Art Therapy

Hello, I've just graduated from college, and have an interest in art therapy. I'd like to hear from practicing art therapist as well as grad students about art therapy programs and perhaps whether art therapy would be a good track for me.

Basically I think I would like to work in a community or nonprofit settling, working with children and young people. Hopefully working using arts to help people with conflict resolution (for example, using some of Boal's Theater of the Oppressed techniques) as well as healing from traumatizing experiences or injuries.

Right now I'm interested in different kinds of creative arts therapies, including art, drama, and dance/movement though I'm not sure if there is a way to integrate these three. I think I'm interested a little less in the clinical side of things and more in the art/humanistic side, but I'm not exactly sure how to approach that.

My background is a bit...different than most. I majored in Asian Studies in college and this year will be in Japan teaching english to middle schoolers as well as gaining arts experience learning from Japanese artists. When I come back to the states, if I decide to try to go into an art therapy program, I'd probably need to go back and take some more undergrad courses in psychology, I'm guessing.

I'm looking to go to school around the New York area--people have recommended NYU and Pratt--does anyone have experience or know more about these graduate programs? In addition to programs with a good arts base and great faculty, I'm also looking for a school where many of the students are interested in social justice and activism, and hope to use their arts for creating change in the world/community.

One of my friends said I would be better off trying to get certified as an arts teacher instead of an arts therapist. What do you think?

I guess my post is a little bit scattered, but if anyone has information/advice, please let me know!

“I am very passionate about art, may it be picture, music, or idea. And, no matter what anything is, abstract is beautiful. I have Cystic Fibrosis. In the hospital art was the only thing that kept me from going stir-crazy. I like using medical stuff in my art because it makes me forget the painful things about medicine.” -Charlie

Check Out ArtWorks' artist of the month.
I saw this child perform at Express Yourself this year--the pediatric hospital where I was an AT intern (and have since been hired!) participated in the event as well.

He was darling! It's too bad there isn't a video clip of it.

::wishing you all well::

So, I want to be an art therapist. My dream is to work with a Non-Government/Non-Profit Organization in third world countries, in rehab centers for child soldiers, child prostitutes, perhaps ex-political prisoners, that type of thing. Is anyone else interested in this type of thing? Does anyone know of any organizations that would want an art therapist on board? What path would you recomend to reach this goal, or what types of extra classes would be smart?

I feel like for people in such horrifying situations, the creative therapy could be hugely beneficial... and I want to do something where I can *really* help people.

Thanks :)

Hi everyone,
I wanted to know if anyone in this community has attended the NYU graduate program for Art Therapy, or is considering it? I am looking into it and I wanted to know how difficult it is to get accepted into the program with a BA in Visual Arts and minor in psychology. IF you don't know about NYU then does anyone know of other school in/around the New York area that I should look in to? Any comments will be appreciated.

I was told by an occupational therapist that no one hires art therapists.

True or false?

thought this might give fellow LJers a kick.
"Rejection" desktop project, 43"x56"x45", Acrylic, enamel, resin on canvas and wood. A piece submitted to the graduate exhibit at the School of Art Institute of Chicago, 2008.

I was told my work as of late is about obsession. The only thing I can think I do obsessively is the fact that i'm on a computer everyday of my life, so I thought it might be important to take a moment out of something I do from such everyday activity and make art about it. This piece includes one of my entries from a month ago, along with couple of true conversations I had with my friends. To protect their identities, I had to give my friends fake SNs on my buddy list.

Constructive criticisms welcome.

( Read more... )

Hi everyone. I'm sorry if this seems like a really basic question but I need help.

I'm trying to decide between pursuing a career in counseling, particularly art therapy, or social work. I've researched a ton about career opportunities based on degrees in psychology (then art therapy) and BSW (then MSW). Are there similar counseling positions in social work, and any as expressive as art therapy? What path would I take to pursue art therapy? & what opportunities will be available to me with just my BA in psychology before I get my Master's?

Thank you all.

What does it take to get certified as an art therapist? What is the training required? Where would one get this training? How does one get certified? Licensed?

So I am interning at an addiction counseling service placement for school. I have a few ideas left, but I am running out quickly, mostly because the ideas that I had I know the clients will be completely resistant to.

So if there is anyone out there who has or is working with the substance abuse population, could you send some ideas my way? I would really appreciate it!

