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Clinical mental health counseling: art therapy.

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Help others explore the therapeutic power of art making.

Drawing from your experience as a visual artist, discover art making’s potential to help others gain self-awareness and understanding. Through our art therapy program, study to promote healing through drawing, painting, sculpting, and other media. Train alongside world-recognized faculty in a national hub for mental health practice and research, and spend 1,150 hours in the field fostering well-being in individuals, families, and communities.

At Lesley University, you’ll continue to explore your identity as an artist while developing as an art therapist. You will build the foundational skills and experiences needed to become a licensed mental health counselor. Working within our cross-disciplinary community, build your expertise in the therapeutic applications for art making, while finding opportunities to collaborate with students working in diverse artistic disciplines, from drama to music to writing.

As you train for a career in mental health counseling and art therapy, build an understanding of the science that underlies human behavior. Learn how to address the changing needs of human beings across the lifespan. Research the artistic, physical, cognitive, neurological, and social development of individuals. Infuse this science with creativity and compassion to help others come to a place of wholeness and wellness.

Gain the skills and experiences needed to practice in a range of clinical settings. Master assessment strategies and develop treatment plans for different populations, development levels, and cultures. Tap into our vast network of field training sites throughout Greater Boston and across the U.S.

Graduate prepared for an impactful career in mental health clinics, psychiatric clinics, hospitals, schools, and beyond.

Program Structure

3-Year Program, Full-Time; On-Campus or Low-Residency Formats

• To enroll in this program, you’ll need to show proof of your: Bachelor’s degree GPA of 3.0 or better Life experience and/or volunteer work related to human services. Completed coursework in: -Psychology (12 credits, including abnormal psychology and developmental psychology, with grades of B or better) -Studio Art (18 credits, with grades of B or better) Not all coursework must be complete before you apply. Contact Graduate Admissions for details.
• Required art therapy courses in art therapy theory, group work, art therapy studio, and assessment.
• Required core courses in expressive therapies theory, research, and practice, human development, and ethics
• Elective courses including one art therapy-related course and one interdisciplinary course
• Field experience including clinical skills and applications coursework and supervised internship experiences
• On Campus Full-time, 3-Year Program Take 3-12 credits/semester for 8 semesters, including summers. Low-Residency Take 6-9 credits/semester for 9 semesters, including summers. Complete in 3 years.

Lesley’s Art Therapy Specialization endeavors to prepare competent entry-level Art Therapists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.  Specifically, the program aims to prepare its students to become skilled, knowledgeable, compassionate art therapy professionals who are able to work in a diverse world.  Students are trained to use the art media and the creative process to treat emotional and physical illness, and to help people achieve a greater sense of integration, wholeness, and wellness. Towards this end, they maintain their identities as artists, develop fundamental skills as mental health counselors, and integrate these realms into their work as art therapists.   In addition to their proficiency with the visual arts, students also gain familiarity and comfort with other creative arts modalities. The power of art, dance, drama, expressive arts and music give voice to personal meaning from a cultural and critical pedagogical context. The interdisciplinary nature of the arts meets the needs of a wide range of clinical populations in preparing our students for professional growth, lifelong learning and leadership in their communities. Another aim of students’ training is mentoring them to become leaders who can influence both constructive change in society and their profession.  

Program Goals and Learning Statement

Learn more about the expected program goals that our Expressive Therapies master's degree programs meet.

The goal of the Expressive Therapies master’s degree programs is to provide students the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to practice in a range of professional settings, including health care facilities, schools, community agencies, and private practices. The Expressive Therapies 60-credit programs meet the academic and field training requirements for mental health counselor licensure (LMHC) in Massachusetts. (Students intending to work outside of Massachusetts are advised to review their state's regulations to determine their eligibility for licensure.) Specialization tracks prepare graduates for certification or registration by their respective professional associations.  

The Expressive Therapies faculty established these program goals. Aligned with the mission of Lesley and the Graduate School of Arts & Social Sciences, they are also specific to the Graduate Expressive Therapies Department, with deep consideration of our program’s history and the contemporary landscape of expressive therapies and mental health counseling.

1. Dual Identity as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Expressive Therapist  

Students will demonstrate a dual identity as a clinical mental health counselor and expressive therapist, and an understanding of the ways in which the professions enhance and complement one another. 

2. Professional Orientation and Ethics  

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the counseling profession and their modality profession. Students will demonstrate the capacity to provide counseling services within the ethical codes of the counseling profession and their modality specializations, and with an understanding of legal issues. 

3. Clinical Mental Health Counseling Theory  

Students will gain substantial knowledge of core counseling theories as applied to individual and group processes, skills, and approaches. 

4. Human Development Across the Lifespan  

Students will assess and cultivate an understanding of human growth and development throughout the lifespan, including an understanding of arts-based development, and the connection between developmental theory, clinical issues. Students will be able to design interventions, as well as apply considerations of environmental, biological, and cultural factors. 

5. Clinical Skills and Helping Relationships  

Students will demonstrate counseling skills and techniques which exhibit awareness of self and other in the therapeutic relationship. Students will demonstrate the ability to document and evaluate progress towards treatment goals.  

6. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  

Students will develop a critical multicultural lens of the sociocultural foundations in the counseling and expressive therapy process, including developing an awareness and knowledge of power, privilege, and oppression at the micro, macro, personal, and interpersonal levels. Students will develop strategies to identify and eliminate cultural barriers, prejudice, and discriminatory practices.  

7. Career Development  

Students will demonstrate knowledge of vocational counseling theory and apply career development methods to individual professional development. 

8. Group Process in Counseling and Expressive Therapies  

Students will develop a theoretical and embodied understanding of group process and dynamics, theory, skill, and approaches. 

9. Assessment  

Students will gain knowledge and skills in understanding and utilizing formal assessment instruments and information gathering techniques, used in case conceptualization, treatment planning. Students will also be able to analyze and critique assessment tools regarding ethical usage and multicultural competency.  

10. Research and Program Evaluation  

Students will develop the ability to locate, read, critique, and evaluate research to inform clinical practice. Through this activity, students will contribute knowledge to the profession of counseling and their modality specializations. 

11. Psycho-diagnostics and Treatment  

Students will gain an understanding of the broad spectrum of psychopathology and diagnostic criteria utilized in the current DSM 5 and ICD 10 to inform ethical clinical practice and evaluation within a diverse context. 

12. Trauma and Crisis Intervention  

 Students will demonstrate trauma-informed skills within clinical practice, including knowledge of crisis intervention, and risk and suicide assessment. Students will understand current research and application in how the arts are used in trauma-informed practice, including individual, community, cultural, and systemic complex trauma across the lifespan. 

13. Embodied, Experiential and Creative Clinical Practices  

Students will be able to articulate, embody, and apply the transformative nature of creativity and the arts intrapersonally, interpersonally, and clinically, demonstrating the integration of knowledge and skills within practice.   

14. Mental Health and Community Systems  

Students will demonstrate knowledge and apply skills associated with working in diverse communities and multi-disciplinary teams. Students will critically analyze methods of treatment, referral, and interdisciplinary collaboration from a global health perspective.  

15. Personal Growth, Insight, and Congruence  

Students will develop and engage in multifaceted processes which foster self-awareness, and awareness of others’ experiences with cultural sensitivity. Students will develop and begin to articulate and evidence, in their scholarship and clinical practices, their theoretical orientation.   

Students take courses in a scheduled sequence, where learning takes place in increments that align with their emerging competencies as clinicians. Following the program's course sequence ensures that students build upon knowledge and skills in a manner that maximizes their learning efforts, and that is appropriate and supportive, as they begin to practice in the field. 

Lesley's Master of Arts Program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Art Therapy is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE). The program meets the current educational requirements to apply for licensure in clinical mental health counseling in Massachusetts, and also meets the current educational requirements to apply for the Registered Art Therapist (ATR) credential with the Art Therapy Credentials Board.

Student Retention and Positive Placement for Art Therapy Graduates

On-Campus Option

Become part of a community of artists and scholars in Cambridge while pursuing your degree. Gain in-person access to leaders in the field and benefit from Lesley’s professional network in and around Greater Boston and New England. Taking three to four courses per semester, immerse in rigorous study and complete your program within a three year sequence.

Best if you:

• Live near Cambridge or are able to relocate
• Enjoy the rigor of an intensive program and want to take advantage of internships in Greater Boston
• Want face-to-face time with faculty and peers and to become integrated into campus life
• Are not planning to work full-time during your studies

Low-Residency Option

Participate in one 3-week summer residency per year on Lesley University’s Cambridge campus. Between residencies, continue your studies online with Lesley faculty and through supervised field experiences in your community. Your courses correspond with those of our on-campus program, and will be completed within three years.

