Art Therapists
Art therapists combine their artistic education with psychology to provide a medium for patients to express their emotions through a variety of arts-and-crafts activities and expose underlying problems to help heal the soul as well as the body.
Art therapists work with individuals, families, groups, and even whole communities if necessary to help them cope with illness, injury, trauma, abuse, or emotional disturbances.
Duties, Activities, and Scope of Practice
The highest concentration of art therapists in the United States is in the northeast section of the country. After 9/11, many art therapists were called in to help New Yorkers express their emotions and learn to cope with the tragedy and to heal.
Activities designed by art therapists stimulate socialization, encourage patients to express themselves, and help them to improve self-image as well as gain a sense of satisfaction and relaxation. Art therapy is useful for stress management and in helping patients improve their self-esteem.
Art therapists often work with psychiatrists, psychologists, and other health care team members to diagnose and develop a plan for the improved health status of the patient. Most of their patients are emotionally disturbed. Some are coping with physical changes, and others have mental disabilities or physical conditions that cause extreme stress such as cancer, asthma, HIV/AIDS, and posttraumatic stress syndrome.
Fact
None of these nontraditional therapies is new. Most have been around for centuries, but in terms of being reimbursed by insurance and Medicare or Medicaid, they are relatively new. As such they offer exciting opportunities, but wait to be fully recognized.
Art-and-craft activities include drawing, painting, sculpting, and modeling. The therapist observes the patient during the creative process and then analyzes the finished product for clues as to behavioral issues hidden in the details, the colors, the proportions, and the aesthetic quality of the work. Art therapists also work in school settings with children who are emotionally disturbed to help them adapt and mainstream.
Education and Training
A master's degree is generally needed in this field. Undergraduate work should be done in commercial art, creative art, or art education. Behavioral and social science courses are also quite helpful at this level and are expanded on in the master's program. An art portfolio is a good idea.
The AATA (American Art Therapy Association) has accredited twenty-four graduate-level programs in the United States. The specific curriculum and exact degree name vary from one to another.
Licensure/Certification
The AATA offers registration and board certification to candidates who have graduated from an accredited program and provide the necessary credentialing materials to the board. These include a portfolio of slides or other electronic media showing artwork that meets quality standards, several letters of recommendation, and completion of the necessary internship and paid work experience.
The AATA assigns PCQs (professional quality credits) to each of the above categories, and when a candidate has acquired twelve PCQs they can become registered. Recertification is required every five years and requires 100 units of continuing education.
Work Settings and Salaries
Art therapists work with adults and adolescents or children on an equal basis. The largest numbers of therapists work in psychiatric hospitals in both long- and short-term facilities. Others work in schools, community mental health centers, skilled-nursing facilities, hospitals, substance abuse rehab facilities, and psychiatric clinics.
Full- and part-time opportunities are available. There are about 2,000 registered art therapists employed in the United States today, and about 3,000 more who have not achieved registration status.
Salaries vary depending on experience and credentials. The median income is approximately $28,000 annually, and the range of salaries is from $25,000 to $65,000 per year. Art therapists who have a doctoral degree can earn as much as $150 per hour.
Career Potential and Additional Information
It has taken awhile for this treatment to be recognized. In 1992, art therapy, music therapy, and dance therapy were all recognized in legislation that amended the Older Americans Act. This has opened doors to research and grant monies for expansion of these fields. The growth of this field is expected to continue as the population increases and ages, and as new needs for alternative therapies arise.
Contact the Art Therapy Credentials Board for further information about the education and training necessary to become an art therapist. Their Web site is
You can contact the American Art Therapy Association through their Web site at
