Hi !!

Im currently going into 2nd year of my fine art degree :) ive been super interested in becoming an art therapist as we’ve had lectures by some and my practice is very tactile and deals a lot with trauma/ emotions + identity !
I really want to work with neurodivergent people if i go into art therapy as i have autism + adhd and i think that would help me understand my clients experiences, i also think i’d want to work more with younger people/ children and do individual sessions instead of groups !

I’m also super interested in becoming a tattoo artist as im super passionate about that industry and i want to have a range of things i do for work instead of just one thing ! I also think tattooing and therapy have lots of similarities so i’d be able to use my experiences for both jobs ? (And i know that i cannot have clients for both jobs too, which is easy if i worked with children anyways !)

Could anyone give me some advice on whether this is achievable/ advisable ?

I want to set myself up to have actual job security so i thought building a career like this would be good for that ? I dont want to be a mediocre therapist or tattoo artist and i’d really like to make sure this wont happen, i’d care a lot about both jobs so i doubt it would but i want to hear from people doing the job if they think its a realistic aspiration ?

I’d also appreciate any tips/ recommendations for research about the career etc ! I thought i could train to tattoo then do that part time while learning to be a therapist ?

Hi all,

I am studying art therapy and I am currently on a module regarding the subconscious mind - particularly subconscious memories.

I would love if someone had some good book recommendations which cover topics such as implicit coding, neural pathways or the storage of memories.

Thank you 😊

I've gotten some advice recently (from practicing therapist) that the project I'm working on might have some utility for art therapists. If there are any students or practicing therapists, I'd love to pick your brain, and would happy to credit you as a tester when the game is released.

Hello,    

My name is Laurel Rosenbaum; I am a fourth-year student at William James College completing a doctorate in clinical psychology. As part of my doctoral studies, I am conducting a research study on psychotherapists’ experiences creating therapeutic alliances with trauma-affected youth. 

To participate in this study, you must be at least 18 years of age, be able to converse fluently in English, be a state-licensed psychotherapy clinician, and have experience providing psychotherapy with a primarily individual modality for at least one client under the age of 18 who has experienced trauma, for at least 10 sessions. 

Participation will involve reaching out via email (laurel_rosenbaum@williamjames.edu) to receive a link to complete a demographic questionnaire, followed by a Zoom interview lasting about 45 minutes. This interview will invite you to reflect on your experiences developing therapeutic alliances with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. 

There are no expected risks or benefits other than what you would experience in regular reflection on your psychotherapeutic practices.

Participation is confidential. Your individual information will not be shared with anyone outside the study personnel; unique information from the interview will be de-identified to ensure your confidentiality. 

This research study was reviewed and approved in accordance with the William James College IRB policies and procedures for research with human participants. (Protocol Number: 20260055) 

You may contact a William James College IRB representative if you want to talk to someone who is not involved in this research. You can also contact this person if you have questions or concerns about your rights as a participant, or if you want to report a concern or complaint. Please contact:   

Dr. Brian D. Ott, PhD   

Institutional Review Board Chair    

William James College   

1 Wells Ave   

Newton, MA 02459   

 E-mail: [brian_ott@WilliamJames.edu](mailto:brian_ott@WilliamJames.edu)

or [irb@WilliamJames.edu](mailto:irb@WilliamJames.edu)  

Thank you for considering participation in this study. Please feel free to email me (laurel_rosenbaum@williamjames.edu) to participate, or with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,  

Laurel Rosenbaum

[Laurel_rosenbaum@williamjames.edu](mailto:Laurel_rosenbaum@williamjames.edu)

Fourth-Year Doctoral Student   

Clinical Psychology PsyD Program  

William James College 

Curious about your perspective on working in a medical setting? The fee for service model isn’t doing it for me financially, although I really love more of a long term out patient relationship and watching clients grow over time.

Hi! I'm interested in art therapy and looking for a practical book/workbook with a useful exercises for everyday use.Thanks.

Good day everyone!

I am about to get my bachelor's degree in pedagogy. For my thesis, I want to work with different literature and work on the question on how talking about art with children, can aid children when developing self reflection skills.

