Projected Job Growth

‍According to 2019 data from O’NET OnLine, jobs for art therapists are projected to grow faster than the average U.S. job growth. The median salary for an art therapist is $48,220.

1. Understand the historical development of Art Therapy as a profession, Art Therapy theories and techniques, as a foundation for contemporary Art Therapy professional practice.
2. Distinguish among the therapeutic benefits of a variety of art processes and media, strategies and interventions, and their applicability to the treatment process for individuals, groups and families.
3. Recognize that Art Therapy, from a multicultural perspective, takes into consideration the specific values, beliefs and actions influenced by a client’s race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, political views, sexual orientation, geographic region, physical capacity or disability, and historical or current experiences within the dominant culture.
4. Select culturally and developmentally appropriate assessment and evaluation methods and administer and interpret results to identify challenges, strengths, resilience and resources for Art Therapy treatment planning.
5. Develop culturally appropriate, collaborative and productive therapeutic relationships with clients.
6. Know federal and state laws and professional ethics as they apply to the practice of Art Therapy.
7. Recognize and respond appropriately to ethical and legal dilemmas using ethical decision-making models, supervision and professional and legal consultation when necessary.
8. Recognize clients’ use of imagery, creativity, symbolism and metaphor as a valuable means for communicating challenges and strengths and support clients’ use of art-making for promoting growth and well-being.
9. Recognize the legal, ethical and cultural considerations necessary when conducting Art Therapy research.
10. Apply principles of human development, artistic and creative development, human sexuality, gender identity development, family life cycle and psychopathology to the assessment and treatment of clients.
11. Understand professional role and responsibility to engage in advocacy endeavors as they relate to involvement in professional organizations and advancement of the profession.
12. Continuously deepen self-understanding through personal growth experiences, reflective practice and personal art-making to strengthen a personal connection to the creative process, assist in self-awareness, promote well-being and guide professional practice.
13. Pursue professional development through supervision, accessing current Art Therapy literature, research, best practices and continuing educational activities to inform clinical practice.
14. Recognize the impact of oppression, prejudice, discrimination and privilege on access to mental health care, and develop responsive practices that include collaboration, empowerment, advocacy and social justice action.
15. Understand the basic diagnostic process and the major categories and criteria of mental disorders, corresponding treatments and commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications.
16. Recognize the foundational purposes of research and its application to counseling and art therapy, define methodologies, research design, arts-based research, concepts of validity and reliability, apply research concepts through the completion of a culminating research project.
17. Identify and apply theories of effective programs and treatments for individuals and groups in various interprofessional settings; apply strategies for program development, treatment planning and evaluation; understand a systems approach to helping relationships and appropriate referral processes for accessing community resources.