Is anyone an art therapist?

[crazyme5kids]

If so, please tell me about it. What do you like or dislike about it? Education wise, did you start out with it in mind or did it evolve from another degree area?

 

[crazyme5kids]

Anyone?

 

[Sparx]

i'm going to school to be an art therapist.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Did you start out with art therapy as your major? How did you become interested in the field?

 

[Sparx]

Did you start out with art therapy as your major? How did you become interested in the field?

psychology and art were my two passions. my major is currently "pre grad psychology" and i'll masters in clinical if i don't change it. art is my minor.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

psych/art major here too....I ended up a sped teacher.

 

[crazyme5kids]

Can you tell me what type of art classes are needed?

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Courses you need would depend on the school from which you wnat to get your degree. I suggest you check out schools that offer this type of degree and see what it is they require.

 

[Sparx]

i would suggest a general art minor. typically, your art therapy won't include painting a replica of the mona lisa.

when you get licensed, i would suggest licensing under a marriage and family therapist. not only are those in high demand, it allows you to counsel a large group of people, and once you become their counselor, you can decide how you want their therapy to work, which means, you can use art therapy.

 

[Aisling]

I was an art therapist for many years, gradually combining it with music therapy (that part was self-taught mentoring with a musictherapist), and because of that, my facility changed my title to Sensory Therapist.

I worked in a nursing/rehabilition facility, with 99% of the residents having dementia as well as physical medical issues such as blindness, deafness, autism, people bedridden and breathing with trach machines... I did group programs as well as bedside programs, and let me tell you those residents see you as an angel sent down from heaven.

You'd study art theory, psychology, geriatrics, and you'd have access to their medical files to help you determine what their needs are. If you get a degree in Therapeutic Recreation, it covers all of these things. It's a very fulfilling and much needed line of work. I hope you go for it, you'll be making a tremendous difference in people's lives/

You can PM me if you need details of the programs I created and the techniques I used. I don't want to take over this thread!

 

[crazyme5kids]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate your input.