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Art therapy is the clinical application of art and psychology as a vehicle for communication, healing, and growth. Self-expression through the arts engages the creative process and helps clients gain insight, and fosters a sense of well being. Imagery is fundamental to inner life and thought, and the art therapist and client work together to explore the rich language, process and meaning of the art. Sometimes feelings are too difficult to talk about and the process of art therapy can make verbal expression more accessible. Visual expression can provide a key for new understanding, promoting change, enhanced self-esteem and self-empowerment.
Art therapy engages the creative process through art making, which can be healing, enriching and pleasurable. One does not have to be an artist to benefit from art therapy. The process of making art and exploring the art visually, as well as talking about it with an art therapist, can promote personal growth. Art therapy can facilitate change and provide coping skills, often with much more clarity than words alone could have provided.
The art therapist provides a safe, non-judgmental environment for the participants to express themselves through a variety of art media. Sometimes the art making is spontaneous and other times it is directed by the facilitator, with the emphasis on empowering the participant to self-interpret their non-verbal expression, with the guidance of the art therapist.
Some art therapists administer projective testing in order to interpret graphic material as a tool to help with diagnosis and treatment planning. However, diagnosing art work is not to be confused with art therapy, which is a process that occurs within a therapeutic relationship; a journey to be traveled by both the art therapist and the participant. .
Who can benefit from art therapy?
Art therapists work with individuals of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds who have developmental, medical, or psychological concerns and those who are seeking personal growth opportunities. Children most often cannot easily express themselves verbally, and adults often use verbal distracters to distance themselves from their emotions. The non-verbal visual expressive aspect of art therapy can therefore provide a means of enabling participants to break through these obstacles toward enhanced self-expression. Art therapists can provide individual, group, couples, and family art therapy services, as well as work within communities.
Where do art therapists typically work?
Art therapists often work as part of clinical teams in psychiatric hospitals, inpatient and outpatient treatment centers, medical facilities, schools, community mental health settings, correctional programs, chemical dependency recovery programs, and community support organizations; such as, senior centers, nursing homes, group homes, art centers, churches, wellness centers, homeless shelters, DFACS shelters, hospice programs. They also work in private practice or alongside other professionals in private practices, and with clients of all ages.
Where can I find an art therapist and what kind of training should she or he have?
Art therapists are professionals trained in both art and therapy and hold a Master's degree in art therapy or a related field, with additional coursework in art therapy. Registration as an Art Therapist (ATR) and Board Certification (ATR-BC) are obtained once experience in the field and requirements are met, although obtaining Board Certification is optional. Art therapists are skilled in the application of a variety of art modalities, such as drawing, painting, clay, and other mediums, for treatment and assessment. Some conduct research as well, and provide consultations to allied professionals.
Visit our Resources page to meet our members of GATA (Georgia Art Therapy Association).
Visit our Referrals page to find an art therapist in private practice, as well as to learn more about their other endeavors and services.
If your facility is seeking an art therapist please contact our Secretary, so that she can post a request to the GATA listserv.
The Georgia Art Therapy Association (GATA), a statewide non-profit organization, was founded in 1978. GATA is an affiliate Chapter of the national organization, The American Art Therapy Association, Inc. (AATA). Members belong to both organizations, but GATA also includes those who support the practice of art therapy, as a Friend of GATA. We provide activities for art therapists and other professionals in the Southeast to educate the public about art therapy.
2008 GATA Board:
President:
Kate FetterolfPresident Elect: Diana Gregory
Treasurer:
Susanne FincherSecretery:
Tori TinsleyCommittee Chairs:
- Ethics:
Cyndie Westrich
- Program:
Patty Gregory
- Assistant Program:
Gayle Torres
- Membership:
Megan McSwain
- Web Manager:
Jenny Welty-Green
Debbie's mandala, from
Creating Mandalas, S. Fincher, 1991
If you are a member of AATA, you will join GATA at the same time by sending in your GATA dues directly to AATA. If you join AATA late, be sure to include dues to cover those for GATA. All GATA dues are $30 annually, whether you are joining as a Credentialed Professional Member (ATR/ATR-BC), Professional Member (graduate degree in art therapy), Associate Member (have an interest in the therapeutic use of art), or Student. To get a membership application from AATA, click here. If you have completed graduate level art therapy requirements and would like to join AATA as a Professional Member, click here to download a professional application. If there is not a space on your AATA membership form to join GATA, just write in that you wish to join and send in an additional $30 to cover GATA dues. You will need to contact our GATA Membership Chair to update your contact information and to let her know that you have joined through AATA. Please include "GATA Membership" in your subject line.
If you are not a member of AATA but would like to support GATA, then you can join as a Friend, and your fees are $30 annually, this includes "Student" Friends. Contact our GATA Membership Chair in order to receive a membership application.
What goodies can I get by being a member of GATA?
