become an art therapist

i am currently getting my masters in social work, but have decided that talk therapy is not the route for me. when i graduate next year, I will be applying for a post masters certification program in order to become a certified art therapist. i’m currently taking lots of art classes at a community college to meet the eligibility requirements (18 art credits! yikes!) for the program, so it is a bit exhausting, but i’ll get there!

it annoys me how i can be so flippant… 2 months after came to this epiphany went and started my own business… I now have a little flower/homewares shop. Then came the recession. Crap. I would love to still realise my dream of being a A.T but I am afraid it is going to take me a little longer than I first thought.

Awhile back I had established that I had wanted to become an art therapist. I did the research, looked into it, and ultimately decided for myself that the graduate school route was the way to go. So in essence was this giving up? To a degree I could see how it is, yet I have turned a half step towards a different degree yet in a similar direction. I have to find a graduate school goal thing. Crossing my fingers- graduate school decision month is March!

I withdraw with awe with those with who made it their goal to become an art therapist, much applause!

Signed up for 2 psych classes online so far…just waiting on books and course outline to start!

I think I am finally coming to realize that this is what I’d like to do. I already have my undergrad in studio art from FSU and all I need is 3 more psychology prerequisites before I can apply to the school I am looking into. So I am going to take prob. 2 this spring and one in the summer and apply to the school by the fall! Let’s hope things work out. I change my mind quite a bit about things, but I have a good feeling about this!

I can’t believe I haven’t considered this before!!! It makes so much sense now! Today is amazing, am v excited! I’m 26 and work in furniture design – got my degree in interior & furniture a few years ago and it’s been great but I’ve never felt satisfied working in this field,(its very superficial!). I attended art school before this and recently started drawing and doing artwork to relieve what comes naturally. This has brought back all the memories of how much I adore art in all forms. People always tell me how I should work in nursing or teaching because I love to look after people. I’ve just done some research and hopefully will be able to start a foundation course in January with a look to start an MA in Art therapy next year. I can’t wait!!

I really want to become and art therapist, or youth counselor with a focus in creative therapies. My mother always laughs and tells me that I have said I wanted to do this since I was 10. Which is true, if I think about it. I am starting to admit and accept this dream, and am trying to follow through with it, but am hitting some roadblocks finding a way of doing this via distance learning. I live and love in a small town in Northern California and only have found one school in SF that offers programs this way. Are there any others?

I am so excited to have finally found what I am going to do with my life- it is such a huge relief and a wonderful way to combine my passion for art and my love of helping people… I feel like shouting it to the world I am so excited!! :)

I’m at UGA…and I really hate it…But I feel like art therapy is something I really want to do…Hope I can stick it out…and graduate and then go to graduate school.

I found a course here on my own town but when I called it was already complete.
Sighs.
Sighs.
Sighs.

EDIT: No more sighs, I’m doing the course. Happy. I have to read a lot of Winnicott and Gestalt theory right now ;)