• Live at a distance
• Enjoy the flexibility of online learning
• Want to take fewer courses at a time
• Would like to complete internships/research in your community

Student location:

• If you are are located in, or plan to be located in New York or North Carolina at any time during your enrollment, you are not eligible to enroll in our Low Residency program, due to regulations that exist in those states.
• If you are located in, or plan to be located in Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Wisconsin at any time during your enrollment, please discuss your location and licensure plans with an admissions counselor in order to determine if you are eligible to enroll in our program.  
• Please visit Lesley’s Licensure and Credentialing webpage for more information. 
• Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals
• Outpatient Clinics
• Public Schools
• Therapeutic Schools
• Substance Abuse Clinics
• AIDS Treatment Centers
• Domestic Violence Shelters
• Homeless Shelters
• Nursing Homes
• Senior Centers
• Residential Homes

Depending on your professional goals, where you reside or plan to practice, and the licensure requirements within that state, there are different pathways toward licensure or credentialing that may be relevant. In accordance with Lesley University’s institutional participation in SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) and with federal regulations, we strongly encourage prospective applicants who intend to pursue licensure in a state other than Massachusetts to visit the Lesley University Licensure and Credentialing webpage and review the “Licensure Information for Students and Applicants” document for their specific program.

Colleen Shannon ’04

Hours you’ll spend turning theory into practice through field training and internships..

Graduate Student Scholarships

Online Psychology Boot Camp

How Creative Expression Can Benefit Older Adults

Simona Granfone ’15

Of our 2019 graduating class is employed or furthering their education., art therapy professional certifications, needham mural brings together art therapy alumnae, community, where our graduates work.

Samantha Sundermeyer ’14

Art Therapy graduate Samantha Sundermeyer explores a new path to healing at Cultivate Care Farm, a seven-acre therapeutic farm designed to treat children, teens and adults struggling with an array of emotional, developmental, and psychological challenges.

Souhad Chbeir ’18

As a native of Lebanon, it was seeing the plight of Syrian refugees that drove Souhad to explore the social implications for the expressive arts. Now she’s seeking to transform her art therapy degree into a career empowering children who have experienced the trauma of war. “My first residency experience was nurturing, friendly, and inspiring. The energy of the group set me free. I have never felt this way in my career," says Souhad.

Have questions about the expressive therapies master's program? View our frequently asked questions to find your answer.

When does the program start?  

The master’s program in expressive therapies only has one start term per year, which is summer. On-campus students have an online orientation course in July, with on-campus courses beginning in the fall. Low-residency students have an online orientation course in July followed by a 2-3 week on-campus residency, with online courses in the fall and spring. 

Do you offer the program online?  

Through the low-residency format, students attend an in-person summer residency each July on Lesley’s campus. In the fall and spring semesters, students continue their studies online with a mix of asynchronous and synchronous coursework. Field work is completed in their home community. The completion time for this model is 3 years (20 credits each year with 2-3 courses per semester). Internships take place in years 2 and 3, alongside coursework in the fall and spring semesters.  

Are the online courses in the low-residency program asynchronous or synchronous?  

Students in the low-residency program attend the on-campus residency each July. During the fall and spring semesters, students take their coursework online with a mix of asynchronous and synchronous learning.  

How do students in the low-residency programs stay connected as a learning community?  

During the 3-year program, students in the low-residency model come to campus each July for their residency. During this time, students and faculty make very strong connections that are fostered throughout the program. When learning online, students participate in both synchronous and asynchronous learning. Lesley’s Online Learning Platform also offers interactive tools that can be used for courses beyond just posting comments to a discussion board. You can use a collaborative tool to work on group projects, work with your class to find a time that works for everyone to video in to connect, instant message with faculty or peers, upload PowerPoint presentations and record yourself over the presentation as if you were giving it in person and faculty and peers can provide feedback. Faculty make the online work as engaging as possible and the in-person residency period is very hands-on and experiential! Students stay connected through email, phone, Zoom and social media as well! 

How is the on-campus model formatted?  

Our on-campus model has courses during the daytime, on weekdays, or in an intensive format as well (either a weekend-intensive course or a five-day intensive course). The completion time for this model is 3 years (20 credits each year with 3 courses per semester). Internships take place in years 2 and 3 alongside coursework in the fall and spring semesters. 

Can I continue to work full-time while in the program?  

We don’t typically recommend that students work full time while in the program. Our on-campus courses take place during the daytime as well as nights and weekends, and daytime courses cannot be avoided.  Please keep in mind that there are synchronous components to the low-residency model’s online coursework. Your place of employment would need to be flexible should you be required to attend your synchronous online course during regular business hours. 

In the low residency model, it may be possible to work full-time for the first year of the program, as long as you can take the required weeks off in July for residency. If you can find an internship site in your second year of the program that has nights and weekend hours, you may be able to complete the 15 hours/week that are needed and still work full time and come for residency in July.  The third year of the program, however, requires about 25 hours/week at your site, making it impossible to work full time, complete your coursework, and fulfill those hours.    

How do I submit my portfolio?  

Portfolios should be submitted on Slideroom. Learn more about the portfolio requirements and how to set up an account with Slideroom .

If my GPA does not meet the preferred requirement of a 3.0 or higher, can I still apply?  

The program prefers that applicants have a GPA of a 3.0 or higher, however applicants with a lower GPA may still be reviewed. If you have a lower GPA and are concerned about it impacting your admissions decision, we recommend addressing this in your Written Personal Statement. You can address anything that may have affected your grades, or you can address why you believe you are prepared at this time to be successful in a graduate program. 

How do I select a writing sample?  

The Academic Writing Sample can be a previously written research-based paper from a college-level course. It should show your ability to think critically, synthesize information, and write at the academic level. Your submission can be on any topic and must be between 3 and 5 pages in length (double-spaced). If you have written a longer paper, you can submit an excerpt of 3-5 chronological pages (it is okay if the submission is out of context). If you do not have a paper from your previous studies, or if you graduated from college several years ago, you may choose to write a 3-5 page paper on a topic of interest. Please choose your best writing to submit for review.  

If admitted into the program, can I defer?  

If unexpected circumstances are preventing you from starting your Lesley graduate program in the term you were admitted, you may request to defer your enrollment for up to 1 year. You will be required to submit an enrollment deposit and deferral request form to hold your spot.  Learn more about the deferral process .

I am interested in more than one art modality. Can I apply to multiple programs?   

Although you can’t apply to more than one specialization, a unique aspect of our program is that you still get exposure to each of the art forms. Meaning, if you chose to pursue Drama Therapy, some of your core courses would still train you in the other expressive therapies in a therapeutic setting. This helps you down the road when you may be working with a client who may not respond to one specific modality. Theory and practice are interwoven into this program’s curriculum.  

Which prerequisites do I need in order to apply?

Art Therapy Program

Completed coursework in: Psychology (12 credits, including abnormal psychology and developmental psychology, with grades of B or better). Studio Art (18 credits, with grades of B or better). Not all coursework must be complete before you apply. Contact Graduate Admissions for details.

Dance Therapy Program

6 credits of completed coursework in psychology with grades of B or better and Anatomy and Kinesiology with a grade of B or higher. Not all coursework must be complete before you apply. Contact Graduate Admissions for details.

Drama Therapy Program

6 credits of completed coursework in psychology with grades of B or better. Not all coursework must be complete before you apply. Contact Graduate Admissions for details.

Expressive Arts Therapy Program

3 credits of completed coursework in abnormal psychology and 3 credits of completed coursework in developmental psychology with grades of B or better. Not all coursework must be complete before you apply. Contact Graduate Admissions for details.

Music Therapy Program

6 credits of completed coursework in psychology with grades of B or better.

Principles and Practices of Music Therapy (3 credits) or a music therapy course that includes the history and survey of the profession, its theoretical approaches, and its application to various populations. Not all coursework must be complete before you apply. Contact Graduate Admissions for details.

How can I gain experience in the field of human services and learn more about Expressive Therapies?  

Prospective students can gain human service experience by pursuing community resources through volunteering and observation. This will greatly strengthen an application when ultimately applying to the program. Below are some resources for prospective students to explore: 

www.volunteermatch.com    

www.idealist.org  

Students may also learn about what types of work Expressive Therapists are doing in the field by exploring the resources below:    Art Therapy: American Art Therapy Association (AATA)     Expressive Arts Therapy: International Expressive Arts Therapy (IEATA)     Dance/Movement Therapy: American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA)     Drama Therapy: North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA)     Music Therapy: American Music Therapy: American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)    

Voices – An online journal that looks at social justice through the use of Music Therapy.  

Jessica Kingsley Publishers – A publishing company that houses reading material for all creative arts therapies. 

Barcelona Publishers – A publishing company “dedicated entirely to the field of music therapy” with the goal of expanding and moving the field forward.  

How can I schedule an appointment to learn more? 

Please click on the links below to schedule a time to meet with admissions or visit our campus.

Schedule an Appointment with a Graduate Admissions Counselor

Attend an Information Session or Campus Tour

• Mental Health Therapist
• Activity Therapist
• Creative Therapist
• Art Therapist
• Recreation Therapist
• Mental Health Specialist
• Mental Health Clinics
• Psychiatric Clinics
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Correctional Facilities

Kelvin Ramirez

Associate Professor/Coordinator of Art Therapy

Dr. Kelvin Ramirez is a Board Certified Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC) and core faculty member of the Department of Graduate Expressive Therapies . Kelvin is a Board Member of FNE International, a 501(c)3 organization that partners with communities in developing nations to identify opportunities to advance housing, health and education. With that international experience, Kelvin continues to collaborate and develops programs with educators, clinicians, and community leaders in Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and India. He has developed academic curriculum that build and reinforce initiatives in Nicaragua, The Dominican Republic, Haiti and India.

