Art Therapy Schools – Why Is It Important?

September 24, 2012
by Johnny Weeds

Art therapy schools have got the attention of many recently because of the benefits it has contributed to society. There are many methods to carry out psychotherapy and this time art is the medium that patients with psychological problems use to communicate. Patients are different in terms of age, culture, race, and also in the conditions that they have like brain injuries, learning disabilities, and mental and neurological problems. Since art therapy is mainly for healing purposes, a background in art is not necessary for patients to have.

Art therapy is done one-on-one or in groups but most of the time the latter is used in mental hospitals, mental clinics, and nursing homes. Art therapy is performed based on the individual conditions manifested by the patients. Several art schools have prepared modified lessons especially for people with psychological problems. Art does a great job in allowing patients to convey the thoughts they have inside their heads, to object, to send messages, and to have a remarkable self-discipline. With all these good effects, it leads to having art therapy which was incorporated to different fields such as art education, developmental psychology, and even art itself.

Some art therapy schools offered art therapy courses exclusively for individuals who would wish to make a career out of it. You can find organizations online for any information regarding scholarships, placements and jobs, awards, ongoing professional support, and other inquiries. Art therapy is not as simple as it seems so it is considered an advanced degree program that is connected to undergraduate programs like psychology, education, and mental health-related courses. A master\’s degree on art therapy deals more on therapy coursework and client casework which are necessary to obtain a certificate to practice. You can also choose to proceed to a doctoral program however, specialization is a necessity and you will have to submit a dissertation.

One of the preparations in becoming an art therapist is identification and making a report on child abuse. Sometimes students of art therapy schools are encouraged to know the basic principles of fine arts so that they will understand the field better. Art therapy is a little complicated so giving it your full attention is a must. You must master all the concepts of art therapy before you can successfully put it to practice.

Art therapy is beneficial to many people and because of this art therapy schools would like people to have better access to it which is why they made it available online. Now, you can easily obtain art education through the internet. Even though art therapy is a good course to pursue because it can be accessed easily, you will still need to have 1000 hours total direct client interaction as one of the requirements after graduation. While trying to complete your client hours, it is recommended that you focus first on your theoretical assignments or have part-time jobs to earn money. You can choose whoever you want but once you have completed the requirements, bear in mind that there is someone, a patient is ready to take your services to help him survive his illness. This is the most valuable experience you would not exchange for anything and it also creates a mark on humanity.

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