in art therapy, alternatively some art therapists have previous experience in art making, art teaching or childcare, and have otherwise obtains a degree in counseling or psychology. Combining these they have naturally made the progression to offering art therapy with-in their practice.

Counseling is perhaps, the easiest way to get a career start and progress into a career as an Art Therapist.

Art Therapist - Training & Education:
Several universities offer specific Art Therapy Degrees, however they are not common, as generally art therapy is touched on as a subject with-in a psychology degree, which would give you a much broader grounding.

Alternatively, there are certificate courses available in art therapy / counseling, these are commonly 1 year part time. Combining this with previous experience teaching art, or working in a health related career could be enough to get you a start as a councilor who may choose to specialize in art therapy.

For more information on pursuing employment as an art therapist see: Art Therapy.