Prior to joining Lesley, Kelvin was the vice principal of a high school in the South Bronx where he developed and incorporated art therapy within educational systems to enhance student’s personal and academic growth. During his 9-year tenure as vice principal, art therapy was infused throughout the academic and therapeutic approaches of the school, increasing retention and shifting behavioral approaches to enhance students' socio-emotional development.

Kelvin has taught for the Counseling Division at the College of New Rochelle and the Clinical Art Therapy Program at Long Island University C.W. Post.

His current areas of interest and research include:

• The development of international art therapy initiatives that conform to the specific needs of communities
• Contemporary social justice issues
• How art therapy addresses or ignores systemic oppression
• The underrepresentation of people of color within the field of art therapy and the implications of this on theory and practice
• The connections between horticultural therapy and art therapy to transform communities

Teaching is important to Kelvin, because it is through this act of service that people are prepared to direct their destinies and author their own stories. It is a profession that entrusts educators with the malleable minds of the future. Kelvin holds fast to the unwavering ideals that brought him to education, including that social injustices can only be remedied by an educated populous, that an educated mind is a mind called into action for the betterment of all human kind, and that through educating our future generations, our positive influence on the world will continue long after we expire.

Raquel Stephenson

Professor, Art Therapy

Dr. Raquel Stephenson  is a board-certified, registered art therapist (ATR-BC) and a licensed creative arts therapist (LCAT). She joined Lesley in 2013 as a core faculty member of the Department of Graduate Expressive Therapies, in the Art Therapy Program.    Prior to joining Lesley, Raquel was a 2010/2011 Fulbright Scholar to Estonia, where she taught in the Department of Applied Creativity at Tallinn University and continues to teach as a visiting guest lecturer. Raquel was on the faculty of the graduate art therapy programs New York University and the School of Visual Arts, and frequently is a visiting instructor at other institutions worldwide.      Committed to improving the lives of older adults through the arts, Dr. Stephenson’s work has focused on a wide spectrum of older populations. She was co-founder and teaching artist for the Teaching Artist, Creative Approaches to Healthy Aging program, funded by two National Endowment for the Arts ArtWorks Grants, and founder, clinical supervisor, and program director of New York University’s Creative Aging Therapeutic Services. Raquel consults with emerging clinical art therapy programs worldwide and designed and implemented the first creative arts therapy program for older adults with dementia in Estonia.  

Raquel serves on the National Advisory Council and Program Advisory Committee of Arts for the Aging in Rockville, MD, and the Advisory Council of the Art Therapy Project in New York City. She also serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Creativity and Human Development.  

She is a Faculty Fellow of the  Institute for Arts and Health  here at Lesley University, and a member of the UNESCO-UNITWIN Chair on Life Design, Decent Work, and Sustainable Development. 

Raquel loves to be outdoors in any way possible, especially sailing, skiing, whitewater kayaking, hiking, and spending time with her family. While she loves New England, Raquel is an enthusiastic explorer and thrives on a journey anywhere. 

Karen Frostig

Professor, Expressive Therapies, College of Art and Design

Dr. Karen Frostig is a Professor of Art who teaches in Lesley's Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, the College of Art and Design, and in the arts programs in the Graduate School of Education. She is a public memory artist, a writer, a cultural historian, community organizer. She is the Founding Director of the Locker of Memory memorial project to the victims of the Jungfernhof concentration camp (2019-) currently under development and located in Riga, Latvia.

She was the Founding Director of The Vienna Project (2013-2014), a temporary memorial situated in 16 districts in Vienna. She was a Resident Scholar at Brandeis University’s Women’s Studies Research Center (2010-2021) and is now an affiliated scholar at the center. She holds dual citizenship in the United States and in the Republic of Austria.

In 2017, Karen received the Massachusetts College of Art and Design's Distinguished Alumni Award. That same year she was awarded the International Caucus Honor Roll Awardee for Art and Activism, presented by the UN Program of Women's Caucus for Art.

Karen exhibits her work extensively in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. She is a frequent speaker and keynote speaker at international conferences. Karen has received multiple awards and grants from organizations such as the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), National Fund of the Republic of Austria, ZukunftsFonds, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and many more.

She has also published numerous books chapters and articles in professional journals on topics dealing with art activism, memory, testimony, interactive methodologies, visual culture, and public education.

www.lockerofmemory.com

www.theviennaproject.org

www.karenfrostig.com

www.blazediscourse.com

Michelle Napoli

Assistant Professor, Art Therapy

Dr. Napoli (she/her/hers) is the Supervisor of Academic Affairs (SAA) in the Expressive Therapies Division in the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences.  As SAA, Michelle focuses on recruitment, hiring, retention, as well as professional and community development with adjunct faculty in the division.  Michelle also collaborates with faculty to integrate culturally responsive and anti-oppressive approaches in expressive therapies and counselor education pedagogy.  This scholarship is an ongoing commitment to equity work with an intersectional lens.  Michelle has been an expressive therapies and mental health counselor educator for over 15 years.

Dr. Napoli’s community-based work focuses on authentic cultural continuity and identity formation as prevention and treatment.  Personally, she integrates the arts as cultural resiliency and for language reacquisition in collaboration with her Native community, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.  Michelle’s ontological perspective is informed by her identity as Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo and connections with her ancestral homeland in what is now Marin and Sonoma Counties in Central California. As a Native artist, Michelle engages with Native community and artists in the New England area in collaboration with the Institute for New England Native American Studies.  She also collaborates with a collective of researchers and providers regarding culturally responsive community-based work in Guatemala.   She is the founder of the Survivor Quilt Project, which created the traveling exhibit “Incest Survivors Speaking Truth to the Next Generation” to discuss preventive, proactive considerations regarding the impact of trauma across generations.  

• Low-Residency
• Tuition $1,190/credit x 60 $71,400
• Fees Field Experience Fees $2,180 Materials Fees $350 Registration Fees $320 MAP Tevera Fee $195 Activity Fees $180 Practicum Fees $140 Degree Completion Fee $75

All graduate students are reviewed for merit scholarships through the admissions process and are awarded at the time of acceptance. Other forms of financial aid are also available. Review all graduate tuition and fees , and what they cover. Tuition and fees are subject to change each year, effective June 1.

• Fees Field Experience Fees $2,180 Registration Fees $360 Materials Fees $350 Mental Health Field Placement and Licensure Software Subscription $195 Practicum Fees $140 Degree Completion Fee $75

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Expressive Arts Therapy

Specialty Program

Develop the theory and technique to integrate the therapeutic use of expressive arts within your counseling practice.

Add Creative Exploration To Your Practice

Explore a variety of expressive arts modalities while developing your unique professional identity as a mental health professional who uses the creative arts as a therapeutic tool for growth and healing.

• Visual arts
• Movement-based creative expression
• Sound/music
• Creative writing
• Nature-based practices

Discover You’re Inner Source of Creativity

You’ll discover your inner source of creativity, using your personal artistic experience as a tool for self-discovery and self-expression as you learn to identify appropriate expressive arts modalities when working with diverse individuals, families, and groups.

The specialty consists of:

• 100% online courses in our time-tested virtual format
• Supervised internship
• Final portfolio project

Registration as an Expressive Arts Therapist

Our EXAT specialty program is designed to meet the educational requirements to become a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) with the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA). Please see the post graduate requirements at www.ieata.org . Program graduates must independently apply for registration through the IEATA.

Chart Your Course

The online Expressive Arts Therapy specialty seamlessly integrates into each CACREP-accredited Master of Arts in Counseling concentration, both online and in person.

Learn more about our Expressive Arts Therapy faculty, students, and alumni.

As an educator, I aim to provide my students with a relational learning environment that stimulates engagement, encouragement, and creativity. …

I am passionate about helping students as they learn and grow. I have an excitement for life, and I enjoy …

Required Courses

Please refer to our course catalog for the most up-to-date course requirements.

Upon completion of the program, students will have mastery over the following:

• Theory and Technique: Describe the theories, techniques, and functions of multimodal expressive arts therapy, emphasizing cross-cultural contexts of creative expression.
• History and Context: Describe the historical uses of the expressive arts in different cultures and the evolution of contemporary expressive arts practices.
• Foundational Principles: Demonstrate understanding of the basic principles of different expressive arts modalities, such as art therapy, dance therapy, psychodrama, and music therapy, and how these principles can be applied through a multimodal approach.
• Professional Perspective: Apply the expressive arts through a systemic lens to address diverse clinical, social, and cultural issues that present in clinical and community-based practice.
• Adlerian Psychology: Demonstrate how Adlerian theory can inform the application of the expressive arts through conceptualization and technique.
• Artistic Expression and Mental Health: Conceptualize the relationship between artistic expression and individual mental health, including assessment, treatment planning, and techniques, as applied to selected client disorders within a cross-cultural context.
• Multimodal Approach: Apply a multimodal approach of the expressive arts, including visual arts, movement, music, creative writing, and nature-based practices to foster the mind-body-spirit integration.
• Ethical Consideration: Identify possible professional and ethical issues when using the expressive arts.
• Inclusive Understanding and Ability: Identify and apply appropriate expressive arts modalities when working with special populations and diverse individuals, families, groups, and systems to help foster healthy self-expression and movement toward mental health wellness.
• Personal Growth: Demonstrate personal and professional growth through the expressive arts.

Next Steps?

It’s time to take the next step in your journey. Choose yours below.

Contact the Admissions Office

Shawn Larson, MS

to schedule a 1:1 please use my  Calendly link

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• BA in Psychology/MA in Art Therapy
• Non-Degree Student Online Course
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healing the mind and body

Through the therapeutic power of art.

The GW Art Therapy Program combines the expressive use of drawing, painting and sculpture with psychotherapeutic concepts to aid in healing the mind and body. Founded in 1971 , the fully accredited program is one of the first of its kind in the United States. It offers a rare combination of international partnerships , internships and trauma training while providing practical experience through its Art Therapy Clinic . The program also supports students' artistic pursuits, with frequent exhibits in a modern gallery space.

Students learn through hands-on training guided by our faculty, who are all credentialed art therapists with expertise in clinical practice and research. The academic program offers master’s and combined bachelor’s and master’s degrees that facilitate professional licensure upon graduation.

MA in Art Therapy Info Session: June 14

Join us online for an information session discussing the field of art therapy and the GW Master of Arts in Art Therapy program.

Register to Attend

Art Therapy by the Numbers

Average Retention Rate

2023 : 92.59% 2022 : 83.87% 2021 : 90.91%

Average Graduate Employment Rate*

2023 : 94.10% 2022 : 100% 2021 : 95.24%

*Positive placement within six months

More Program Outcomes

In the News

Student Research Shines at CCAS Showcase

April 26, 2024

Undergraduate and graduate students, including art therapy master’s student Bianca Batar, displayed their scholarly work at the 2024 CCAS Research Showcase.

What We Offer

Comprehensive Trauma Training

Offering training from experts, the curriculum enables students to study trauma theory in the classroom and then apply those lessons to real-life client work.

In-House Clinical Training

In the GW Art Therapy Clinic , students gain experience alongside registered, board-certified faculty while giving back to the local community.

International Opportunities

GW's program is unique in the field for our international focus, offering research and study abroad opportunities in India, Hong Kong, Croatia and more.

Professional Licensure Preparation

Students complete nearly 1,000 hours of clinical training, many of which may be applied toward professional licensure in art therapy after graduation.

“Not only has this program provided me with a deeper understanding of the field of art therapy, but it has helped me to foster a deeper understanding of myself. By cultivating more self awareness and strengthening my own identity as an aspiring art therapist, I feel better equipped to enter into the helping profession with confidence.”

Bo Hundley MA '20

Accreditation

The Art Therapy Program at the George Washington University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE).

CAAHEP manages the ACATE accreditation process.

The Art Therapy Program at the George Washington University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design .

- Learn more

Healing Through the Power of Art

Earn Your PhD in Art Therapy

PhD in Art Therapy

As one of only two PhD Art Therapy programs in the country, Dominican's PhD Art Therapy program attracts a diverse student body from throughout the United States and overseas. Graduates are contributing to the local, national, and international development and recognition of the profession, and are leaders in advancing the theoretical, research, and clinical foundations of Art Therapy. 

Program Highlights

• A vibrant alumni network and connections with organizations such as the American Art Therapy Association (AATA), California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT), and the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB).
• Continuing Education Unit (CEU) Training
• Training for clinicians, researchers, and leaders in the field
• Small class sizes and individual faculty advising prepare students for successful careers.

The graduate art therapy programs offer robust education with a special emphasis on clinical practicum, art-based research, cultural humility, and international art therapy. Gigi Gokcek, Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Education

Meet Your Counselor

Your admissions counselor is ready to help you! Fill out the form and they will connect with you shortly.

Students may apply to enter the PhD in Art Therapy for the fall semester, every other year and should meet the following requirements:

• Master's degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited institution is required to apply to the Art Therapy PhD program.
• Students need to have met all or most all of the academic requirements to become an ATR.
• Completion of 18 semester units in studio art (including drawing, painting & clay) and 12 units in psychology (general psychology, abnormal psychology, lifespan development, and personality psychology).
• Completed application for admission
• Two letters of recommendation, professional or academic.
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, with one transcript showing a master's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S., or equivalent academic preparation outside of the U.S. Find complete instructions on how to submit your transcripts to Dominican  here.
• Portfolio of original artwork to demonstrate competence with a range of art materials; 10-12 JPEG images are preferred.
• An autobiographical statement, generally, three to four pages.
• Application to apply courses to Dominican’s prerequisites. 
• In-person or preliminary online interview
• Published article or scholarly academic writing (the scholarly writing can include a masters thesis)
• Resume 

2024-2025 Tuition and Fees

Scholarships

Scholarships and grants are types of aid that do not have to be repaid and that can help to directly reduce your tuition expenses.

To view more information on tuition and aid,  click here .

Below you will find some of the courses you would be taking as an Art Therapy student:

• Art as a Way of Knowing: I-V
• Philosophical Foundations
• Theoretical Approaches
• Art Therapy Practices: I-IV
• Practicum: I-VI
• Research: I-VII

Fill out this form and a counselor will be in touch soon!

✔ Top-ranked university  ✔ Personalized learning experience ✔ Career support

Art Therapy Student Success

As a student in Dominican University of California’s doctoral program in Art Therapy, the soon-to-be Dr. Dawn Fiacco, PhD, focused her research on understanding nutrition and the concept of food as...

The Dominican Experience

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MPhil/PhD Art Psychotherapy

Content navigation menu, why study mphil/phd art psychotherapy at goldsmiths.

We offer opportunities for students who want to pursue research in art psychotherapy.

• Goldsmiths has a world-class reputation for creativity and innovation, and a commitment to encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration.
• You meet your supervisors regularly for discussion and guidance, and present your work to the Art Psychotherapy research student group.
• You also attend the Goldsmiths Research Methods Training Course.
• Whatever your topic, you have your first supervisor in Art Psychotherapy and may have your second in another department –  Art ,  Educational Studies ,  Psychology , or  Sociology , for example.
• For MPhil and PhD study, you usually register for research by written thesis (although there are also possibilities for research based on a written element and studio practice).

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Panagiotis Pentaris .

3-4 years full-time or 4-6 years part-time

Entry requirements

You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) a taught Masters in Art Therapy/Art Psychotherapy. You might also be considered if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

Home - full-time: £4786 International - full-time: £22640

Social, Therapeutic and Community Studies

You'll research

Supervision is currently available in the following areas:.

• Art therapists and their art
• Cross-cultural issues
• Evidence-based practices
• History and development of the professions in the UK and internationally
• Occupational choice, career development and role change of arts therapists and arts therapy trainees
• Clinical work with various client populations

Previous research topics include:

• Key issues in art psychotherapy with the blind
• The creative experience inside and outside an art psychotherapy group
• The image as an assessment tool with children who have an autistic spectrum disorder
• Thinking about art with adults who have learning disabilities
• Art therapists’ working environments

Find out more about  research degrees at Goldsmiths

You should normally have (or expect to be awarded) a taught Masters in Art Therapy/Art Psychotherapy. 

You might also be considered if you aren’t a graduate or your degree is in an unrelated field, but have relevant experience and can show that you have the ability to work at postgraduate level.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about  the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or  equivalent English language qualification ) of  6.5 with a 6.5 in writing and no element lower than 6.0  to study this programme. If you need assistance with your English language, we offer a range of  courses that can help prepare you for postgraduate-level study .

How to apply

Apply directly to Goldsmiths using our online application system

We advise you to get in touch with the programme contact, listed above before you apply for a research programme. It may also be possible to arrange an advisory meeting.

Before you start at Goldsmiths, the actual topic of your research has to be agreed with your proposed supervisor, who will be a member of staff active in your general field of research. The choice of topic may be influenced by the current research in the department or the requirements of an external funding body. 

If you wish to study on a part-time basis, you should also indicate how many hours a week you intend to devote to research, whether this will be at evenings or weekends, and for how many hours each day.

Submitting your application

Before submitting your application you'll need to have: 

• Details of  your education history , including the dates of all exams/assessments
• The  email address of your referee  who we can request a reference from, or alternatively an electronic copy of your academic reference
• Contact details of a second referee
• A  personal statement –  this can either be uploaded as a Word Document or PDF, or completed online  Please see our guidance on writing a postgraduate statement
• If available, an electronic copy of your educational transcript (this is particularly important if you have studied outside of the UK, but isn’t mandatory)
• Details of your  research proposal  (see below)

You'll be able to save your progress at any point and return to your application by logging in using your username/email and password.

Research proposals

Along with your application and academic reference, you will also need to upload a research proposal at the point of application. 

Your research proposal should respond to each question set out in our  STaCS departmental research proposal form (download here) .

When to apply  

We accept applications from October for students wanting to start the following September. 

We encourage you to complete your application as early as possible, even if you haven't finished your current programme of study. It's very common to be offered a place conditional on you achieving a particular qualification.  

If you're applying for external funding from one of the Research Councils, make sure you submit your application by the deadline they've specified. 

Selection process 

Admission to many programmes is by interview, unless you live outside the UK. Occasionally we'll make candidates an offer of a place on the basis of their application and qualifications alone.

Find out more about applying for a research degree.

Fees and funding

Annual tuition fees.

These are the PG fees for students starting their programme in the 2024/2025 academic year.

• Home - full-time: £4786
• International - full-time: £22640

If your fees are not listed here, please check our postgraduate fees guidance or contact the Fees Office , who can also advise you about how to pay your fees.

It’s not currently possible for international students to study part-time under a student visa. If you think you might be eligible to study part-time while being on another visa type, please contact our Admissions Team for more information.

If you are looking to pay your fees please see our guide to making a payment .

Funding opportunities

Esrc/senss doctoral studentships.

Fully funded ESRC studentships are available to research students via this Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP).

Use the Goldsmiths scholarships finder below to find out what other funding you may be eligible for. 

Paying your fees

Find out about paying your tuition fees .

If you are a UK student you may be eligible for a  postgraduate loan .

Meanwhile our Careers Service  can also offer advice on finding work during your studies.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fees, you'll be responsible for any additional costs associated with your course, such as buying stationery and paying for photocopying. You can find out more about what you need to budget for on our study costs page .

There may also be specific additional costs associated with your programme. This can include things like paying for field trips or specialist materials for your assignments. 

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This programme will provide you with a broad understanding of the theories and practices of art psychotherapy necessary for safe and effective clinical work.

Search NYU Steinhardt

Art Therapy

Our person-centered clinical orientation is guided by humanistic and contemporary approaches to psychoanalytic theory that include ego psychology, object relations, self psychology, and intersubjectivity psychology, and that are grounded in current empirical research, especially attachment and trauma theories.

Master of Arts Art Therapy

Our program integrates psychotherapy and visual arts practice that engages the creative power of art for clinical assessment and treatment.

Doctor of Philosophy Rehabilitation Sciences

Prepare for a fulfilling academic career in research and teaching in the rehabilitation sciences through interdisciplinary study across health fields.

NYU Creative Arts Therapies Consortium

The NYU Creative Arts Therapies Consortium aims to advance public knowledge and research in the creative arts therapies.

The Art Therapy Program at NYU is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education.

Community Engagement

Students, Faculty, and Alumni from the Art Therapy program are active members of their global and local communities. The program currently has 56 students  in the metro area for their clinical placements, expanding the range of services offered during this mental health crisis.

Read on to learn more about the program's community engagement and the free services it offers to our community.

210 new artworks are created weekly in art therapy sessions offered to public school students by the  NYU Art Therapy in Schools Program

18 supply kits were purchased for the 18 artists working weekly in our  Parkinson's Disease art therapy groups  online and in person

Over 1200 masks have been upcycled and contributed to the  Parachute Project  to focus on post-traumatic growth in response to the pandemic

Supporting the Newest New Yorkers

NYU Steinhardt faculty, students, and staff have risen to the challenge to help migrants and asylum seekers in New York City.

Embodying Healing through Art Therapy

NYU Steinhardt’s Art Therapy program blends clinical efficacy with holistic wellness for communities across New York City — and the world.

Graduate Art Therapy Program Expands Collaboration with the Rubin Museum

Based on past success, the Graduate Art Therapy program has expanded programming at the Rubin Museum, offering free art therapy sessions for the public.

Art Therapy Program Students and Faculty Display the Parachute Project in the Barney Building

The Parachute Project, initiated by the art therapy program, is a contribution to the global effort called for by UNICEF to understand the impact of the pandemic on children and adolescents.

New Steinhardt/Langone Research Published on Art Therapy and Parkinson's Disease

This groundbreaking, innovative study is the first paper exploring the effects of art therapy on Parkinson's Disease in a medical peer-reviewed journal utilizing clinical, behavioral, eye tracking, and brain connectivity outcomes.

Art and Art Professions

Barney Building 34 Stuyvesant Street, New York, NY 10003 212-998-5700 [email protected]

Clinical Mental Health Counseling MA

Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling Concentration

Naropa’s Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling integrates transpersonal theory with a clinical approach to counseling. This concentration of our Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate degree program helps you—and your future clients— find healing through the transformative power of art. 

About this Concentration

The foundation of this concentration program is mindfulness meditation training, studio art, community-based service, and integration of transpersonal theory with clinical approaches to counseling.

Our clinically focused Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling program exists to prepare art-based counselors in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs  (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education. 

Community Engagement

Naropa’s CMHC concentration program in Art-Based Counseling is dedicated to developing socially engaged creative arts counselors. Students engage with the community through practicum and internship , offering art-based counseling services in a variety of clinical settings. The Naropa Community Art Studio (NCAS) teaches students how to design, create, and finance a community studio space to serve diverse groups of people. 

Social Justice Focus

Being a counselor requires awareness of one’s own social context, and the social context of those we serve. Naropa’s Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling master’s program requires counselors-in-training to take courses with a social justice and multicultural approach.

• Expert Faculty

Naropa’s award-winning Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling faculty are published authors, accomplished artists, and community innovators with extensive clinical experience.

Quick Facts

• On-Campus Degree
• Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
• 67.5 Credit Hours
• 3 Years of Studio Art & Clinical Experience
• 750–1,000 Supervised Clinical Hours
• Now Accepting Applications for August 2025

Program Format

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling Concentration is a 3-year on-campus degree.

It consists of specific art-based counseling coursework combined with counseling and contemplative studies training to prepare competent entry-level counselors holistically.

Throughout the program, students also participate in 190 direct art contact hours of studio-based work. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education. 

Course Spotlight

Studio i: inquiry, process & materials, degree requirements.

The Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling Concentration is a 67.5-credit program. Besides completing regular coursework, students are required to complete a Counseling Practicum during their second year, to develop their counseling skills through fieldwork at a community agency with on-site supervision. During their third year, students will complete a 700-hour clinical field placement with on-site supervision.

Counseling Experiential Requirement:

Each student must participate in a counseling/therapy relationship with a qualified psychotherapist of their choice. A minimum of fifteen 50-minute face-to-face sessions (via telehealth or in person) within the first two years of the program is required. (The term  “psychotherapist”  is used to be inclusive of licensed providers from a variety of professional mental health backgrounds. The Student Guidebook outlines specific parameters of a qualified psychotherapist.)

Course Schedule

Fall year 1 (11 credits).

• CMHC 600, Foundations and Orientation of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
• CNSA 600, Orientation Seminar (0)
• CNSA 604, Foundations of Transpersonal Art Therapy in Counseling (3)
• CNST 622, Foundations of Mindfulness (2)
• CNSA 634, History and Theory of Art Therapy (3)

Spring Year 1 (12.5 credits)

• CMHC 603, Counseling and Helping Relationships I (3)
• CMHC 601, Social/Multicultural Foundations (3)
• CNSA 664, Civic Engagement Studio Practicum (0.5)
• CMHC 606, Legal and Ethical Aspects of Counseling (3)

Choose One of the following:

• CNST 670, Transpersonal Counseling (3)
• CNST 673, Jungian Approaches in Counseling (3)

Fall Year 2 (11 credits)

• CMHC 604, Counseling and Helping Relationships II (3)
• CMHC 602, Human Growth and Development (3)
• CMHC 605, Group Counseling (3)
• CNSA 755, Art-based Counseling with Adult Populations (2)

Spring Year 2 (11 credits)

• CMHC 607, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (3)
• CMHC 620, Counseling Practicum (3)
• CNSA 624, Studio I: Inquiry, Process & Materials (2)
• CNSA 734, Art-based Counseling with Children & Adolescents (3)

Summer Year 2 (8 credits)

• CMHC 621, Initial Internship (2)
• CMHC 609, Research & Program Evaluation (3)
• CMHC 608, Assessment (3)

Fall Year 3 (7 credits)

• CMHC 615, Capstone I (1)
• CMHC 622, Internship I (3)
• CMHC 610, Career Development (3)

Winter Intersession Year 3 (0 credits)

• CMHC 623, Winter Intercession Internship (0)

Spring Year 3 (7 credits)

• CMHC 624, Internship II (3)
• CMHC 616, Capstone II (1)
• CNSA 834, Studio II: Inquiry, Process & Materials (1)
• CNST 721, Cultivating Mindful Presence (2) 

Why Choose Naropa?

Caahep accreditation.

Naropa’s Art-Based Counseling program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education.

Agency Network

Naropa has an extensive network of human service agencies where students can carry out their practicum and field placements. In addition to acquiring real work experience and developing their skills, students can connect with professionals and institutions in the field.

Licensure Support

Naropa provides Credentialing and Licensure support to students who want to obtain licensure or credentialing to practice Clinical Mental Health Counseling, even post-graduation.

How this Program Prepares You

Real-life professional experience, transdisciplinary approach & skill set, comprehensive & multifaceted program, learning outcomes, students will demonstrate an ability to utilize subjective investigation with objective research methods., students will demonstrate applied art therapy and counseling knowledge as it pertains to case conceptualization skills., students will demonstrate applied knowledge of diversity awareness and social engagement within art therapy and counseling practice., students will demonstrate the clinical application of a transpersonal approach to art therapy., career opportunities for transpersonal contemplative art–based counselors.

