How to Become an Art Therapist:Salaries & Career Outlook

Art therapy is an individualized form of psychotherapy that uses facets of art media as a mode of communication and expression. Art therapists use art to analyze different emotional issues and conflicts distressing their clients. Sometimes clients find it challenging to put their complex problems into words and struggle with communication; in such cases, art therapists use art to help people build their confidence and self-awareness by providing a secure and non-judgmental environment. There is a range of clients whom art therapists can help, including those with behavioral and mental health issues, life-debilitating conditions, physical illness, neurological issues, and learning disabilities. Depending on the need, they work with individuals or groups and practice in various settings related to education, prisons, social services, clinics, and more. Art therapists may occasionally encounter challenging clients who become aggressive towards themselves or others, creating unsafe situations for the therapists and their other clients. However, such cases are rare, and therapists usually find it satisfying to lead clients toward their journey of achieving well-being and personal growth.  

Variations of Art Therapy

Art therapy falls under the broader domain of expressive therapies that use creative arts as a specific form of treatment. These therapies are designed and used on the assumption that clients can make progress and heal by expressing themselves creatively. The therapist taps into people’s imagination and helps them examine their feelings, thought processes, emotions, and bodily sensations. The creative expression one wants in their sessions would depend on the client and the therapist. Here are some of the varying titles or areas that an art therapist can focus on as a means of learning and growth: 

1. Music Therapy – This therapy uses music extensively in music-making or interventions related to music to form a therapeutic relationship. Music is a holistic practice to address the clients’ cognitive, communication, motor, emotional, sensory, social, pain, behavioral, and spiritual needs. When used in psychotherapy sessions, it is seen that music helps patients to process difficult experiences, improve cognitive or motor functioning, and communicate effectively. The essential element of music therapy is to use music as a symbolic representation and expression of the individual’s inner world.  
2. Dance and Movement Therapy  – Dance and movement therapy focus on an essential element: our mind, body, and spirit are intertwined and interrelated. The primary intervention tool in a session has components of the art of play. Its emphasis is on nonverbal communication and is seen to be beneficial to those who want to express their emotions through movements.  
3. Drama Therapy – Drama therapy is an integration of drama and psychotherapy. It borrows from techniques used in theater to treat those with cognitive, health, mental, and developmental disabilities. Therapists use a unique approach of aesthetic distance, where clients are guided to use the art of play and pretend to gain insight into therapy about their life challenges and experiences.  
4. Play Therapy – In play therapy, a systematic approach is taken when trained play therapists use theoretical models to help their clients prevent emotional difficulties, resolve psychosocial challenges and steer them toward optimal development and growth. Play therapy is aimed at helping patients with social interaction, trauma resolution, empathy, decreased aggression, emotional modulation, and social skill development.  
5. Psychodrama – Psychodrama is a unique approach to psychotherapy that Jacob L. Moreno developed. The goal is to create a more action-based and effective form of psychotherapy. Eminent psychologists like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung have modified the therapy through their inputs about the unconscious. There are three phases to this therapy, including warm-up, sharing, and action; along with the phases, various intervention methods are used by psychodrama therapists currently keeping the context of the client in mind.  
6. Multimodal Therapy and Integrated Arts Approach – For some clients, using just one approach is not very beneficial. Therefore therapists use multimodal therapy to use components of different therapies, like art, music, movement, drama, etc., together in a session.  Usually, the therapist will integrate at least two expressive therapies to enhance emotional growth, foster awareness, and improve the client’s relationship with others. The unique interrelatedness of different art components makes this therapy unique and can be molded according to the client’s needs.  

To pursue the field of Art Therapy, one must know the essential requirements to become a practicing art therapist. While it is not necessary to have a background in art or psychology to venture into the field, it is beneficial for those who understand both of these fields.  

One can start their journey in art therapy by earning an undergraduate degree in either psychology, counseling, or art education. They can take developmental, physiological, or cognitive psychology courses that will train them in visual art skills, sculpting, drawing, and painting, which will help their clients express themselves better. A master’s program in art therapy prepares graduates to obtain a certification. While pursuing their master’s, one learns about group therapy, creative process, art therapy assessment, psychological development, research method, and more. You can also obtain a Ph.D. in art therapy to further your reach and scope.  

Apart from acquiring degrees from a regional or nationally accredited  school, one must have a certification to practice as an art therapist. In the U.S., art therapists can begin their entry-level credentialing through the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB)^[2]; to do so, one must have at least a master’s in art therapy degree. Both master’s and Ph.D. students can apply for certification. The credentials they can obtain include: provisional registered art therapists, registered art therapists, art therapy certified supervisor, and board-certified art therapist.  

The ATCB also provides certifications in collaboration with the American Art Therapy Association (AATA)^[3]. AATA requires a graduate to do a clinical internship for 600 hours in art therapy before becoming a certified art therapist. This internship period involves assessing and treatment of real clients under the supervision of a registered art therapist. There is also art therapy licensure that some states provide, including Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, Maryland, Oregon, Tennessee, Connecticut, New Mexico, Kentucky, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. AATA provides detailed information on credentialing and licensure^[4]. 

The scope of art therapy is vast, and components of this field can be used in many settings. Many fields overlap with the domain of art therapy. Therefore, there are some other titles or roles that an individual can consider for the growth of their career or a switch in their occupation, namely: