So You Want to be an Art Therapist

The Healing Arts

The Restoring Power of Imagination

by Cathy Malchiodi

So You Want to be an Art Therapist, Part One: Art Therapy as a Career Path

Seriously, can you make a living as an art therapist in the 21st century?

Published on January 24, 2011 by Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPCC, LPAT in The Healing Arts

My last series of posts focused on the "top ten coolest art therapy interventions" historically and currently used in the field of art therapy. I didn't realize by the end of that series that I would be receiving so many emails asking, "just how do I become an art therapist." I am inspired and impressed that so many readers became interested in art therapy as a result. On the other hand, due to all the unexpected email traffic I had to take some time off from writing this blog to do some research on "art therapist" as a career path in 2011, both nationally and internationally. After talking to and/or reading the responses of over 100 colleagues around the US and the world, I learned quite a bit of new information about art therapy as a career path that I am eager to share with those of you who want to be an art therapist.

Related Articles

• So You Want to Be an Art Therapist, Part Three: The Art Therapy Credentials Maze
• So You Want to be an Art Therapist, Part Two: Art Therapy Education
• More Art Healing Q and A
• The Palette of Place Brings Writing Alive
• Be warned: 'Online therapy' is not therapy, not really

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There is already a lot of information on the topic of art therapy as a career on the websites of professional guilds and membership associations and via some excellent descriptions by the National Institutes of Health and the American Medical Association. What these sites do not provide is a complete picture of the influence of mental health and healthcare fields and healthcare reforms on art therapy, and the rapid evolution in the ways art therapy services are delivered and by whom (because it is not always an art therapist who is delivering them-more about that later in this series). That is what I will fill you in on so that you can make an informed decision about undertaking the cost of education, internship hours, and credentials needed to practice.
So in the next several posts I will be giving potential students a realistic overview of how to prepare for a career as an art therapist and how to decide if it is the profession for you. I'll be talking more specifically about the practice of art therapy in two parts of the world: the US and the United Kingdom; these regions happen to be the most developed in terms of art therapy education and professional recognition. I will also be including information about related fields-- arts in healthcare, creative arts in counseling, play therapy, and expressive arts therapies-- to help you understand the similarities and differences between art therapy and these closely related areas. Finally, I hope to put everything into perspective with regard to today's mental health and healthcare settings so that if you decide to pursue a career in art therapy, you will be as knowledgeable as possible about the job market, what to expect and what the return on your investment will be. Until then...
Be well,
Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPAT, LPCC

FREE Manadala Coloring Book!

To help promote Art Therapy worldwide, I am making a special offer...
Free Manadala Coloring Book when you purchase any Art Therapy DVD
"Art Therapy: Healing Grief and Loss"
"This IS Art Therapy: Anxiety Disorders"

For details and purchase: http://www.hayesarttherapy.com
Then click the "Product" tab.

PeaceLove Studios' 26% Project

Check out PeaceLove Studios' 26% Project- Contribute an image and share the project w/ your friends to help change the face of mental illness through art:


This project was created for the 1 out of every 4 people in this country living with a diagnosable mental illness. That’s nearly 80 million people who, due to stigma, are often misunderstood and discussed in secrecy. The project is a free inclusive campaign that combines creative expression, advocacy and story-telling to create awareness for individuals and their loved ones living with mental illness.

http://twentysixpercent.com/