Alumni of this concentration program become art-based counselors and mental health clinicians who treat the whole person through a transpersonal, social justice lens. Build a fulfilling career that weaves your passion for studio art with your desire to help others.

Career opportunities for Transpersonal Contemplative Art-based Counseling graduates include: 

• Mental Health Counselor: offer therapy services to improve well-being.
• Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors: aid patients in their recovery.
• Social and Human Service Assistant: aid people and communities in need.
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers: support people in your community.

Discover Career Pathways for Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counselors

Hear from a graduate, elise colley, faqs about the transpersonal contemplative art–based counseling concentration, what is transpersonal contemplative art–based counseling.

Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling has emerged from researched disciplines integrating established models of psychology with valuable understanding from spiritual disciplines and wisdom traditions, using art as a means to express feelings, emotions and thoughts. This transdisciplinary assimilation offers a comprehensive psychology model. The foundation of this concentration program is mindfulness meditation training, studio art, community-based service, and integration of transpersonal theory with clinical approaches to counseling. The program is a concentration of our Clinical Mental Health Counseling MA Degree.

Is this concentration available online?

This concentration is not available online; however, the Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling concentration has a low-residency option. In addition, Naropa offers an online BA program in Art Therapy . 

What are the benefits of Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling?

Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling benefits both individuals and communities. The benefits include self-reflection and self-awareness, improvement of self-esteem, confidence, interpersonal skills, and creativity. This type of counseling also enhances the connection between body and mind and helps clients develop healthy coping mechanisms and better interpersonal skills, among other things. It also reduces stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue. It has a positive effect on both mental and physical health.

What is specific to the Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling program?

Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling draws on a discipline with a well-documented history. It refers to a distinct approach that incorporates transpersonal psychology—an evolving, researched discipline that integrates established models of psychology with valuable understanding from spiritual disciplines and wisdom traditions—with the use of art and image to support the healing process. The term transpersonal encompasses a broad spectrum of practices that connect artistic self-expression with healing.

Learn more about transpersonal contemplative art-based counseling in our suggested reading list for this concentration.

What skills do you need to become a Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counselor?

Why is the program no longer called transpersonal art therapy.

This name change reflects our continued commitment to Naropa’s contemplative foundations, an ongoing engagement with the transformative power of art and image, and alignment with a core counseling focus, grounding our students with relevant, contemporary skills to creatively support the multiplicity of mental health needs in today’s world. Read more about the name change and redesigned curriculum .

Learn More About the Program

Connect with your counselor

Olivia phipps.

Graduate Admissions Counselor

• [email protected]
• Attend An Info Session

Ready to Apply?

Admission requirements.

As an institution founded on the values of academic excellence and contemplative practice, Naropa University values both academic performance and the willingness to carry out introspective work.

Learn more about admission requirements and the application process for this concentration. 

Graduate Students

To apply to the Transpersonal Contemplative Art-based Counseling concentration program, students must fulfill prerequisite work requirements in both Studio Art and Psychology.

Applications are submitted online, and applicants must provide a transcript of all undergraduate coursework, a copy of their art portfolio, a statement of interest, a resume, and two letters of interest as part of their online application. They may also apply for financial aid at this stage. If an applicant meets the qualifying criteria, they will be contacted for an interview day.

Learn more about admission requirements. 

International Students

Naropa welcomes international students! On top of regular admission requirements, we ask that students with undergraduate degrees from foreign universities provide some additional documentation. Discover admission requirements for international students. 

Costs and Financial Aid

Graduate scholarship opportunities.

Scholarships are a great way to help with the costs of going to school. Naropa University offers an array of scholarship opportunities to graduate students. Students may be eligible to receive scholarships through their admissions application, by applying for scholarships, or by being nominated for a scholarship. For more detailed information about the different scholarships available and how to receive them, please review our graduate scholarship page.

Interested in Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling?

Read our blog or listen to our podcast, heartfire festival returns to naropa university, student highlight: elise colley on transpersonal contemplative art–based counseling, episode 67. sue wallingford: generational wounds & art therapy, episode 101. jen berlingo: midlife emergence, student support and resources, academic support, online student support, career services, financial aid, accessibility, other clinical mental health counseling concentrations, somatic counseling, somatic counseling: dance/movement theories & practice, nature-based transpersonal counseling, mindfulness-based transpersonal counseling, buddhism-informed contemplative counseling, request information, plan a visit, about naropa, events & community, user information, support naropa.

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• COVID-19 Updates

Search Naropa University

Naropa campuses closed on friday, march 15, 2024.

Due to adverse weather conditions, all Naropa campuses will be closed Friday, March 15, 2024.  All classes that require a physical presence on campus will be canceled. All online and low-residency programs are to meet as scheduled.

Based on the current weather forecast, the Healing with the Ancestors Talk & Breeze of Simplicity program scheduled for Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday will be held as planned.

Staff that do not work remotely or are scheduled to work on campus, can work remotely. Staff that routinely work remotely are expected to continue to do so.

As a reminder, notifications will be sent by e-mail and the LiveSafe app.  

Regardless of Naropa University’s decision, if you ever believe the weather conditions are unsafe, please contact your supervisor and professors.  Naropa University trusts you to make thoughtful and wise decisions based on the conditions and situation in which you find yourself in.

• College of Arts & Sciences
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• <a href="/live/image/gid/635/width/650/104700_art_therapy_artwork_2.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image104700"><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/635/width/500/height/479/crop/1/104700_art_therapy_artwork_2.rev.1722538962.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/635/width/500/height/479/crop/1/104700_art_therapy_artwork_2.rev.1722538962.webp 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(max-width: 500px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/635/width/500/height/479/crop/1/104700_art_therapy_artwork_2.rev.1722538962.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/635/width/500/height/479/crop/1/104700_art_therapy_artwork_2.rev.1722538962.jpg 3x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/635/width/720/height/690/crop/1/104700_art_therapy_artwork_2.rev.1722538962.webp 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><source media="(min-width: 501px)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/635/width/720/height/690/crop/1/104700_art_therapy_artwork_2.rev.1722538962.jpg 2x" data-origin="responsive"/><img src="/live/image/gid/635/width/720/height/690/crop/1/104700_art_therapy_artwork_2.rev.1722538962.jpg" alt="Lewis & Clark's newly expanded Community Counseling Center serves as a training ground for counseling students and a thriving me..." data-max-w="1500" data-max-h="1000" loading="lazy" data-optimized="true"/></picture></a> <div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption">Lewis & Clark’s newly expanded Community Counseling Center serves as a training ground for counseling students and a thriving mental health resource for Portland. L&C’s Art Therapy Program has a new home here, allowing practitioners to offer individual counseling as well as community programming. <a href="/live/news/53560-a-growing-hub-for-mental-health">Read about</a> this growing hub for mental health in the recently published article in L&C Magazine.</div>

Art Therapy

Our Master’s program in Art Therapy prepares students to utilize their passion for art making to deliver skillful, compassionate, and clinically focused care to individuals, groups, families and communities.

Apply Application Requirements

Our Master’s program in Art Therapy prepares students to utilize their passion for art making to deliver skillful, compassionate, and clinically focused care to individuals, groups, families and communities. Grounded in social justice, you will be challenged to confront your biases and beliefs, explore new mediums and themes in your art practice, deepen your awareness of yourself and others, and gain the skillsets needed to support diverse communities as a licensed art therapist and ethical leader.

The mission of Lewis & Clark’s Art Therapy program is to prepare competent, creative, and reflective art therapists who are committed to equity-based clinical and community praxis. Students learn to apply relationally and socially attuned art therapy using art making to deepen awareness of self and others within societal and cultural contexts.

Program Overview

Degrees offered: master of arts; master of science total credit hours: 58 semester hours for ma; 62-64 for ms program length: ma eight semesters; ms minimum eight semesters program start date: fall only program director: mary andrus → students interested in their lpc will also take career counseling for an additional 2 credits. view program of study, program details.

Our full-time, three-year Art Therapy program begins in fall and offers both Master of Arts and Master of Science degree tracks to accommodate students interested in becoming mental health practitioners, as well as those planning to conduct research, aspire to publish or pursue a PhD. Applying a social justice lens, you’ll learn to 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. Through a combination of rigorous academic work, in-depth training, and real-world job placements, program candidates will be prepared to serve diverse communities as qualified art therapists and equity-minded ethical leaders, providing compassionate, clinically focused care to individuals, groups, and families in a variety of settings.

Our small cohort model provides students with opportunities to connect with program faculty and build a network of colleagues who grow with them as they move into professional practice. A pedagogy of learning that includes critical thinking, experiential engagement, dialogue and reflection helps our students to become engaged in deconstructing social norms and developing skills as an socio-culturally attuned art therapist.

Bridging academic theory into practice, our community based art therapy studio, media center and exhibition gallery, provides students hands-on training with licensed supervisors establishing equity based community centered experience and clinically focused internships. The robust offerings of the graduate school in a wide variety of areas allows students to customize their learning through electives that help build their clinical focus based on their interests and specialization (eg. ecotherapies certificate, eating disorder certificate and other special topics).

