What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a human service profession
that serves to increase self-awareness and self-esteem,
improve social skills and behavior, increase the ability to
problem solve, decrease stress, improve reality orientation
and resolve emotional conflicts through the process of
making art. In an art therapy session art media, images and
other creative techniques are used to build the therapeutic
relationship through the process of creating and sharing of
the art work. Within the practice of art therapy the
knowledge of psychological theories and human development
are used in assessment and treatment of the individual.
How do you become an art therapist?
The requirements to become an art therapist
consist of completing a Master's level art therapy degree
program, which is a combination of the study of
psychological theories, assessment, research, diagnosis,
counseling techniques, and art therapy techniques, process
and theories. Once a Master's degree has been obtained then
post-graduate supervision is required to gain registration
as an art therapist. There are some undergraduate programs
in art therapy for individuals interested in starting their
education at this level, but completing a Master's program
will be required to practice professionally. The American Art Therapy Association
(AATA) has a listing of all approved graduate and
undergraduate programs in the United States.
What types of credentials do art therapists have?
The primary credential that art therapists
carry is ATR, Art Therapist Registered, which represents
that they have completed a specific number of post-graduate
supervised hours and submitted references for approval by
the Art Therapy Credentials Board
(ATCB). Some art therapists have taken an exam
through the ATCB to become a Board Certified Art
Therapist, ATR-BC. Once an art therapist has become
board certified they are required to maintain this
credential through continuing education credits
(CEC's). Individual art therapists may have additional
credentials related to the education and training they
have received. The ATCB has a listing by state of art
therapists who are registered and board certified.
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