Art Therapists

Therapy is an important part of our medical field. Even if sitcoms and comedians joke about therapy, many of us would be lost without some form of outlet to help us understand ourselves and our world. So what exactly do art therapists do?

Duties of Art Therapists

Art therapists fall under the general category of recreational therapy. However, their focus is primary on providing therapy for any level of mental or emotional issues based on the idea that creative output is a significant form of healing. If you have ever kept a diary, or painted or drawn a picture on a bad day, or even played music to lift your mood, you can quickly see the benefits of a creative outlet.

Some of the mediums that art therapists use to help provide counseling and relief to others are painting, writing, building, and dance. Each medium has different results in helping the patient learn to control their emotions and discover where their strengths and weaknesses lie. Art therapists can work with any age and adjust their therapy methods accordingly.

Educational Requirements and Job Outlook

Since art therapy is a specialty of recreational therapy, you may want to consider an undergraduate degree in recreational therapy with an emphasis in art therapy. Or you can also seek a master’s degree in art therapy. Art therapy master’s degree programs are at least 2 years with a minimum of 24 graduate credit hours in an art therapy core curriculum. This may sound like a significant investment of your time and finding a way to go back to college could be difficult. There are options.

Depending on your expertise, you can stand to make between $30,000 to $50,000 in your first few years as an art therapist and make up to $80,000 with more experience. If you open a private practice you can expect an average hourly rate of around $85 to $120. Art therapists bring in a healthy income and often are doing exactly what they love, helping people through art.

Art is something you love, so you have decided this is the career for you. Balancing your family, work and personal life takes a large portion of your day and going back to college may seem impossible. Fortunately, online courses have become a very popular option for those wanting an education while making only minor changes to their every day lives. However, it’s worth it. Art therapists enjoy a lot of career satisfaction as they are able to help others learn to express themselves and understand their place in the universe.