Art Therapy and Eating Disorders : Radio Interview http://latalkradio.com/archives/Living-111411.mp3

Eating Disorder is a monster.  I am separate from ED.  ED is so much bigger than her - has a lot more power.







Many people who struggle with body image issues will draw heads separated from their body.  There is a disconnect.





One person saw this drawing as a baseball, and another saw the stitches on the baseball it as sewing her mouth shut so she is not allowed to eat or talk.  We see in our art ways to describe how we are feeling and what we are experiencing in this moment. 

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/

Cleaning out my closet

Actually...
Today my closet AND wardrobe was revamped.  Wendy Tipp, owner of W T Consulting, provides a one on one service: she came into my closet, went through every piece of clothing that I own (EVERY item: t-shirts, sweaters, pants, shorts, tops, coats, shoes, accessories and even my workout clothes).  She told me what to throw out, what to keep and what I need to purchase to round out my basics.  Wendy even organized my clothes by category and by color!

In addition, Wendy SAVED me money!!! Instead of going mindlessly shopping because I am tired of my same-old clothes,  I have new outfits with my "same-old" clothes.  Wendy showed me how to put clothes together in ways I have not even thought of, because I was totally stuck in a rut. Also, when I DO decide to go shopping, I  now have a specific plan. I know that I specifically need dark boot-cut jeans, black boots and some basic black and white t-shirts.

I am SO excited to get up tomorrow and wear my "new" clothes!  Thank you Wendy and W T Consulting. Please check her out on Facebook.

Dancers

     

These are simply sketches colored in with markers, but they came out very dramatic.

I have always loved to draw dancers and musicians. They are so expressive and sexy (maybe that's why I married a musician).  Maybe I like to draw dancers and musicians because I feel that I can not dance and I am not musical.  This is my way to be connected to the performing arts.

Speaking of performing arts....
I am going to be in a feature film - playing an Art Therapist.  Filming begins Oct 3, 2011.  Nervous and excited.

Calabasas is Mourning

As summer heat climbed into the triple digits, school started this week.  Both my daughters are now in high school, and they were really looking forward to seeing their friends and starting a fresh new year.

On the second day of school, all the families were informed of an unspeakable tragedy... a beautiful, talented and loved 16 year old girl took her own life.  The entire community of Calabasas is in mourning for the family as well as the future that was not meant to be for her.

As a parent of a 16 year old girl, I am devastated and saddened to my core, but I can not even imagine the anguish of waking up each morning and realizing that it was not a bad dream.  I send you love, light and hope.

As an Art Therapist, MFT and grief counselor, I would like to offer my services in any way that I can.  I will meet with friends, siblings, classmates or adults.  Or I could facilitate a group at the high school, Swim and Tennis Center or my office here in Calabasas.  Please feel free to contact me directly at 818-836-1239.  I am here for support.