Art Therapy Counseling (MA)

Overview

The master’s in art therapy counseling combines classroom instruction, practicum experience and research.  

• Our mission is to provide experiential learning to foster socio-culturally attuned creative practices in the theory, reflection and application of art therapy counseling.  
• Our vision is that art therapy counselors cultivate creative, just and healthy communities.  
• Our goal is to prepare competent, entry-level art therapists who are proficient in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains as per ACATE Educational Standards.

Because the program is based in the Department of Art and Design, there is an emphasis on art-making. Classes are small and experiential learning is integral to the program. In order to ensure individualized instruction, only 10 students are accepted into the program each fall.

Advantages of studying at SIUE include: 

• Availability of graduate assistantships
  • Can include tuition waivers and stipends 
• A rich array of urban, suburban and rural practicum settings
• A vibrant community arts scene
• Graduating from an accredited program
• Graduating from a program with a high placement rate, post graduation
• Low student-to-faculty ratio
• The opportunity to learn from practicing art therapists and researchers

Program Format

Coursework is offered as traditional, in-person daytime courses.

This program is offered through the Department of Art and Design in the College of Arts and Sciences. 

What can I do with a degree in art therapy?

Art therapy counseling combines the therapeutic uses of art-making with the skills of a professional counselor. Art therapy counselors are able to help people work through trauma, mental health issues, illness and challenges in living, and to help those who seek personal insight and change.

Art therapy counselors work with people of all ages: 

• Children
• Adolescents
• Adults
• Couples
• Families
• Groups
• Communities

They provide services in settings that include: 

• Mental health centers
• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation
• Forensic institutions
• Community outreach programs
• Wellness centers
• Schools
• Nursing homes
• Open studios
• Independent practices 

Art therapy counseling is an expanding field and employment opportunities continue to increase as it becomes recognized by professionals, work settings and clients. The salary for art therapy counselors varies geographically and with experience. Entry-level annual income is approximately $40,000-$50,000.

Accreditation/Student Outcomes

Accreditation

The SIUE art therapy counseling graduate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2350
caahep.org

Student Outcome Data

Practicum Experiences

Fieldwork

The fieldwork component of the program allows students to engage in pre-art therapy foundational skill building. In the past, our students have: 

• Served as art enrichment specialists working with children, teachers and staff to support social and emotional learning 
• Worked with youth in detention facilities
• Facilitated open studios following the Art Hive model on campus, as well as in collaboration with public sites in the community 

Intensive Practicum Experiences

Prior to beginning ART 559 (Practicum in Art Therapy), students must undergo a first-year review to determine readiness to work with a client population in a counseling setting. The faculty will evaluate a student's ability to continue in the program based on: 

• An examination of the student's performance in fieldwork, academic learning and professionalism
• The ability to participate in and process class experiential learning
• Psychological readiness to take on a more intensive practicum

During the second and third year in the program, practicum experiences are individualized for each student based on their research and clinical interests. All students will complete one intensive practicum with children or adolescents and one with adults. Practicum experiences require 15-25 hours on-site per week, and students are supervised by a nationally board certified art therapist or licensed mental health clinician. After the second year, students are re-assessed in the same annual review to determine skills to work with a client population in a counseling setting

At least 800 practicum and field work hours must be completed. 

Practicum Sites

Students can choose from over 100 practicum sites in the St. Louis metropolitan area and Illinois. Sites vary each semester, and new agreements with additional agencies can be initiated at any time. Current practicum sites include: 

• Barnes Jewish Hospital-Arts plus Healing
• Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital
• Family Hospice of Belleville
• Gateway Regional Medical Center
• Alton School District
• Community Link
• St. Louis Children's Hospital
• Centerstone
• Chestnut Mental Health System
• Violence Prevention Center 
• And more

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The following opportunities are available for students in the art therapy program. Learn more about scholarship applications and additional scholarship opportunities. 

Adrienne Nicole Martin Memorial Scholarship 

Named after a former art therapy counseling student, the Adrienne Nicole Martin Memorial Scholarship is a monetary award designated for any first-year art therapy counseling graduate student who demonstrates a need for financial support to continue to study at SIUE. 

Carol Lark Scholarship 

The Carol Lark Art Therapy Award will be awarded to a second or third year art therapy master's student who, through utilization of art therapy research, art therapy interventions, or arts based projects or initiatives, has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to engaging a community and/or to addressing a community need. 

The student may be nominated by an SIUE professor, an on-site practicum supervisor, another art therapy student at SIUE, and/or any clinical professional who came in contact with the student and witnessed his or her commitment to engage with the community through the field of art therapy. After nominations are received, the award recipient will be selected by art therapy faculty. 

Wendy Petit Scholarship

The purpose of this opportunity is to provide scholarships for master's students majoring in art and design at SIUE. Recipients of this award will be selected by a committee designated by the dean of the graduate school, which will include representatives from the Department of Art and Design. 

