Frequently Asked Questions
Are Art Therapists "therapists"?
Yes. Art Therapists are credentialed through the national organization: Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB), and have at least a master’s degree. Art Therapists have education and experience comparable to other helping professions such as counseling, social work, etc. Unlike those professions, however, Art Therapists are specifically trained in all aspects of using the creative process in therapy settings including: making art, viewing art, and talking about artwork to facilitate enhanced wellness.
How can I know that an art therapist is qualified?
Your assurance that a particular Art Therapist has achieved the necessary qualifications is that he or she has the credentials ATR (Registered Art Therapist) or ATR-BC (Board Certified Registered Art Therapist). Both of these credentials can be verified online: https://www.atcb.org/home/find_a_credentialed_art_therapist/
It is also acceptable for a new graduate of an Art Therapy program to be working as an Art Therapist under supervision while earning the ATR.
I can’t draw, so art therapy wouldn’t be for me, right?
Anyone and everyone can benefit from art therapy. Some people have confidence in their artistic ability, others don't. Artistic ability is not necessary. In fact, many Art Therapists believe that artistic ability can inhibit the therapeutic process of a session.
Will an Art Therapist know all my most private and secret thoughts by looking at one of my pictures?
An experienced Art Therapist might be able to form a tentative idea about some aspect of you or your life from a picture that was created. However, Art Therapists are trained to be very careful and respectful in this regard. The expert on a piece of artwork is the person who made that artwork. That’s YOU!
Where do Art Therapists work?
Art Therapists can be found in many different settings: hospitals, hospices, mental health facilities, trauma-related facilities, schools, children’s programs, substance abuse treatment centers, facilities for older adults, prisons, private practice, and more.
I am working towards attaining my ATR and need to find a qualified art therapist who can supervise me for my hours towards registration. Where can I find a supervisor in my area?
On our website, www.floridaarttherapy.org, go to our “Supervision” webpage (www.floridaartherapy.org/supervision.html) and check our list of qualified art therapist supervisors. Each supervisor lists their location so you can find supervisor(s) who are close to you or qualified to provide supervision hours for your ATR.
I am interested in a career in art therapy but don’t know where to start. Can you provide me with some information about art therapy as a career, places where art therapists work and training programs?
Check out the American Art Therapy Association’s (AATA) website (https://www.americanarttherapyassociation.org/). AATA has a wealth of information about education, training, board certification, and employment in art therapy.
Another great resource is an Art Therapist! If you check out our “Supervision” page and “Contacts” page on the FATA website, you’ll find a number of practicing Art Therapists listed with their contact information. Prepare a list of questions and contact the Art Therapist via email to see if they’d be willing to answer some of your questions.
How can I find an Art Therapist for myself or my child?
You can locate Art Therapists through the following website: https://www.atcb.org/home/find_a_credentialed_art_therapist/
Also, you can search the Web or look at the state website for the AATA Chapter (for example, FATA, Florida Art Therapy Association, www.floridaarttherapy.org ) or try the Art Therapist Locator found on the American Art Therapy Association’s website, https://arttherapy.org
Where can I study Art Therapy in Florida?
Florida State University in Tallahassee FL. To find out more please visit https://arted.fsu.edu/Programs/Art-Therapy
Is it the making of art or the reflecting on art that is therapeutic?
Through training, Art Therapists have become experts on focusing a session of art-making and discussions about art on therapeutic themes to provide therapeutic value.
Many Art Therapists would say that therapeutic value of an art therapy session lies in a combination of factors. In an Art Therapy session, you may find yourself reflecting on personally meaningful qualities of an artwork that you or someone else made. This may result in therapeutic thoughts, feelings, and social interactions. Additionally, you may be encouraged to experience and engage in a creative process that may provoke beneficial and therapeutic physiological states. Both of these experiences, although distinct, have therapeutic value.
Is Art Therapy an evidence-based therapy?
Art therapy incorporates many evidence-based techniques. Art Therapists pride themselves on using research-based best practices and upholding high levels of professionalism and ethics. What's more, art therapists are increasingly contributing to the scientific body of knowledge associated with the field of Art Therapy. Through this growing body of research, Art Therapy is increasingly evidence-based.
Is Art Therapy covered by my health insurance?
Art therapists are versatile professionals who hold many different job titles and positions. Art Therapy may be reimbursed by insurances depending upon the way that the service is delivered and therefore coded and billed.
Art Therapy enhances the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages and this means that it can take many forms.
Like many other professionals such as engineers, a working Art Therapist may not hold the title "Art Therapist"; they may fulfill dual roles and have a distinct title that reflects the location where they work. As a result, their services may be coded and billed in various ways that may ultimately yield reimbursement.
That said, as a result of the field's newness and at present in the state of Florida, insurance does not list "Art Therapy" as a distinct service description. However, this is changing on the Federal level and will likely soon change on the State level. Art Therapists are increasingly being hired under the title "Art Therapist" or "Clinical Art Therapist."