One of the key benefits of GATA membership is that we provide a sense of community among talented creative therapists and many networking resources. We have quarterly GATA meetings where you can get to know other art therapists, gain insights into the job market, contribute your creative ideas to promote GATA and educate the public about art therapy and our profession. As a member of GATA, we also invite you to hold a Board or Committee position. Your support of GATA is important to us as it helps us strengthen the small but mighty presence of art therapy in Georgia. Our meeting dates are posted on the website as well as on our listserv. Other benefits include:
- Scheduled art making gatherings to experience the healing power of art in community.
- Access to our listserv, which is our main tool of communication to easily inform others about job opportunities, arts happenings, up to date developments in GATA/AATA and to express our opinions on professional matters.
- Art therapy training and workshops, Master supervisions, peer supervision, and continuing education opportunities.
- Professional members of GATA/AATA can also have their private practice information posted on our website for referrals. Contact Jenny Welty-Green, our Web Manager, for instructions on how to have your information posted on our website.
What training do you need to get a job as an art therapist?
You will need the minimum of a Master's degree from a program accredited by the American Art Therapy Association, Inc. This includes coursework in art therapy, practicum experience, and typically a thesis paper or research project to complete your degree requirements. Click here to see AATA's educational requirements.
Where can I find a Master's degree program in art therapy?
For a complete listing of accredited programs in the United States, click here or contact the American Art Therapy Association, Inc., 1-888-290-0878, 1202 Allanson Road, Mundelein, IL 60060-3808.
Also, as a resident of Georgia, be sure to contact the Academic Common Market to see if you can receive in-state tuition at an out-of-state program which participates in the Academic Common Market.
Are there volunteer positions or internships in art therapy?
Yes. Visit the Opportunities page to see a list of facilities accepting visitors and interns. Your options can also vary based upon referrals made by the art therapy program at your university or college, and your location. Some facilities will accept volunteers, others will not; therefore, you will need to contact them directly.
Where can I get art therapy supervision?
Visit the Opportunities page for listings of art therapists qualified to offer art therapy supervision, as needed for Registration (ATR).
What is the job market like in Georgia for art therapy, and how can I go about finding a job?
The job market in Georgia is variable. At times, we have art therapists actively looking for jobs. At other times, we have agencies actively looking for art therapists, with no one available to fill those positions. One thing for sure is that most GATA members are aware of what jobs are available. Being a member of GATA provides you opportunities to explore the job market by networking with other art therapists at our meetings as well as posting your job search requests via our listserv. We post news of art therapy jobs on our listserv as we become aware of them. You can also click on the Opportunities page under Jobs to see if any positions are listed.
Sometimes getting in the door at a facility by doing an internship, volunteering, or taking a related position such as a mental health counselor, leads the way for you to develop an art therapy position. Try sending out resumes to various facilities requesting information interviews wherein you go tour the facility, meet staff and talk about what you do as an art therapist, and of course, leave a resume. (This GATA member got her first art therapy job this way!) The United Way's Help Book is a comprehensive guide to a great number of facilities in Georgia. This book is no longer available in print, but you can access it by clicking here. This is a great starting place for sending out resumes. Lots of art therapists have creatively made art therapy jobs--come spend some time with us and learn how!
Will my ATR or ATR-BC credentials be enough for me to get a job as an art therapist?
Good question! And a hot topic for AATA and training programs. Lots of art therapists hold positions with their ATR or ATR-BC. Some art therapists had to have a license, even with having art therapy credentials. Some of our art therapists have chosen to get their license in professional counseling (LPC), which required taking extra coursework for most of them. If it is important for you to be able to get a license, and since no licenses for art therapy are available yet in Georgia, you may want to be sure your art therapy program includes counseling courses required to obtain your LPC, or other license.
What is the salary range for art therapists working in Georgia?
Salary ranges as of 2008 in facilities employing full time art therapists typically run from $33,000-$65.000. The top end salaries are usually the maximum for that position and include those having a Master’s degree and an ATR or ATR-BC and is based upon experience. Most of these positions include benefits of some kind.
One facility offered an 18% increase in pay with an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) even with starting pay.
Contract hours for a variety of settings typically range from $25-$85
Private Practice rates typically range from $70-$100 per hour for individual and $40-$65 for group rate Note: With overhead costs for rent, supplies, insurance, etc. private practice annual salary can end up in the mid to high $30,000 range.
What credentials do I need to start my own private practice?
Contact AATA for the latest standards required for private practice, as well as their recommendations for professional insurance policies available to art therapists. Please note that for legal purposes, we can only post art therapists in private practice on our website who are members of both GATA and AATA. Contact our Ethics Chair, Cyndie Westrich, for more information.
How can I become a Registered Art Therapist (ATR), and then obtain Board Certification (BC)?
AATA regulates the educational, professional, and ethical standards for art therapists, while the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) can grant your Registration (ATR) after you have fulfilled their requirements for education, supervision and direct client contact hours. An ATR who successfully passes the written examination required to obtain Board Certification is granted ATR-BC credentials by the ATCB. This credential is maintained through Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Click here to contact the ATCB. The ethical standards of practice from the ATCB can be downloaded by clicking here. The ethical standards of practice from the AATA can be downloaded by clicking here.
How can I contact AATA (the American Art Therapy Association, Inc.) for information and membership?
Click here , or call 1-888-290-0878.
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