Job Description

If you’re creatively talented and have a yearning to help people heal, a career in art therapy is an excellent fit. Part professional artist and part psychologist, the art therapist works closely with medical doctors and patients to help give them prescribed therapeutic sessions in the arts to express themselves and treat a variety of mental and health conditions. Most often these artistic exercises involve painting, drawing, or sculpting, but other times it involves therapeutic dance, music, or performing arts as well. Some art therapists work in doctor’s offices and hospitals, while others work with clients in their own office practices. Some work with special needs patients. Solo art therapists often promote their own services in the local community. What it Takes to Become an Art Therapist The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifies art therapists as a niche within the professional counseling field. Aspiring art therapists who are serious about their work will need to be prepared to achieve the qualifications of the general counseling field also, as a majority of art therapy jobs are in the general therapy sector. The BLS projects that licensed therapists receive on average $30,000 to $95,000 per year in an annual salary. As more awareness is being recognized for the importance of therapy work, employment is estimated to rise close to 5% in this category. Students who are interested in helping individuals in their community with therapeutic methods and who are artistically talented are excellent candidates for becoming an art therapist. They will also need to have excellent listening and communication skills on the job. Aspiring art therapists who plan to provide services on their own will also need to know essential business skills such as billing. Patience and an interest in human psychology are also important to achieve career success. To become an art therapist, a student will need a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. A Masters in Art Therapy program is particularly helpful. Graduate students will need to submit a portfolio of their work to the school, along with completing a practicum and internship. They will also need to be licensed. Depending on the state, they would need to be licensed in either art therapy or in another field of counseling. The Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) provides credentialing for Registration and Board Certification. In addition, there are state licensures as mental health clinicians which are offered by each state, and so people need to contact the State Licensure Board for the state they are interested in working in. #J-18808-Ljbffr Best Value Schools

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