Now, I haven't exactly found a lot on that topic. But thankfully, we are at the age of the internet where I can ask on Reddit if anyone has any literature recommendations I can work with (as long as it's academic everything works). I am fluent in German, Spanish, French and English, so any of these languages: let me know! I'd be very appreciative of any recommendations. Thank you and have a great day!

Welcome to the weekly thread for questions and discussion about art therapy schooling. If you're considering studying art therapy, currently in a program, or preparing for applications, this is the place to ask questions and share experiences.

Use this thread for things like:

• Questions about art therapy programs or schools
• Application advice (portfolios, prerequisites, interviews)
• Program comparisons or recommendations
• Coursework or practicum questions
• Career path questions related to art therapy education
• General student experiences

To keep the subreddit organized, posts about art therapy education and training may be redirected here on Tuesdays.

Please be respectful, supportive, and share your knowledge if you can as many people here are navigating the same path.

I am offering a 1 hour FREE virtual info session on the ATCB Exam, including an overview of exam topics, and some examples of exam language.

Why am I doing this?

There is really nothing concrete and reliable for those looking for study materials. It is very disappointing that the ATCB has yet to publish anything after all these years. My hope is that this will provide you with a framework to study on your own and feel more empowered. We all graduated with very expensive masters degrees and the exam should be something to bolster your experience, not become a barrier.

Join me on August 27th at 7:00 PM EDT to learn more!

To RSVP please email [stephaniesaklad@gmail.com](mailto:stephaniesaklad@gmail.com)

Who Am I? Stephanie Saklad, MA, ATR-BC, ATCS, CLAT has been offering study support for the ATCB exam for the past 12 years. In 2025, 83% of all group and individual attendees passed on their first try.

Welcome to the weekly thread for questions and discussion about art therapy schooling. If you're considering studying art therapy, currently in a program, or preparing for applications, this is the place to ask questions and share experiences.

Use this thread for things like:

• Questions about art therapy programs or schools
• Application advice (portfolios, prerequisites, interviews)
• Program comparisons or recommendations
• Coursework or practicum questions
• Career path questions related to art therapy education
• General student experiences

To keep the subreddit organized, posts about art therapy education and training may be redirected here on Tuesdays.

Please be respectful, supportive, and share your knowledge if you can as many people here are navigating the same path.

I'm sure I could google it or ask AI, but does anyone know of any art galleries dedicated to art created during art therapy sessions?

I feel the art is sacred in a way, but also sometimes too beautiful not to share (some of it).

It would also suck to put your art out there and feel vulnerable only to have it stolen. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Kinda niche but I'm clearing out, happy to post if postage paid. 10 in total

Hey there! What’s the best way to find someone that meets the description above? Psych Today? Or do LCATs have their own database?

I'm wondering if some of you have quite strict 'working hours' and are only contactable during those hours. Do you put any specifics in your contract/adverts? Do you have a work phone? Or give out your personal phone? And would you use 'do not disturb' perhaps?

I wouldn't want to seem callous but I also really need my peace to stay productive.

Welcome to the weekly thread for questions and discussion about art therapy schooling. If you're considering studying art therapy, currently in a program, or preparing for applications, this is the place to ask questions and share experiences.

Use this thread for things like:

• Questions about art therapy programs or schools
• Application advice (portfolios, prerequisites, interviews)
• Program comparisons or recommendations
• Coursework or practicum questions
• Career path questions related to art therapy education
• General student experiences

To keep the subreddit organized, posts about art therapy education and training may be redirected here on Tuesdays.

Please be respectful, supportive, and share your knowledge if you can as many people here are navigating the same path.

Any advice before getting pregnant as a self-employed art therapist? Any recommendations for short-term disability plans that are affordable and worth the money?

Any tips or tricks welcome! What do you wish you knew ahead of time!

