What You Need to Know About Art Therapist
Position Description Plan or conduct art therapy sessions or programs to improve clients’ physical, cognitive, or emotional well-being.
Art Therapist Responsibilities
- Interpret the artistic creations of clients to assess their functioning, needs, or progress.
- Review research or literature in art therapy, psychology, or related disciplines.
- Select or prepare artistic media or related equipment or devices to accomplish therapy session objectives.
- Communicate client assessment findings and recommendations in oral, written, audio, video, or other forms.
- Gather client information from sources such as case documentation, client observation, or interviews of client or family members.
- Analyze data to determine the effectiveness of treatments or therapy approaches.
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What an Art Therapist Should Know
Below is a list of the skills most Art Therapists say are important on the job.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Types of Art Therapist
- Day Treatment Clinician/Art Therapist
- Art Therapist
- Children’s Program Coordinator
- Registered & Board Certified Art Therapist
- Art Therapy Specialist
Is There Job Demand for Art Therapists?
In the United States, there were 19,200 jobs for Art Therapist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,300 new jobs for Art Therapist by 2026. The BLS estimates 1,200 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Art Therapist are Alaska, Colorado, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Alabama, Wyoming, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of an Art Therapist
Art Therapists make between $29,590 and $77,050 a year.
Art Therapists who work in California, District of Columbia, or Nevada, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Art Therapists in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $42,860 |
Arizona | $49,440 |
Arkansas | $50,170 |
California | $75,810 |
Colorado | $49,300 |
Connecticut | $59,450 |
Delaware | $46,320 |
District of Columbia | $68,430 |
Florida | $48,290 |
Georgia | $43,950 |
Hawaii | $55,470 |
Idaho | $40,770 |
Illinois | $46,620 |
Indiana | $42,280 |
Iowa | $52,470 |
Kansas | $35,850 |
Kentucky | $45,330 |
Louisiana | $41,180 |
Maine | $49,390 |
Maryland | $48,690 |
Massachusetts | $55,570 |
Michigan | $51,280 |
Minnesota | $54,660 |
Mississippi | $38,470 |
Missouri | $46,000 |
Montana | $44,730 |
Nebraska | $39,420 |
Nevada | $58,480 |
New Hampshire | $46,660 |
New Jersey | $58,220 |
New Mexico | $38,680 |
New York | $55,370 |
North Carolina | $47,600 |
North Dakota | $43,910 |
Ohio | $45,750 |
Oklahoma | $37,760 |
Oregon | $55,410 |
Pennsylvania | $45,900 |
Rhode Island | $49,310 |
South Carolina | $42,240 |
South Dakota | $50,480 |
Tennessee | $41,660 |
Texas | $43,070 |
Utah | $48,230 |
Vermont | $43,120 |
Virginia | $47,590 |
Washington | $59,860 |
Wisconsin | $44,970 |
Wyoming | $50,170 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Art Therapists
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Art Therapists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign
- Trimble SketchUp Pro
- Adobe Systems Adobe Creative Suite
- Appointment scheduling software
- Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffects
- Autodesk Maya
- Case management software
Becoming an Art Therapist
Learn what Art Therapist education requirements there are.
What work experience do I need to become an Art Therapist?
Where Art Therapists Work
Below are examples of industries where Art Therapists work:
References:
Image Credit: Barbara E. Carver via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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