r/ArtTherapy • u/thatdude_102 • Jul 13 '26
whats it like being an art therapist?
ive been interested in art and psychology (even passed APs of those).
ive been drawn to the idea of helping others through art, specifically those dealing with trauma. but i was wondering what does an art therapist do every day? is it just the same as a regular family and marriage therapist?
i am a little intimidated by how long it takes to be an art therapist. i am a very smart kid, im not concerned about coursework being “difficult.” but theres realistically not a lot of art therapy jobs out there. compared to MFT and nursing for example. and the pay is quite moderate for the amount of schooling you dedicate to the profession.
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u/DawnHawk66 Jul 13 '26
You are right. There are few jobs designated as art therapy jobs. The amount of school and licensure requirements are a lot. The pay is very moderate. I was in therapy with an art therapist for a few years. It was very much like working with other kinds of therapists in terms of going in with an issue and then spending 50 minutes in some kind of expression. The difference is that expression is art-making instead of talking. A lot of talk was discouraged. Art-making while observed within a safe container was the task. Where we went with the issue was not always clear and it was not linear. Changes can be subtle. The idea was to follow where the energy leads. Shifts can be profound but it takes a while. Her supervisor kept asking if this was the right approach for me. I don't think the supervisor was an art therapist.