Featured News

A Growing Hub for Mental Health

Lewis & Clark’s newly expanded Community Counseling Center serves as a training ground for counseling students and a thriving mental health resource for Portland.

Why Choose Lewis & Clark?

Reputation for Academic Excellence

Lewis & Clark’s programs are respected nationwide for their quality and academic rigor. As Oregon’s only degree path to becoming a licensed art therapist, our program provides the training, skillsets, and real-world experience. You’ll learn to serve diverse populations and become a skilled art therapist in just 3 years, with no GRE required.

Focused on Social Justice & Equity

Our core values of social justice, equity, and access are deeply integrated into every aspect of the art therapy program—from the texts we read and culturally attuned training we offer to the creative work and community projects we undertake. You’ll learn to recognize the impact of oppression, prejudice, discrimination, and privilege on access to mental health care, and develop responsive practices for effectively tackling these issues in your work as an art therapist.

Real World, Hands-On Experience

In all three years of the program, you’ll participate in pre-practicum, practicum and internship experiences in a variety of settings across the Portland metro area—allowing you to apply your theoretical and clinical knowledge hands-on, gain real work experience in the field, and continue to deepen your skillset as an art therapist.

Community Studio & Clinic

Starting in 2022 we will launch a new community studio, which will offer low-cost art therapy services to the Portland community, regular art exhibitions, graduate assistantships and access to the studio space for classroom instruction. In this space students will move theory into practice, serving various community groups and individuals. This 3000 square foot space is one of a kind, including a gallery, a digital media room, multiple individual therapy rooms, a community studio and a group room.

Supportive Environment & Community

With small class sizes and tight-knit cohorts, you’ll receive plenty of personal attention and support from faculty members, staff, peers, and professional mentors— all of whom are committed to your success in the program and in your future career. You’ll form meaningful, lasting connections, enjoy a strong support network for the duration of the program, and establish a growing professional network that helps nurture your career for years to come.

Sought-After Graduates & Career Support

Our program’s reputation for producing exceptional art therapists means our graduates are highly sought-after by employers, with most students receiving a job offer shortly after graduating. Oregon is one of only 8 states with licensure specific to the practice and title protection of art therapists. Alumni of our program are regularly provided with information about employment opportunities and remain connected with program faculty.

Accomplished Program Faculty

Our experienced faculty members and supervisors are committed to ensuring our students’ success both academically and in their future careers. As practicing art therapists, counselors, psychologists, and researchers themselves, they bring their unique perspectives, work experiences, and knowledge of the latest best practices directly to the classroom. Plus, as recognized thought leaders, they are regularly published in mental health publications, providing students with the opportunity to assist in groundbreaking research.

Stunning Campus in a Vibrant, Progressive City

Our beautiful, historic campus is just six miles from downtown Portland, OR with easy access to the city’s cultural offerings, great food, and abundant nature. You’ll quickly discover why Portland was ranked #9 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2020-21 list of best places to live .

Social justice means advocating for the rights of others, which includes access, opportunity, and worth. It also means empowering vulnerable peoples with the tools to achieve their potential. As art making and a love for people have been my natural inclinations since childhood, it’s been an honor to learn how to support others through the magic of creation.

Social justice mission, deeply committed to social justice.

At Lewis & Clark, our social justice mission is more than a talking point—it’s fully integrated into every aspect of our programs. We strive to facilitate meaningful conversations around social justice topics and teach you how to incorporate equity into your professional practice to better serve your future clients, mental health organizations, and the larger community.

Recognizing that not everyone in our society has the same access to mental health care, our program aims to increase your understanding of the issues and dynamics in the mental health field across social and cultural lines—illustrating how they can impact the therapeutic process. Students will broaden the scope of their diversity awareness and knowledge, including systems of power and privilege, with special attention given to developing an understanding of the intersectionality of contextual and systemic dynamics related to race and racial inequalities, class, nation of origin and language, spirituality and religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and physical abilities. You’ll be prepared to work with individuals, groups, families, and communities from a variety of cultural, linguistic, and economic backgrounds, at every age level. Applying a social justice lens to your work as an art therapist, you’ll learn how to drive greater equity and access in mental health services, promote healing through artmaking, and have a lasting impact on the clients and communities you serve.

Meaningful Engagement with the Local Community

Art Therapy Open Studio is a virtual studio session providing individuals from all walks of life with a safe place to create art and find community, every Thursday from 3-6 pm. Participants can either start a new art piece using the gentle prompt offered in each session or use the time to work on pieces already in progress.

Register for Art Therapy Virtual Open Studio

Art for Social Change Open Studio is a virtual studio session that focuses specifically on exploring social, racial, or political current events. Partnered with the Art for Social Change Committee , this session is designed to support both individual artmaking and facilitate meaningful group projects.

Register for Art for Social Change Virtual Open Studio

All weekly studio sessions are free and open to the public.

• lcarttherapy

lcartforsocialchange

Art Therapy Program Faculty

Mary Andrus

Fredelyn Calla

Jolie Guillebeau

Portia Jones

Erin Patridge

Kristine Bella

Margaret Hartsook

Maria Leija Briones

Justin Rock

Melissa “Missy” Satterberg

Jillynn Garcia

Erin Headley

Alphonso Nuñez

Rosario Sammartino

Gain extensive, hands-on experience.

Through intensive practicum and internship experiences in all three years of our program, you’ll have the opportunity to learn hands-on—applying your coursework to a real-world environment, establishing professional contacts locally, and in the final year students gain 720 hours of art therapy experience and insights that can only be gleaned by working in the field. As a result, you’ll be better prepared to launch your career in Art Therapy as soon as you’re licensed—with the work experience and references needed to stand out from other practitioners and job candidates.

Applying your theoretical and clinical knowledge hands-on, you’ll work with mental health organizations in practice settings that align with your professional goals and desired focus areas. To increase your practical training and job readiness, you can choose from a wide range of placements throughout the Portland metro area including: elementary schools, hospitals, drug treatment facilities, education centers, nursing homes, day treatment programs, and more. Some organizations offer employment to students, the potential to hire our students directly upon graduation. In addition, as a student of our art therapy program, you may also be eligible for paid research assistantship opportunities.

As a white woman from a lower, middle-class family, I believe it is my duty to use my privilege within society to promote equality and power for those within marginalized communities. I hope to work as an Art Therapist to be an agent of positive change.

 launching successful careers nationwide.

Our Art Therapy program graduates are in high demand with mental health organizations, nonprofits, and community organizations in the Portland metro area and nationwide, with most students receiving a job offer within six months of graduating.

Lewis & Clark art therapy interns bring a new energy and diverse perspectives to our department at the children’s hospital. They are eager to put their hard-won knowledge and skills to use in meaningful and innovative ways, in a setting that is fast-paced and emotionally intense. We enjoy supporting the growth of new members of our field and Lewis & Clark’s program prepares them well for their journey.” Katie Dunn, LCAT, ATR-BC, ATCS Art Therapy Program Coordinator at Randall Children’s Hospital

Total Number of Credits in Program: 58 minimum Minimum total tuition costs based on 2024-2025 credit rate of $1,100 per credit. Note: Tuition increases each academic year.

• Scholarships
• Full Tuition and Costs
• Financial Aid

We use FAFSA to determine your eligibility for financial aid. A dedicated graduate school financial aid counselor can help you navigate the financial aid process and identify additional resources to help offset the cost of your education.

Other Resources

• Application Requirements & Deadlines
• Handbooks & Forms
• Licensure Requirements
• News & Events
• 2023 Capstone Presentations & Virtual Art Exhibition
• 2022 Capstone Presentations & Virtual Art Exhibition
• 2021 Capstone Presentations & Virtual Art Exhibition
• 2021 Art Therapy Student & faculty Virtual Art Show
• 2020 Capstone Presentations & Virtual Art Exhibition

Our Art Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs ( www.caahep.org ) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE).

This program prepares competent entry-level Art Therapists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 25400 US Highway 19 N., Suite 158 Clearwater, FL 33763 727-210-2350 www.caahep.org

Danielle E. Swan, "Still," 2021

Art Therapy & Counseling

Art therapy and counseling department.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program explores the relationship between life experiences and artmaking and prepares graduates for a career helping people gain or recover intellectual and emotional clarity, equilibrium, and power through artistic expression.

Applications are open for undergraduate and graduate programs.

Undergraduate Admissions Events

Meet with us, learn more about SAIC and our curriculum, and get feedback on your work.

Graduate Admissions Events

Learn how to prepare a competitive application, meet with faculty and staff, and explore our programs and facilities.

Jess Bass, Goo & Ooo, 2022

Our Departmental Mission

To provide an art therapy and counseling education that prepares artist-art therapists to practice in specialized settings within a socio-cultural context.

Annalise Castro, "Just Let It Happen," 2021

Program Guide and Admissions

For admissions questions about the  MAATC Program Guide or additional questions about the MAATC program, please email the Art Therapy and Counseling department at  [email protected] .

