Overview
Art Therapist is one of the Top Ten Hot Jobs of 2007, according to AOL's popular CareerBuilder.com website.
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 people at 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.
Art therapy integrates the fields of human development, visual arts, 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:
- anxiety, depression, and other mental/emotional problems
- mental illness
- substance abuse and other addictions
- family and relationship issues
- abuse and domestic violence
- social/emotional difficulties related to disability or illness
- personal trauma and loss
- physical, cognitive, and neurological problems
- psychosocial difficulties related to medical illness
Some art therapists work as part of a healthcare 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.
If you’re considering this career, keep in mind that an art therapist needs certain personal qualities – such as sensitivity, empathy, emotional stability, patience, interpersonal skills, insight into human behavior, and an understanding of artistic media. An art therapist must also be an attentive listener and a keen observer. Flexibility and a sense of humor are also invaluable.
You can download, save and print a PDF of this career profile:
Art Therapist 14 May 2008 [pdf, 173 KB]
For more information about pursuing this career, see the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) website.