PhD in Art Therapy

What is a doctorate in art therapy?

A PhD in Art therapy program is a highly creative field that combines the use of psychology and arts, including dance, visual arts, music therapy, and poetry, to help all types of individuals manage various mental and physical challenges. Art therapy combines creative arts therapies with applying principles in healthcare and psychotherapy to help improve clients’ lives. Art therapists serve multiple clients, including people with injuries, illnesses, and disabilities.

To become a practicing art therapist, potential students usually must earn either a master’s degree or a PhD in art therapy. Students can also make a master’s degree in counseling with a concentration in art therapy. Graduate programs in art therapy incorporate visual arts and various other artistic practices with psychotherapy. In addition, students complete courses in psychology, core art therapy courses, and other similar topics. Most programs also include a training component as part of the degree requirement.

How long does it take to get a PhD in Art Therapy?

Many students interested in get a PhD in Art Therapy programs usually take about three years to complete. Applicants attend artistic seminar classes and research seminar classes as well. Students must prepare a dissertation on a subject of their choice related to art therapy. Parts of the program requirements include clinical teaching and practice, multiple research classes, and studio-based artistic seminars. Earning a PhD could help professionals in the field enhance their careers. Earning a PhD in art therapy may create new opportunities for professionals to access grants and other research funding. Candidates with a PhD in art therapy may also become qualified to teach in higher education.

PhD in Art Therapy Curriculum

Courses in a doctorate in art therapy program may vary depending on the students’ focus on art therapy. However, most programs require the completion of doctoral research and a dissertation. Other coursework may include:

• Foundations of art therapy
• Theories of art therapy
• Practicum in art therapy
• Research methods
• Ethics in art therapy
• Advanced seminar courses

Popular Research and Thesis Topics for PhD in Art Therapy Students

There is a varied multitude of popular research and Ph.D. thesis topics in art therapy. Students are often encouraged to be creative and can select almost any subject. Students have written about all sorts of different issues, such as the effect of yoga on the soul and mind and bringing self-awareness through art therapy, the use of diagnostic drawing on the adolescent population, the effectiveness of clay as opposed to drawing in expressing emotions within the elderly, and many other vastly varied topics.

Students of doctorate in art therapy have also written about the image experience through art as a vehicle to personal meaning, the effect of playful humor on art therapy, the incorporation of nature into art therapy, drama therapy and its effect on female adolescents, and many other various topics relating to art therapy and its practical uses in helping clients. Art therapy Ph.D. students also execute and complete research projects in various areas of the study of art and its applications.

Many academics vigilantly and continuously conduct research studies about the effect of art therapy on mental health. Researchers and academics continually develop and execute research studies and present research papers and projects. Researchers and academics focus on many different topics relating to the uses of art therapy in certain situations, including adoption and foster care, eating disorders, autism, brain injury, and many other instances where art therapy can be helpful. Some researchers also focus on studying and investigating the role of art therapy in museums and other institutions.

The American Art Therapy Association awards excellence in research to eligible students and researchers who are members of the association and complete projects based on applied art therapy research. Students may qualify for and potentially win the Gladys Agell Award for Excellence in Research; meanwhile, professionals may be eligible for and potentially obtain the American Art Therapy Association Research Award. Cash prizes accompany both awards.

National Resources for Students

The American Art Therapy Association, or “AATA,” is a professional organization for individuals who pursue a career in art therapy. The AATA is committed to the principle that art has healing qualities and an overall positive effect on life. The mission of the AATA is to support its student and professional members as well as the general public and promote the healing powers of art therapy. The International Expressive Arts Therapy Association is an organization that aims to inspire and educate therapists, artists, educators, and consultants in the field of art therapy. Other organizations like Art Therapy Without Borders and state-based associations related to art therapy are also available to support professionals and students in the area.

Many famous and valuable academic journals are available to individuals working in art therapy. The AATA publishes the Journal of American Art Therapy Association, one of the leading publications in the field of art therapy. The Arts in Psychotherapy Journal publishes five issues a year and is filled with the work of professionals in the area and peer-reviewed articles. The Journal of Clinical Art Therapy is an online publication with peer-reviewed articles, editorials, and other helpful information related to art therapy topics to support professionals in the field.

Myths and Realities about Art

TThere are a lot of myths and misconceptions about the role of art therapists and the field of art therapy in general. One erroneous perception is that clients must create art at every art therapy session. This is not true; some sessions consist primarily or solely of talking dedicated to discussing and finding ways to resolve the client’s issues. Furthermore, clients are not required to produce artwork at every session. The goal of art therapy is not to create stellar artworks but to employ the benefits of art in a therapy setting.

Another myth about art therapy is that it’s just for artists. This is untrue; art therapy can benefit all types of clients regardless of their artistic abilities or talent. Art therapy aims to create a comfortable environment for all clients to utilize art in a healing and helpful way. Art therapy aims not to teach art to clients but to use art therapeutically. Therefore, clients can enjoy many benefits from art therapy regardless of the artistic ability that they display during sessions.

Another mistaken idea about art therapy is that it’s for children only and not for adults. This myth is entirely false; in fact, art therapy can serve to benefit people of all ages. Some art therapy practices are geared solely toward the elderly, while other art therapists serve clients of all ages. Art therapy can help clients of all ages express emotions, recover from emotional hurts, and create positive changes in their lives, along with numerous other benefits.

Another prevalent and very incorrect myth is that art therapists are just artists with no real credentials or qualifications. This perception is entirely false. Most art therapists are required to earn either master’s degree program or a doctorate in art therapy. Registered art therapists must earn at least a master’s degree in art therapy and complete a set amount of on-the-job training hours. In addition, art therapists certified by the the Art Therapy Credentialing Board must complete supervised clinical training and pass an examination.

A common myth about art therapy is that only people experiencing a significant crisis can benefit from art therapy. On the contrary, art therapy can help clients with all mental health issues or afflictions involving physical conditions. Clients can utilize art therapy to strive for personal awareness and build confidence, among many other uses. Although people going through severe mental distress can benefit greatly from art therapy, other individuals experiencing less traumatic mental health and other issues can also benefit greatly from art therapy.

Art therapy brings together the benefits of art and the clinical and theoretical applications of psychotherapy. The healing properties of art therapy can be beneficial for clients of all ages and with varying issues. Art therapists usually either have earned a master’s degree program or a PhD in art therapy. There are many graduate programs in art therapy for interested students to choose from. Master’s programs in art therapy usually take two years to complete, while a Ph.D. degree in art therapy usually takes about three years. Both programs require candidates to either write a research thesis or prepare a research dissertation on a topic relating to art therapy. Students have chosen to focus their research on many areas, including the effect of art therapy in drama on female adolescents or the impact of nature in art therapy.

There are many resources available to students and professionals in art therapy. Many national organizations are dedicated to art therapy, like the American Art Therapy Association; there are also state art therapy associations available to those in the art therapy field. Numerous publications are also available to art therapy students and professionals, including the Arts in Psychotherapy Journal and many others. Unfortunately, there are many myths and incorrect assumptions about art therapy. Still, with a bit of research, one can discover that art therapy is a field that strives to help all kinds of people by introducing them to the benefits of art therapy.

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