Faculty News

Six SAIC Community Members Win Creative Capital Awards in Visual Arts and Film

Three SAIC Community Members Receive 3Arts Awards

Assistant Professor Sandie Yi Awarded Disability Futures Fellowship

Aram Han Sifuentes' Protest Banner at Pulitzer Arts Foundation

Department of Art Therapy and Counseling

Sharp Building 37 S. Wabash Ave., Suite 713

Phone: 312.899.7481

[email protected]

Department Chair

Adelheid Mers [email protected]

MAATC Program Director

Katherine Marie Kunkel Kamholz [email protected]

Associate Director of Clinical Education

Deborah Ann DelSignore [email protected]

Licensure Specialist

Valerie Vasquez [email protected]

Senior Administrative Director

Kathleen McGrath [email protected]

Administrative Assistant

Kristi Moynihan [email protected]

• Degrees and Certificates
• Graduate Certificates

Therapeutic Art Graduate Certificate

Jan. 13, 2025

Next Start Date

Courses Required

Cost Per Credit Hour

Total Credit Hours

Online Courses

Learning Format

The Reed College of Media and College of Creative Arts will merge to form the new WVU College of Creative Arts and Media as of July 1, 2024. Get details .

Learn Concepts and Skills In Therapeutic Art

The Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Art, offered by School of Art and Design in the College of Creative Arts and Media, offers additional training and new professional opportunities for art educators, as well as students in art education and the fine arts. The certificate is particularly valuable for those who are knowledgeable and versed in therapeutic art concepts and technical skills within their teaching practice in the PreK-12 classroom. The concepts and skills learned will benefit all students, but especially those coming from special needs and at-risk student populations. Students in this two-semester program will engage in free exploration, art experimentation, group discussion, and personal reflections to learn therapeutic art concepts and theories and to apply learned methods to personal and professional practices.

Program Details

By using a variety of advanced art methods and therapeutic art approaches, the Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Art provides advanced instructional study for art educators, fine artists, and students in helping professions on how engagement in art-making can facilitate self-reflection, promote healing, and improve overall mental health and wellness. The certificate is offered exclusively online and can be completed in one year.

Upon completion of the certificate students will be able to:

• Provide an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to understanding and mastering Therapeutic Art systems, methods, and practices that place emphasis on the interdependence between teaching art and the whole being of the child;
• Integrate concepts and skills from Therapeutic Art to benefit all students, but especially those coming from special needs and at-risk student populations;
• Help practicing art educators gain a foundational understanding of the current field of Therapeutic Art in order to understand how it complements the therapeutic value of art within art education;
• Widen practicing art teachers’ perspectives of the visual arts to help improve student learning, interpersonal skills and behavior, and/or physical abilities within the education environment;
• Supplement practicing art educators with new skills that enhance positive student behaviors, increase self-esteem, augment cognitive abilities and improve social skills through visual arts therapy approaches, art activities, assessments and evaluation;
• Engage current practicing art educators in exercise and project level art-making that focuses on expression, while still considering technical skills and concepts.

Ann is here to help.

Ann clayton, your personal online admissions coach.

"I am a graduate of Michigan State University, with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. I have worked in an advising setting for over 15 years and am here to help answer any questions you may have about the enrollment process in our online programs. Our online programs are designed to allow everyone the opportunity to earn a degree, while balancing school, family and life, and I am happy to help you as you go through that journey."

Learn More About Ann Request Information

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (304) 293-0915
• Virtual Session: Schedule a virtual session with me

Therapeutic Art Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, the applicant must have a bachelors’ degree from a regionally accredited institution in studio art, art education, or a related program accredited by NASAD. Any student currently enrolled in a graduate program of a related field at WVU may also take the Therapeutic Art certificate courses. Students in the post bachelors’ certificate program must maintain a 3.0 GPA to progress.

Admission Requirements

• Complete the WVU Online Graduate Application
• Upload a current resume/CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Two Letters of Recommendation
• Apply to both the WVU Graduate School and the School of Art and Design Graduate School 2024 WVU MFA Art and Design/MA Art Education Graduate Online Application
• Complete the Essay/Writing Sample. Writing sample should be submitted to https://wvuart.slideroom.com

Note: Admission criteria are subject to change.

Application Deadline

May 1, 2024, for the fall 2024 term.

Applications that are incomplete or submitted after the deadline may be reviewed if openings remain.

Program Contact

Anne McFarland Assistant Professor, CCA Art and Design Email: [email protected] Phone: (304) 293-4077

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

Students enrolled in certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid. Visit Student Financial Support & Services for additional information.

The tuition rate per credit hour listed above is for the 2024-2025 academic year. Tuition and fees increase beginning in the fall term of each academic year.

Tuition and fees are usually not the only educational expenses you may have while pursuing a degree. You may have other costs such as books, supplies and living expenses. Please see the Estimate Costs and Aid webpage for how to estimate and plan for other potential expenses.

Your Future in Therapeutic Art

It's important to note that the specific career paths for therapeutic art certificate holders can vary depending on factors such as location, experience, and additional qualifications. Some professionals may choose to work as art therapists in clinical settings, while others may focus on community-based programs, private practice, research, or teaching. Continuing education, networking, and gaining practical experience are key steps for maximizing career opportunities.

The Benefits of Choosing Our Program

The Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Art provides additional training for art teachers. This field offers new professional opportunities to art educators who are trained, knowledgeable, and versed in therapeutic art concepts and technical skills within their teaching practice in the PreK-12 classroom.

Career Outlook for Therapeutic Art

Students who graduate from WVU Online with the Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Art may be prepared for the following careers. These are only a few examples of some of the many opportunities that will be open to you with this degree. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for some positions.

• Art Therapist, Projected Growth: 10-15% *Bright Outlook
• Art Teacher – Postsecondary, Projected Growth: 10-15% *Bright Outlook
• Special Education Teacher – Preschool, Projected Growth: 10-15% *Bright Outlook
• Special Education Teacher – Kindergarten, Projected Growth: 5-10%
• Special Education Teacher – Elementary, Projected Growth: 5-10%
• Recreational Therapist, Projected Growth: 10-15% *Bright Outlook

Information about careers on this list comes from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA)

View Courses and Curriculum for Therapeutic Art Graduate Certificate

Certificate Code - CG57

The Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Art program will help to provide additional training for art teachers that the Bachelor of Fine Arts and/or Masters of Arts in Art Education currently do not offer. As such, this field offers new professional opportunities to art educators who are trained, knowledgeable, and versed in therapeutic art concepts and technical skills within their teaching practice in the PreK-12 classroom.

Required Courses

Total Hours: 12

Frequently Asked Questions

What will i be able to do after earning this certificate.

• Provide an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to understanding and mastering Therapeutic Art systems, methods, and practices that place emphasis on the interdependence between teaching art and the whole being of the child.
• Integrate concepts and skills from Therapeutic Art to benefit all students, but especially those coming from special needs and at-risk student populations.
• Help practicing art educators gain a foundational understanding of the current field of Therapeutic Art to understand how it complements the therapeutic value of art within art education.
• Widen practicing art teachers’ perspectives of the visual arts to help improve student learning, interpersonal skills and behavior, and/or physical abilities within the education environment.
• Supplement practicing art educators with new skills that enhance positive student behaviors, increase self-esteem, augment cognitive abilities and improve social skills through visual arts therapy approaches, art activities, assessments and evaluation.

Become a problem solver.

Be a decision maker. First, your degree. World-class academics at an exceptional value.

Occasionally a student will encounter an issue with an online course that he or she doesn’t know how to resolve. Should this occur, please visit the link below.

Internal Student Complaint Process

WVU Online West Virginia University PO Box 6800 Morgantown, WV 26506-6800

Phone: (800) 253-2762 Email: [email protected]

Connect with WVU Online

Wayne State University

College of education college of education, art therapy.

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PennWest Resources PennWest Resources

What can pennwest tell me about....

Counseling, MS - Art Therapy

Program overview.

Locations: Online An online degree is offered 100% online.

Contact: Justin Hackett [email protected] 724-938-4390

• Counseling Student Handbook
• CACREP Vital Stats Report - California
• CACREP Vital Stats Report - Edinboro
• CAAHEP Art Therapy Employment Outcomes and Retention Data
• 2022-2023 Annual Assessment and Evaluation Report

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This chapter presents history, economic statistics, and federal government directories of Kemerovo Oblast. Kemerovo Oblast, known as the Kuzbass, is situated in southern central Russia. Krasnoyarsk Krai and Khakasiya lie to the east, Tomsk Oblast to the north, Novosibirsk Oblast to the west, and Altai Krai and the Republic of Altai to the south-west. Kemerovo was founded in 1918 and became the administrative centre of the Oblast upon its formation on 26 January 1943. The city is at the centre of Russia's principal coal mining area. In 2015 Kemerovo Oblast's gross regional product (GRP) amounted to 842,619m. roubles, equivalent to 309,637 roubles per head. The Oblast's main industrial centres are at Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk, Prokopyevsk, Kiselyovsk and Leninsk-Kuznetskii. Kemerovo Oblast's agriculture consists mainly of potato and grain production, animal husbandry and beekeeping. The sector employed 3.6% of the workforce and contributed 4.0% of GRP in 2015.

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