Art Therapy Founders Scholarship

Created by the first graduate program director, Dr. Gussie Klorer, the Art Therapy Founders Scholarship ($2,500) is awarded to an SIUE art therapy counseling graduate student who has financial need. 

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantship information can be found on the Graduate School website. 

Faculty/Distinguished Alumni

View current art therapy counseling faculty.

Distinguished Alumni

Yun-Che Chiu, MA 
A registered art therapist and counselor in Taiwan, Yun-Che is a counselor and adjunct assistant professor at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, where he teaches art materials. He also leads art therapy workshops during the weekend to bring awareness to art therapy in Taiwan. 

"SIUE has a beautiful campus and professional faculty members, as well as many assistantship opportunities. I received training through one of the best programs in the United States at a significantly reduced cost compared to other graduate schools. You'll be happy you chose SIUE!" 

Kula Moore, LPC, ATR-BC
A few years after graduation, Kula started a small art therapy practice - Art Therapy Houston, and was invited to Liberia to work with the University Honor's program on a community service project. The project included a workshop on art journaling, which was a meaningful experience for Kula, as her graduate thesis involved a collection of narratives from students at the University. 

Currently, Kula practices art therapy at the Menninger Clinic, where she facilitates a number of groups and provides individual consultations. She is also practicing, researching and training in mentalization, as well as developing a mentalization-based art therapy approach to help patients increase their capacity to mentalize (understand) their thoughts and feelings and to be curious of the thoughts of others. 

"I didn't quite understand the value of my SIUE education, and how equipped I was for the professional licensing process until I moved back to Texas, where many of the new graduates I met were perplexed. I'm grateful for having an understanding of what to expect and tools to find solutions for the unexpected." 

Jiyun Nam, PsyD, ATR
As a licensed psychologist and registered art therapist, Dr. Nam practices at Children's Institute, Inc. in California. She provides trauma-informed assessment and treatment to children and families in the community.

"As an international student, I was so grateful for the warm support and available financial resources I was able to access from the art therapy program. There are so many great opportunities to explore and learn at SIUE. In my first year, I received an assistantship to work with children in a high-needs community, which led me to another great opportunity to participate in a community art project. I then went on to present that project at the annual American Art Therapy Association conference with my peers. In my second year, I worked as a graduate assistant and helped coordinate an annual conference. I also worked as a research leader while learning about a field-based research project. I also enjoyed the social networking opportunities, international student events and exploring the safe and beautiful SIUE campus.

William Schwartz, MA, LCPC, ATR-BC
After earning his degree in art therapy from SIUE, William was eligible for Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor status, and was able to obtain his first job relatively quickly. After working in a community mental health setting treating adult clients for five years, he shifted his focus to an outpatient/inpatient setting where he treated children and adolescents for four years. For the last 10 years, William has been working as an art therapist in a local school district where he provides school-based art therapy interventions for children with social and emotional concerns who receive special education services. 

Since William practices near SIUE, he also enjoys the opportunity to occasionally teach a course in the art therapy counseling program. Using the additional experience he's gained through teaching at SIUE, along with advice from trusted professionals in his support system, William opened a private practice three years ago. He currently provides counseling and art therapy services for clients of all ages two evenings per week. 

"As I neared the end of high school, I was fairly certain I wanted to be an art therapist. Art therapy is a perfect blend of some of my innate interests, and I am happy my youthful aspirations to pursue art therapy proved to be correct."

"Earning my master's in art therapy from SIUE has afforded me the opportunity to use visual art media therapeutically with clients throughout my career as a mental health professional. I learned the most valuable lessons at SIUE from the mentors and educators who still practice in the community. The hands-on practice required with the practicum and the supervision from on-site practitioners, as well as University professors, helped bridge theory and case study information to make practical application less daunting and more meaningful." 

Savneet Talwar, PhD, ATR-BC, LPC
Dr. Talwar is currently an associate professor at the Art Institute of Chicago. She also runs the art therapy social enterprise, Creatively Empowered Women Design Studio (CEW) in Chicago. 

"As an international student, I could never have afforded the cost of higher education without my graduate assistantship award. My career has been shaped by the opportunities afforded to me by SIUE." 

Stephanie Whitney, MA, LPC, ATR-BC
After graduation, Stephanie began her career working with patients struggling with eating disorders. She provided art therapy in group and individual sessions for patients in a residential and partial hospitalization treatment setting. After earning board certification as an art therapist and becoming licensed as a professional counselor, she opened a small private practice. During this time, Stephanie expanded her work with patients and began seeing children and adolescents with a variety of emotional challenges. She is now the clinical director at an outpatient practice, where she provides psychotherapy to children, adolescents and adults, as well as patients with eating disorders. 

"I chose to pursue art therapy at SIUE because the program offered a balanced focus on theory, clinical practice and the creative process. The clinical knowledge base and supervised experience I gained during my time at SIUE placed me beyond what employers expected from a new graduate. I found that this balance was essential in my ability to make a successful transition from student to clinician post-graduation."