Getting an Art Therapy Master's Degree

A Master’s degree is the foundation for beginning a career in Art Therapy. They educate the students in both psychology theory and art techniques and incorporate the two to further understand the psychology of artmaking. Alongside the theory is an internship experience to help concretize what is being taught in class. 

What does a program entail?

Every program is unique. A program accredited by the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) must meet specific requirements when it comes to the content offered in the courses taught, as well as having internship experiences. Each program might vary based on their state’s requirements for education and in preparation for Art Therapy licensure, as well. 

If you are looking into becoming an Art Therapist, I recommend checking out AATA’s website. They have resources and information about the programs currently approved and provides links to the various programs so you can see how each one differs. It is important to research each program and consider what aspects are most important to you. For example, my program was two full days of class and two days of internship (typically but could be different depending on the site), which gave me a full day off to work a part-time job. My program also offered a specialization of Trauma or Addiction, which is something no other New York schools had. If you can, try to reach out to alum of the programs to help get a clearer picture of what it might be like to attend a certain program. And do not be afraid to reach out to the program chairs themselves to get more information. It never hurts to ask a question.

Be aware of your own personal needs

Being in a full-time educational program is hard, especially when a portion of that program is dedicated to unpaid work with populations that might be challenging for you. It is likely that this type of work is very new to you so it is important to remember that you are still learning and it is okay to have trouble; do not be afraid to ask for support and guidance from your supervisor and teachers. It is what they are there for. The course work in combination with the internship (practicum, or whatever other words the program uses to describe this experience) can be incredibly exhausting and demand a lot of energy from you. Of course, the program is no tour entire life and many of us have other responsibilities such as kids, jobs, etc. Not to mention what we do for leisure and socialization. Thus, balancing school and life is not a walk in the park for most of us.

Building an understanding of your psychology and physical needs is imperative in general, but especially when undergoing a rigorous educational program in Art Therapy. As we are being trained as mental health clinicians, we must strive to be aware of our own mental health and how it could affect the clients we work with. Assessing and providing yourself with what you need is important to be able to continue to do your work and enjoy yourself at the same time. Self-care is of the utmost importance; check out this post about identifying and maintaining self-care if you want to learn more about integrating self-care into your routine.

What happens next?

Following graduation comes the least fun part (at least in my opinion). Applying for jobs is intimidating, nerve-wracking, and requires a lot of effort, but of course, it is necessary. Once you find a job, the real fun begins! Getting to work with clients as a professional is what we have worked hard for through the years of schooling.

Depending on your state’s licensure, you might have to obtain a permit or license before finding a job, while some require a job first. Some states might require certain exams, some might not. Licensing is so different across the states, some do not even have any licensing for Art Therapists! Familiarize yourself so you have an idea for what comes next.