Career Spotlight: Art Therapist

I got bachelor's degrees in both psychology and communications, with minors in women's studies and art. I took graduate school entrance exams. I applied to, got into, and went to graduate school, and then I graduated with top honors — summa cum laude.

I had two practicum experiences. The first was in a homeless shelter for six months, and the second was at a child abuse agency for one year. I got 3000-plus hours of clinical face-to-face hours and had to take and pass two board exams. I worked at the child abuse agency for almost 12 years; I got a real job there once my year-long practicum had finished. Eventually, I opened up my private practice, Create Your Life Studio.

I needed a bachelor's degree in psychology, a master's degree in marriage and family therapy and in clinical art therapy, and a registration in art therapy. [Then I had to] pass my board exams, get registered as an art therapist, and, finally, get a license in marriage and family therapy in the State of California. I also went on to study and become certified in somatic therapy, post-graduate school.

Undergraduate degree assignments were all reading textbooks, taking tests, and writing papers. Graduate school was reading all kinds of books and journals, no tests, writing huge papers, writing a master's thesis, and actually doing practicum therapy work with clients, face-to-face!

Have your own daily creative practice. See a therapist yourself. Keep an art journal through your schooling and practicum experiences. Process your cases and countertransference with your supervisor. Utilize supervision well; it is for your benefit. Read voraciously!

I really enjoyed the experiential learning. It was impactful to learn how to use art directives with clients by doing them ourselves. I loved graduate school so much.

It is when I see the client go from shame and self-blame to self-compassion and self-love.

Hearing stories of profound cruelty is cumulative. Self-care is required. Also, on the business end: People not paying me. I'm still learning how to navigate the business end. Like most artists, I often feel uncomfortable collecting the money I am owed, but I am working on it!

Empathy, creativity, intuition, the ability to be non-judgmental, curiosity, kindness, flexibility, and patience. As artists and healers, we also need to practice the art of self-care and good boundaries.

Take some business classes. They don't really teach you the business end in graduate school for art therapy. You'll need these [skills] if you open your private practice. Overall, it is an extremely rewarding field and profession. I have my dream job, I feel fortunate to be a healer and psychotherapist. Good luck!