Art Therapist

In this career guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about art therapy as a career, from roles and responsibilities, to work environment and roadmap to becoming an Art Therapist.

Who's an Art Therapist?

Are you interested in arts and crafts? What about the world of psychology? How does the idea of combining the two to help people cope with emotional and mental problems sound?

That is exactly what you’ll be doing as an art therapist. You will help people with a history of mental disabilities. Developmental disorders, depression and other disorders by allowing them to express themselves through the medium of art.

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Responsibilities

What would you do?

Planning and facilitating activities

The primary role of an art therapist is to curate suitable art activities for patients depending on their needs, objectives, comfort levels and preferred forms of artistic expression.

Example: You can curate a customised project for your client that would help them express their feelings through a non-verbal approach such as, drawing, painting, or clay modelling.

Evaluating patients’ reactions and behaviours

You will discuss your patient’s artwork with them to evaluate the meaning, emotions and thoughts behind it.

Example: Your client may express their inner thoughts through metaphors and symbols in their art. As an art therapist, you should be able to understand and address the meaning of it.

Maintaining records

You will maintain detailed records of your client’s progress and of the observations made during the therapy sessions. It will help you recall details of their lives and the treatment provided.

Example: You would require to maintain a record of different items relevant to the patient and their sessions such as healthcare notes, treatment plans, medical history, etc.

Creating a safe environment for your clients

It is your responsibility to create a secure and trustworthy environment for your clients to make them feel safe and confident in your presence. They should feel comfortable sharing their innermost thoughts and fears with you.

Example: Some of your clients may be trained artists while some may be new to the art-making process. You must guide them through the process of creating without any judgement.

Carrying out workshops

You should carry out educational workshops that include discussions, presentations, debates, or hands-on demonstrations to engage with new concepts and techniques.

Example: You could have an educational workshop to create awareness about art therapy and its benefits.

Workplace

Where does an Art Therapist work?

Clinical Settings

After completing the necessary education and courses, you would work in clinical settings like hospitals, rehabilitation centres, crisis counselling centres and mental health agencies to assist patients in expressing their inner thoughts and emotions. You would be working as per the shift timings provided by the organisation.

Home/Visiting your clients

As a certified self-employed Art Therapist, you can conduct private sessions for your clients at home or in an environment where they feel safe. In this case, you can choose your own clients and working hours.

School

You might find yourself employed in a school to help students with inner expression and counselling while using art as a medium. Your work hours will follow the school’s functioning hours.

Education

How do you get there?

Step 1: Class XI/XII

You can take up Arts in high school or junior college to become an Art Therapist. To set the foundation for further learning, you should opt for psychology and fine arts.

Step 2: Graduation

You can take up a three-four-year Bachelor’s of Arts (B.A.) course from a reputed college with psychology and fine arts as your majors. You can also consider taking performing arts. For a B.A, you will require a minimum of 50% in Class 12 to be eligible.

Step 3: Diploma/Certificate Course

You can seek a diploma or certificate course in art therapy from a private institute to learn the concept and boost your skills.

Step 4: Post-graduation

A postgraduate course in art therapy may be challenging to find in India. You can look up universities that provide a two-year Master’s Degree in Art Therapy abroad. You will be eligible for this after finishing your bachelor’s.

Step 5: Internship

To gain exposure and experience in this field, you can take up internships under the supervision of recognised art therapists.

Step 6: Land a job

After finishing your studies and gaining enough exposure in the field, you can start applying to join corporates, schools, rehabilitation centres or start your own practice.

 

Step 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

This is not the ideal way to start your career as an Art Therapist, but if you’re interested in commerce, you can take it up after your class 10th.

Step 2: Graduation

You can take up a three-four-year Bachelor’s of Arts (B.A.) course from a reputed college with psychology and fine arts as your majors. You can also consider taking performing arts. For a B.A, you will require a minimum of 50% in Class 12 to be eligible.

Step 3: Diploma/Certificate Course

You can seek a diploma or certificate course in art therapy from a private institute to learn the concept and boost your skills.

Step 4: Post-graduation

A postgraduate course in art therapy may be challenging to find in India. You can look up for universities that provide a two-year Master’s Degree in Art Therapy abroad. You will be eligible for this after finishing your bachelor’s.

Step 5: Internship

To gain exposure and experience in this field, you can take up internships under the supervision of recognised art therapists.

Step 6: Land a job

After finishing your studies and gaining enough exposure in the field, you can start applying to join corporates, schools, rehabilitation centres or start your own practice.

 

Step 1: Class XI-XII/Junior College

This is not the ideal way to start your career as an Art Therapist, but if you’re interested in commerce, you can take it up after your class 10th.

Step 2: Graduation

You can take up a three-four-year Bachelor’s of Arts (B.A.) course from a reputed college with psychology and fine arts as your majors. You can also consider taking performing arts. For a B.A, you will require a minimum of 50% in Class 12 to be eligible.

Step 3: Diploma/Certificate Course

You can seek a diploma or certificate course in art therapy from a private institute to learn the concept and boost your skills.

Step 4: Post-graduation

A postgraduate course in art therapy may be challenging to find in India. You can look up for universities that provide a two-year Master’s Degree in Art Therapy abroad. You will be eligible for this after finishing your bachelor’s.

Step 5: Internship

To gain exposure and experience in this field, you can take up internships under the supervision of recognised art therapists.

Step 6: Land a job

After finishing your studies and gaining enough exposure in the field, you can start applying to join corporates, schools, rehabilitation centres or start your own practice.