I have been accepted to both Marywood University and the art therapy department, and am 100% going there next fall!
I was wondering if anyone had any tips for me, as that would be most helpful.
Thanks a bunch!
Jackie

skyscraper/green dragon/snake dream

i just woke from a very cool dream...i was in an airplane with gwyneth paltrow as the pilot...and luke wilson and a few other famous actors in the cockpit with us...it was stormy and gwyneth had to really work hard to keep us going the right direction...the plane shook up and down...then suddenly i knew we were flying just above nyc/manhattan and could see the skyscrapers very close to us.

suddenly i was a giant person holding the airplane in my hands and trying to point it at something- i was so big the plane was the size of somewhere in between a pen and a baseball bat in my hands.

it had a pointy nose thing on the front like you would see on an insect and then i saw gwyneth with a very determined look on her face and then an "aha!" and she looked at me as to say "there it is" lets go inside.

i saw this strange metal undulating dragon like snake like thing going up and down and going right through solid buildings and hiding in them...it kept moving very fast and had bright green stained glass window like eyes and scales on it's body...it was part machine/buildling part dragon/snake...

i was a giant person holding a jet airplane in my hands and i could pass through buildings and not bump into anything or crush anything below me- i just walked through solid masses like a magic ghost like creature!

i saw the green dragon/skycraper on it's side snake thing and it had an open mouth...i then pointed the airplane into it's opening and thought to myself "should i go inside it too?" and then i was afriad suddenly and thought i would not fit etc. so i didn't go in...just the plane did with gwyneth paltrow and other hollywoood actors inside...i felt proud of helping them on their mission and then suddenly i was normal size human again walking into a strange fancy boutique mall somewhere in manhattan.

i saw all these "baggy" bikini tops all these ladies were wearing- everyone had dark hair and brown eyes...i saw two sets of twin women- laughing and remember feeling a little jealous...like "i want a twim sister/best friend lady too!". one woman from each set of twins worked as a clerk at the boutique and the other two women from the sets of twins were customers. all four women were laughing and had shiny silver stud earrings i could see shine in the light. they all had very dark hair and very dark brown eyes.

i was walking around looking at the strange baggy bikini tops thinking "how odd to have such a fashion of baggy loose tops" cuz bikinis are known to be skin tight. i thought to myself "maybe this is better and more comfortable for us all"...

then i wondered how the airplane was doing inside the dragon/snake/skyscraper creature and i was hoping they solved their problems and did their mission...and i wondered if i should have gone inside that creatures mouth with the plane?

me playing the piano
http://www.myspace.com/synkringnicity

my abstracted voice
http://www.myspace.com/goduskring

videos of mine
http://www.youtube.com/shannonkringen

I had the opportunity to see an exhibition and talk about Project Radiance last night.

About:
[from the website]
“RADONEZH”
This old Russian word, roughly translated from Russian means happiness and tenderness. These are qualities which we believe every child deserves.
“Radonezh” – is a private non-profit organization, founded by a group of volunteers – teachers, psychologists, children’s doctors – people united by the experience in orphans welfare policy and the desire to make a difference in the lives of abandoned children. Since the Russian word Radonezh is hard to pronounce and remember for people of other nationalities we’ve adopted name Radiance for use in English language.

Mission:
To raise the awareness of the current social crisis in orphan welfare, amongst both local and international communities. Also, to make a significant contribution towards implementing a solution to the crisis by facilitating those in need and those who are willing and able to help and by implementing a wide set of social projects.
Aim:
To implement and develop projects aimed at prevention of the abandonment of children, promotion of long-term care (adoption, long-term foster care) and family environment, and helping abandoned children and adolescents build up social and psychological adoptive skills which will prepare them for independent life and help them to become educated, competent and self-sufficient people.
Location:
All of Radonezh projects are implemented in the Saratov/ Volga region of the Russian Federation but also involve communities, individuals and organizations from other regions of the Russian Federation as well as the United States and some EU countries.

