Are there art therapy jobs

Art therapists play an active part in the sessions, guiding patients through the creative process and encouraging them to engage with their feelings and explore the thought processes behind them.

Many art therapists begin their career by working on a self-employed basis, using their network and speculative applications to find work. There may be opportunities to work for:. The British association of art therapists BAAT surveys newly qualified members each year to get an idea of employment prospects; you can find the results on the BAAT website.

Course providers often require candidates to hold a first degree in an art-based subject, although you may still be accepted if your degree is less relevant but you have plenty of evidence to demonstrate a strong art background.

Study takes two to four years and must be followed by registration with the HCPC before official practice can start. Experience of working directly with a vulnerable person and supporting their welfare, is required before training as an art therapist. However, it can be difficult to gain direct experience before qualification due to the sensitive nature of the work.

Try to get as much experience as possible by volunteering and work shadowing in related environments such as schools, hospitals, prisons and care centres. Placements can be gained by approaching employers directly, volunteering or asking to shadow staff members.

Once qualified, art therapists must undertake continuing professional development to make sure their professional knowledge and skills are up to date. Careers advice. Job descriptions. Art therapist: job description Art therapists use art to help patients cope with emotional and mental health problems and allow them to express emotions and feelings.

I am torn between interior architecture and drawing, and with a BFA in drawing, would it be wise to pursue art therapy? Any advice from those of you already in the field would be great. The school nearby offers an MFT license with emphasis on expressive art therapy.

Im planning on finishing my B. Anyone in the feild, please enlighten me on the challenges of being a successful art therapist. Does it help to be a licensed MFT in case there arent many opportunities for an art therapist? Furthermore, how has your experiences in art therapy been…. I believe the answer is yes, but I would like to hear what others believe too as reinforcement.

My daughter is an upcoming high school senior. She has discovered a school that offers a bachelors in Art Therapy. She is thinking of getting the BS and then getting a doctorate in Occupational Therapy.

Is this a good idea? Does it make sense? Would it help her job chances in general since there is a higher demand for occupational therapists? The best way to work toward becoming an art therapist is to make sure that you have a partner who is well off. That way someone else can pay your living expenses while you get to tell everyone about your impressive but mostly non paying work as an art therapist. When your partner starts to have a meltdown you will have all the psycobabble tools necessary to console your partner yet continue getting a free ride until the day you are ready to retire having earned nothing.

By then your partner will probably have died of a heart attack and hopefully they will leave you enough money to carry on telling everyone you are a retired art therapist or some bullshit like that. I am wondering is this job is good on money enough to pay off student loans and support a family with out much struggle; any opinions?

Hi Everyone! I have a BA in Psychology and am planning on applying to Masters programs… Does anyone know if it is possible to become a certified Art Therapist after going through a regular MFT masters program? I am just overwhelmed by the negativity and skepticism of those whom have lost their spark. I was looking forward to this profession, especially in the Portland Oregon area. I graduated high school , and am taking classes at Portland Community College for two years in order to save money.

My primary choice of career was Art Education for a long time, when I realized that Art Therapy existed. I love Art, and the effect it has on people. It was my only sanity in high school, and I knew I wanted to spread creativity and ingenuity to students. Currently I am taking courses involving Pyschology and Art, but I would like to future farm my best. Would this open me to a wider career path?

I never seem to find a decent answer to this question, and it would be very nice to hear the opinion of someone in this career path. Would you be willing to move out of state for work, or even start a business of your own? Will the time and money spent be worth it? Be honest with yourself and question, question. Go to an art therapy conference if you can.

Talk to the art therapists there and listen to what they have to say. Listen intently with your ears and your body. Sit with it for days or weeks. How does the career of art therapist feel in your body? Good luck! Or would it be best to do the extended PhD that included picking up the course work and practicum for the AT program, even though I did a practicum for my MAT and have a few years of teaching experience?

The program I found is at Florida State. Awesome program, but would mean moving my son and husband with me to Tallahassee, FL. With the acceptance rate and such, I think it would be an amazing opportunity, but is it worth it? Do you all think this would be something to honestly pursue? Any recommendations on an institute or professional organization to join for art therapy? I live in Texas currently, but anywhere within the U. Really interesting to read the comments here.

Admittedly, I was surprised by some of the questions. Nothing greater can be said for doing as much of your own research as possible. There are so many variables that can make a difference in these things, especially when you factor in what type of AT job you see yourself in. Hospital setting? Private practice? Community organization?

University teaching, even? Coming from special education teaching, where jobs are prevalent, I was very aware of the AT job shortage when I first began considering a career change to AT.

