Art Therapist
Explore the Art Therapy Career...
Art therapy, a career that combines art and the process of its creation with psychological and therapeutic underpinnings, offers a range of career opportunities, all with the goal of keeping individuals mentally strong and healthy, and directed toward fulfilling their life's purpose.
Art Therapy Resources
As an established mental health profession, those working in art therapy treat individuals struggling with a range of issues. Career options are vast, crossing over into many areas, and are especially suited for those who find visual works healing.
Many with artistic abilities become art therapists although the true purpose of the career is not to teach art, nor to require professional work from clients. This is a profession that requires a love for helping others, as well as an appreciation for how creativity changes and enhances everyone's life.
Chronic pain
Over 50 million Americans live with chronic pain and illness today, and that number is projected to increase. Art therapists use art as a distraction for those with chronic pain, and also as a technique to find alternative ways of living with these illnesses. They assist chronic pain patients in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and medical clinics.
Substance abuse and addiction
The use of gateway drugs - alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana - are on the rise, leading many individuals on the path toward addiction and abuse. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control found that 8% of individuals age 12 or older in 2007 had used an illicit drug in the month prior to the survey. (Substance Abuse Counseling).
Substance abuse recovery is a long-term process (Addiction Recovery). Art therapists conduct individual and group art therapy sessions for those struggling with addictions - taking individuals through several stages of self-discovery and healing.
Both rehabilitation centers (Substance Abuse Treatment Centers) and prisons hire art therapists to conduct art therapy programs.
Eating disorders
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, nearly 10 million females and 1 million males suffer from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Add to those numbers millions more who struggle with binge-eating disorders.
Art therapists help patients identify, explore, and resolve body image issues, and help lead these patients toward recovery. They work on in-patient hospital wards, outpatient programs, and for other community-based organizations.
Non-communicable diseases
According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases cause 38 million deaths annually. These diseases include cardiovascular disease and stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and degenerative diseases. Researchers are finding that innovative forms of therapy, such as art therapy, offer individuals the ability to cope and live with purpose and joy despite these illnesses.
Stress
According to statistics gathered by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, one-fourth of employees view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives, and three-fourths believe that workers have more on-the-job stress than a generation ago. Health complaints associated with work problems are more common than financial, family and all life-stressors that people report.
Therapists use art as a stress-reduction technique, as well as a way to help individuals make better decisions, increase self-esteem, set goals, and change their lives.
Other areas of employment for art therapists
Art therapists also work in private practice, treating patients privately on issues ranging from marriage and family issues, to cognitive-behavioral issues, to cases of abuse and trauma.
They are also employed by schools, mental health centers, and wellness centers, and an increasing number of businesses have started hiring art therapists. They work with all age groups, from preschool-aged children to the retired and those living in senior centers. Most of these positions require a master's degree, and some states require certification to become an art therapist.
If you are a compassionate individual that loves both art and helping others, consider a career as an art therapist. Request information from the schools offering degree programs in Art Therapy to find out more about the art therapy career.