Hi there, I am curious if it is allowed for me to create a piece of art to give to my therapist? We are both artists and, she is one of the loveliest therapists I have ever had— and I have had many in my last 15 off and on years of therapy. I wanted to make a fiber piece, maybe like a woven coin purse or little pouch of sorts. Kind of like a tip after a service especially because she often gives me 1hr and 15mins, but my insurance only pays for 1hr, so these bonus 15 minutes feel generous of her. I’d just like to say thank you but she is aware of my financial struggles. I’m just wondering if that is inappropriate or inconsiderate.

Edit: I am in Oregon, USA.

The American Art Therapy Association was cited specifically.

Portland, Oregon

Hello!

I have a Bachelors in Fashion Design and have found that fashion as a career is 1. Largely lacking of any actual creativity(atleast with the brands I have worked with, it’s basically just copy + paste styles from other brands but with x small detail difference) and 2. I have found it really difficult to find solid long term employment without 4-8 years experience (how or why this is required for entry level is beyond me). But I digress.

I am considering a pivot to an art therapy career.

I worked at a residential treatment center as an MHT for a little bit, as I was considering going into the behavioral health field, and that environment was too much. That is the reason I opted for fashion.

Could that be an indication of my capacity for this kind of work?

What does the career landscape look like for Art therapy? Any thoughts on how this field might change?

Is this career field neurodivergent friendly? (ADHD)

How much of the work is entrepreneurial and how much is with an established practice? (Owning a business is something I have dipped my toe in and it was overwhelming and I’m tired)

What do you love about it? What do you hate?

I would love any advice or thoughts.

Thanks in advance y’all :)

I’ve recently become curious about art therapy and would love to learn from people who have experience with it.

I enjoy pottery and drawing as hobbies. One thing I’ve noticed is that when I’m creating without overthinking, I sometimes end up seeing a different side of myself through the finished piece. It isn’t that the artwork “tells” me something, but it seems to reflect patterns, emotions, or thoughts that I wasn’t fully aware of before.

A friend of mine who works in counseling recently mentioned art therapy, so I started looking into it. That led me down a rabbit hole of different approaches: art therapy, sound healing, meditation workshops, expressive arts, and many other wellness practices.

Now I’m wondering:

What exactly is art therapy?

How is it different from simply making art as a hobby?

How does it actually help people? Is it about emotional expression, self-awareness, processing experiences, something else, or a combination of these?

I’d love to hear from art therapists, people who have participated in sessions, or anyone working in this field. I’m genuinely curious how you think it works, both in theory and in real life.

Join us every 3rd Sunday of the month for an afternoon of Creative Care, featuring Artful Wellness Activities and Live DJ Sets. & Gallery Exploration

☀️Open House BK is excited to partner with Gallery 198 to bring you 3rd Sundays, Immersive, interdisciplinary art parties! Attend a portion, attend all, connect & create!

🎟️Two ways to attend:

1) Open to all: Suggested Donation, $10-15

2) Creative Arts Therapist seeking LCAT CEs: $20 (required for 2 CEs)

☀️ Each gathering begins with a mini art therapy lesson explaining the day’s creative process, followed by hands-on art making (no experience needed). Surrounded by a live DJ set and the opportunity to experience the current exhibition throughout the event.

This month's theme: Creativity Outside the Box

• DJ set by Dmitir Russell & Art Activation by Art Therapists: Melissa Diaz & Deborah Rice
• Debuting new Art Therapy book, The Business of Art Therapy: Navigating Career Paths, Creativity, and the Changing Landscape of the Field.
• 🌈Current Solo show by Ryan Bauer-Walsh exploring trauma, grief, substance experimentation, survival, and release, via blurring the lines of performance and exhibition.
• Sunday, 8/16/2026, 12-4 pm, @ Gallery 198, 198 24th St, Brooklyn, 11232 (R train to 25th Street).
• Drinks available for donation.
• LCATS must attend 12- 2 p.m. for 2 Continuing Education Hours. (For more info, please visit the FAQs.)

This is NOT therapy services. Just a place for art to live and art therapists to thrive!

Hello, I'm working with someone who is a teenager and is working on gaining independence, does anyone know of some good directives with those things in mind? Their family isn't really in the picture and they are preparing to go out into the world early.