Our strong belief is that every child has inner potential which can be developed when provided with required environment. Therefore most of our existing and planned programs are aimed at helping abandoned children:
- develop social skills which will prepare them for independent life when they come of age;
- overcome negative experience of an early childhood;
- integrate into local and international community through various social networks;
- develop vocational skills which are in demand in local society;
- make a major shift in their visioning themselves from passive recipients, typical for those living on social welfare, to active doers capable of modeling their life programs.
For the past two years we have been involved in the implementation of a number of programs, comprising of an Art therapy program, by providing local orphanages with arts & crafts materials and arranging one-on-one or group sessions with art therapy teachers. This encourages children to express and understand emotions through artistic expression and through creative processes, and is commonly renowned as a catalyst of spiritual healing.
Art therapy lessons are often combined or followed up by Arts & Crafts lesson, Art history lessons, Fairy-tale therapy and result in beautiful artwork produced by the students. Numerous art exhibitions were conducted within the last year in different cities of Russia and the USA.

It is a fantastic program.
And I'm planning to help them in any way I can.
The children's artwork and the stories of their experiences with art making are so touching and inspiring.

If you are currently in school, part of an organization, or community group, or anything of that nature, they're looking for more places to show the work and talk about the project.
They are also starting a penpal project with some of the kids.

"Perhaps the quality most needed by the art therapist is courage."
--Elinor Ulman

I am a hopeful art therapy student. I am in my senior year in highschool and am seriously interested in becoming an art therapist. I have applied to Marywood University in Scranton and Lesley University in Boston, though I'm not sure which I will attend if I get accepted to both. Since I have learned about art therapy, I really haven't been interested in doing anything else.
If there any advice anyone can give me? Very often, I deal with my mother telling me that the job will never be worth it and I won't make as much money as I could (I'm first in rank in my class). But that doesn't matter to me; I am more interested in helping people.
How fulfilling do you find being an art therapist is?

Thank you for your time!
Jaclyn

I will be graduating in May with my masters, and there is a possibility that in the next few years I could be moving to Austrailia or England with my partner.

For anyone who has made a similar journey or just knows the differences,
Two Questions:

1) Besides having an American Art Therapy Association endorsed Masters degree in A.T., would I need any additional certificates or educational credits if I moved to either of those countries?

2) What is the job market like for A.T. in those countries ? I know they are countries and it would vary depnding on geographic region, but I wondered if because of universal healthcare there might be more of a market for alternative therapies?

hey again,

ive gotten a bunch of responses about the difference licenses that are needed to be a therapist. i understand they are different in different states.

have people found that the requirements are some what similar all over. for instance, if i chose to go to naropa, id be ready to work in colorado...but then what if i moved back home to pennsylvania. would it be simple enough just to pass a test?

honestly, i dont understand the abbreviations or the requirements...so further explanation of those would be helpful as well...or at least some direction!

thank you!

hey everyone,

im new to this community and just wanted to ask some questions to any one who is in grad school already. my top pick for a masters program is naropa in boulder, then prescott, then south western college. im interested in a more holistic approach.

do you know any other schools that offer a holistic/transpersonal psych AT program?

if you went to naropa:

how many people are accepted into their program at one time?
what could you recommend about writing the statement of interest or the application process in general?
what are the interviews like?

im so eager to get into grad school but im nervous too. i want more than anything to go to naropa but id feel a lot better if i had other options, ya know?

thanks for your thoughts, i really appreciate it.

If you haven't read it, I highly recommend reading "The Tears Make Me Paint" by Bruce Moon.
It made ME cry. Such a beautiful reminder of the power of art therapy and of our responsibilities to ourselves as therapists.

Moon, B. (1999). The tears make me paint: The role of responsive artmaking in adolescent art therapy. Art Therapy, 16(2), 78-82.

Hey everyone,

I'm applying to grad schools to study art therapy. I got an undergrad degree in studio art and have spent the last 2 1/2 years working with children and adults (3rd grade through college and adults generally as old as 30) in a religious capacity. Meaning, I work in a religious community and I have been community-building with people in different settings, etc. I have been able to do some work with art with the kids, but not as much as I'd like! I'll also begin working in an Arts in Medicine program at a local children's hospital soon.

Anyway, so I am finalizing my list of schools to apply to so that I can concentrate on their requirements. Here are the schools I've chosen: Springfield College, Lesley University, NYU, Pratt Institute and SVA. I dont know much about any of the schools other than NYU and Pratt, so if any of you have any recommendations or want to tell me a little about them (like culture of people there, focus of the degrees, etc), that would be greatly appreciated. At this point I think I would focus primarily on art therapy for children, like ages 7 - 14.

Thanks in advance!!