That was not a deterrent but it may have been a different story, for me, at I am in NYC. Yet, even here jobs prospects are limited. Many posters mentioned a love of art and knowing they wanted to help people, and of course that is a great starting place. There are many ways to help people, of course, and many ways to be creative or work in an art field. I encourage everyone to consider all the different options that are option to them. I have researched the cost of space in this very expensive town I live in.

I know my first and second choice and when I would begin if I decide to proceed. All that being said, I am still deciding. These comments would certainly be depressing for anyone interested in pursuing Art Therapy.

Many of the comments about Art Therapy, I believe could be said for many related fields: Counseling, Social Work,… When anyone graduates, and they need to get their supervised hours, they will have a difficult time being underpaid, etc, regardless of the degree. That is life—not just for Art Therapists. However, if you have the stamina to push through, everything does get easier once you are licensed. What do you want to be doing for the rest of your life? If you have the desire and means to pursue a private practice the income protection from a spouse is helpful for ANYONE in private practice, regardless of the degree , wonderful—but get the FT job, pay off your loans, and get good experience under your belt first.

Art Therapy is not going away. Do what you love. I am a Psychology undergrad in my senior year, and I am looking at Masters programs in California specifically Phillips Graduate Institute. I am wondering what the salary outlook is in San Diego if I were to work there. I have become worried that I will barely be able to support myself, seeing online what art therapists are paid. I am currently a sophomore in college, and I am looking into pursuing a career in Art Therapy!

I am having trouble narrowing down options for Graduate Schools in the United States. I am willing to travel anywhere in the US; any recommendations where there is a high need or high job placement for art therapists? Sad but true! I graduated with a Masters degree in AT from Hofstra three years ago, got my license and supervised hours and only two people out of twenty four of my graduating class are currently employed in the field one is working with her aunt who happens to be a guidance counselor at a private school — nepotism does come in handy!

I urge every person contemplating a masters degree in AT to research the local employment market WELL BEFORE entering such a program; I love the field I chose to study but unfortunately it is not a respected enough discipline to be dignified as important. Hi, everyone. Graphic design is related with art therapy..

To me, its all counselling, listen, understand, and try to give solution to help patients. If you are concerned about how much money you will make, then crap like MFT and art therapy is not for you.

Oh yeah, and insurance if you can get on a panel will take half. So find just find a bunch of those cash-only clients, and it will be fine. No wonder only old ladies go into this field, husbands pay for school, support them during their unpaid volunteer time, and bankroll their private practice that is not making money but who cares?

It is a hobby, not career, for them, because they do not care if they make money or not. Psychotherapy is such bull and I have no idea why people spend so much time, effort, and money to try and do it.

I live in the Central Valley of California Modesto. I have my BA in Art and have always loved doing art with children. I may qualify for financial help, but not wanting a student loan.

Where do I start? Do you have any ideas or places online that I can go to in order to find out what I can do? Thanks R. Jerman Barr. I am in the same boat as most of you. I doubled my student debt getting a 2nd masters degree, this time in Art Therapy, only to find out that my program was not ATCB accredited and that I was not license eligible upon graduation.

I feel scammed. I feel that the intense arguments for validity from art therapists speaks to the weaknesses in art therapy. Benefits Who uses it? An Outlook on Art Therapy. Art Therapist Job Search job title, keywords, company, location. Comments I completed my masters degree in Art Therapy this past summer. I hope others will join me!

Wow, I am an Architect considering art therapy as a career also. I thought it was just me. Many thanks! Hi; I have worked in a very, very rural area as a full-time art therapist for almost four years, working in a clinic. Good Luck on your search!! Hi everyone! Hi, everyone! Is it so worth if I start over again? Hopefully, you can give me some advices.

Thank you! Hey everyone! So yes, it will be very difficult. But the reward greatly outweighs the challenges. Hello Jessica! Any advice or insights will help. Lastly…can anyone give me an advice for my future? She designs and guides art activities to enhance the well-being of students with special needs. Art therapists work in different settings with different types of clients. Some, like Raja, are in schools, where they work with students of all ages and meet with them in groups or one-on-one.

Many others work in medical settings, such as community clinics and psychiatric hospitals, where they may help people who have a physical or mental illness. Still others have their own practice, serving clients with various needs. But no matter where they work or who their clients are, art therapists use art and psychology on the job. Every client has different needs, but Raja says that for some, the process of creating may be valuable on its own.

For example, people who have trouble focusing may become more grounded when working with clay. Using paints, in contrast, can help people release emotion.

Art therapists design projects using their understanding of how art media and techniques can influence people. For example, Raja may ask students to create an image showing parts of their past that they would like to leave behind. Then, she may have them create an image that depicts their future and shows the positive elements they hope to build on. Knowledge of psychology allows an art therapist to help clients understand themselves and work toward specific goals.

The art therapist engages clients in reflection about the art that they have created.