 

What skills do you need?

Communication Skills

Communication Skills

Communication skills are the ability to clearly express ideas, information, and feelings, both verbally and in writing, so others can easily understand. This includes listening effectively, using the right tone, and being aware of non-verbal cues like body language. These skills help you explain your thoughts clearly, build relationships, and work better in teams. Good communication is important in almost every job, from customer service to leadership roles, because it ensures that tasks are understood and done correctly, and it helps prevent misunderstandings. build this skill
Creative Skills

Creative Skills

Creative skills involve the ability to think outside the box, generate new ideas, and find innovative solutions to problems. These skills include imagination, design thinking, artistic abilities, and the capacity to develop fresh concepts or approaches in different fields, from writing and art to problem-solving in business. Creative skills help you come up with original ideas, improve processes, and develop unique solutions in the workplace. In roles like marketing, design, or product development, creativity is essential for staying competitive and bringing new perspectives to projects or challenges. build this skill
Research

Research

Research is the systematic process of collecting, analysing, and interpreting information to increase understanding of a particular topic or issue. It involves identifying a question or problem, gathering relevant data, and evaluating sources to draw meaningful conclusions. Research can take various forms, including qualitative studies (which explore perceptions and experiences) and quantitative studies (which focus on numerical data and statistics). Strong research skills will enable you to find reliable information, assess the credibility of sources, and synthesise findings to support decision-making or further exploration. This skill is crucial in many fields, such as academia, business, healthcare, and technology, where informed decisions rely on thorough investigation and analysis. build this skill
Social Skills

Social Skills

Social skills are the abilities that enable effective communication and interaction with others. They encompass a range of interpersonal competencies, including active listening, empathy, non-verbal communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork. These skills help individuals navigate social situations, build relationships, and collaborate effectively in various settings. Having strong social skills is crucial for personal and professional success. They enhance teamwork, foster positive relationships, and improve communication, which can lead to better collaboration and productivity in the workplace. In many professions, especially those involving direct interaction with others—such as education, healthcare, and sales—strong social skills can significantly impact outcomes and overall effectiveness. build this skill
Attention to Detail

Attention to Detail

Attention to detail means being careful and noticing small things that others might miss. It involves checking your work carefully for mistakes, following instructions exactly, and making sure everything is done correctly. This skill helps you do accurate work and avoid errors. In jobs, attention to detail is important for tasks like writing reports, managing data, or following safety rules.     build this skill
Promotion levels

How do you make it to the top ranks?

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Intern

You can engage in the day-to-day operations of an arts organisation as an art therapy intern. You can also work under the supervision of a certified senior and improve your abilities for a successful career.

Registered Art Therapist (ATR)

It is the first level which means you’ll be holding a master’s degree in the field and would have completed the required amount of supervision and clinical hours under a qualified mentor.

Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC)

It is the second and the highest credential which means that you have met the rigorous standards for supervisory qualifications and clinical theories of the profession. To earn this credential, you’ll be required to pass a comprehensive national exam.

Art Therapy Certified Supervisor (ATCS)

This credential will be offered after you become a Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC) after gaining 5 or more years of experience in the field.

Scope

Pursuing Career locally versus overseas

A full-fledged degree course in Art Therapy may not be available in India at present, however, you can take up a B.A. in Psychology from top colleges like St. Xavier’s College (Mumbai), Hansraj College (New Delhi), Jesus and Mary College (New Delhi), Fergusson College (Pune) and Jai Hind College (Mumbai), among others. You can also take up a post-graduate diploma course in art therapy from Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT), Art Design Technology University (ADT), Indian Institute of Psychology and Research (IIPR), among other private institutes. Degree courses cost between INR 20,000 to INR 3 lakhs, while diploma courses cost between INR 20,000 to INR 1 lakh.

You can become an Art Therapist abroad by pursuing a full-fledged art therapy degree course from top universities like The George Washington University (USA), New York University (USA), University of Derby (UK), Whitecliffe (New Zealand), Western Sydney University (Australia), and University of South Wales (UK). For more colleges, click here. The fees ranges from INR7,50,000 to INR 18,80,000 per year.

Payscale

Art Therapist: Pay Scale

The salary of an art therapist depends on whether you are self-employed or working in an organisation. As a self-employed art therapist, you can charge per session, depending on your experience.


Specialisations

What are Art Therapist's career options?

Project Management

As an art therapist, you develop valuable project management skills such as fundraising, event planning, data entry, social media planning, filing and art exhibit installation.

Online Entrepreneur

An online art therapy entrepreneur is someone who creates content for the internet. They appear online with interesting videos and blogs and share their expertise in the field. This approach requires you to be highly creative and confident to be visible to the audience. In this case, you use the internet to attract clients and make a living from what you post.

Business Owner

An art therapist can set up their own private practice where they can provide art therapy services to their clients from their own office/organisation. In this scenario, they must take full responsibility for their business, whether it’s dealing with income irregularities or managing their own retirement plans.

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QUIZ

#CAREERREADY QUIZ

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1. How much can an Art Therapist charge per session?

2. What is the average salary of an Art Therapist Fresher?

3. What is the average salary of an experienced Art Therapist?

4. What type of records are you required to maintain as an Art Therapist ?

5. Where do Art Therapists work?

6. Which of the following functional skills are NOT required for Art Therapy?

7. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of an Art Therapist?

8. Which of the following soft skills are NOT required for Art Therapy?

9. Why should an Art Therapist possess the skill of research?

10. What are the minimum marks required in class 12 for a BA?

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