The Artist and the Therapist

Abstract

Of the 37 graduate art therapy programs in the United States, less than 10% are housed within art schools. Art therapy programs in art schools have a unique advantage over programs housed in schools of counseling, education, or medicine. They keep the process of making, creating, and engaging in art relevant on a daily basis. It also allows graduate students to maintain their personal art making, further develop their skills, and in turn share their knowledge with the individuals they work with. The inclusion of art therapy in an art school expands discourse among students and faculty by engaging in conversations around public art, healing communities through art making, and social justice through the arts. This dialogue helps to provide an understanding around the differences between art therapy and therapeutic principles of art making and creating. Additionally, allowing for greater collaboration between art therapists and professional artists to enhance and enrich our communities. With the roots of art therapy growing from artists and educators as a means to help individuals process traumatic memories, enhance communication skills, and life more fully; the field has continued to evolve beyond the studio and the classroom into community centers, hospitals, and mental health agencies. This presentation will review the profession of art therapy and the development of Herron’s graduate art therapy program. This will include the benefits and challenges of being housed in an art school, economic responsibility and reward, curriculum and accreditation requirements.