Are Art Therapists "therapists"?
Yes. Art Therapists are credentialed through the national organization: Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB), and have at least a master’s degree. Art Therapists have education and experience comparable to other helping professions such as counseling, social work, etc. Unlike those professions, however, Art Therapists are specifically trained in all aspects of using the creative process in therapy settings including: making art, viewing art, and talking about artwork to facilitate enhanced wellness.
How can I know that an art therapist is qualified?
Your assurance that a particular Art Therapist has achieved the necessary qualifications is that he or she has the credentials ATR (Registered Art Therapist) or ATR-BC (Board Certified Registered Art Therapist). Both of these credentials can be verified online: https://www.atcb.org/home/find_a_credentialed_art_therapist/
It is also acceptable for a new graduate of an Art Therapy program to be working as an Art Therapist under supervision while earning the ATR.
I can’t draw, so art therapy wouldn’t be for me, right?
Anyone and everyone can benefit from art therapy. Some people have confidence in their artistic ability, others don't. Artistic ability is not necessary. In fact, many Art Therapists believe that artistic ability can inhibit the therapeutic process of a session.
Will an Art Therapist know all my most private and secret thoughts by looking at one of my pictures?
An experienced Art Therapist might be able to form a tentative idea about some aspect of you or your life from a picture that was created. However, Art Therapists are trained to be very careful and respectful in this regard. The expert on a piece of artwork is the person who made that artwork. That’s YOU!
Where do Art Therapists work?
Art Therapists can be found in many different settings: hospitals, hospices, mental health facilities, trauma-related facilities, schools, children’s programs, substance abuse treatment centers, facilities for older adults, prisons, private practice, and more.
I am working towards attaining my ATR and need to find a qualified art therapist who can supervise me for my hours towards registration. Where can I find a supervisor in my area?
On our website, www.floridaarttherapy.org, go to our “Supervision” webpage (www.floridaartherapy.org/supervision.html) and check our list of qualified art therapist supervisors. Each supervisor lists their location so you can find supervisor(s) who are close to you or qualified to provide supervision hours for your ATR.
I am interested in a career in art therapy but don’t know where to start. Can you provide me with some information about art therapy as a career, places where art therapists work and training programs?
Check out the American Art Therapy Association’s (AATA) website (https://www.americanarttherapyassociation.org/). AATA has a wealth of information about education, training, board certification, and employment in art therapy.
Another great resource is an Art Therapist! If you check out our “Supervision” page and “Contacts” page on the FATA website, you’ll find a number of practicing Art Therapists listed with their contact information. Prepare a list of questions and contact the Art Therapist via email to see if they’d be willing to answer some of your questions.
How can I find an Art Therapist for myself or my child?
You can locate Art Therapists through the following website: https://www.atcb.org/home/find_a_credentialed_art_therapist/
Also, you can search the Web or look at the state website for the AATA Chapter (for example, FATA, Florida Art Therapy Association, www.floridaarttherapy.org ) or try the Art Therapist Locator found on the American Art Therapy Association’s website, https://arttherapy.org
Where can I study Art Therapy in Florida?
Florida State University in Tallahassee FL. To find out more please visit https://arted.fsu.edu/Programs/Art-Therapy
Is it the making of art or the reflecting on art that is therapeutic?
Through training, Art Therapists have become experts on focusing a session of art-making and discussions about art on therapeutic themes to provide therapeutic value.
Many Art Therapists would say that therapeutic value of an art therapy session lies in a combination of factors. In an Art Therapy session, you may find yourself reflecting on personally meaningful qualities of an artwork that you or someone else made. This may result in therapeutic thoughts, feelings, and social interactions. Additionally, you may be encouraged to experience and engage in a creative process that may provoke beneficial and therapeutic physiological states. Both of these experiences, although distinct, have therapeutic value.
Is Art Therapy an evidence-based therapy?
Art therapy incorporates many evidence-based techniques. Art Therapists pride themselves on using research-based best practices and upholding high levels of professionalism and ethics. What's more, art therapists are increasingly contributing to the scientific body of knowledge associated with the field of Art Therapy. Through this growing body of research, Art Therapy is increasingly evidence-based.
Is Art Therapy covered by my health insurance?
Art therapists are versatile professionals who hold many different job titles and positions. Art Therapy may be reimbursed by insurances depending upon the way that the service is delivered and therefore coded and billed.
Art Therapy enhances the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages and this means that it can take many forms.
Like many other professionals such as engineers, a working Art Therapist may not hold the title "Art Therapist"; they may fulfill dual roles and have a distinct title that reflects the location where they work. As a result, their services may be coded and billed in various ways that may ultimately yield reimbursement.
That said, as a result of the field's newness and at present in the state of Florida, insurance does not list "Art Therapy" as a distinct service description. However, this is changing on the Federal level and will likely soon change on the State level. Art Therapists are increasingly being hired under the title "Art Therapist" or "Clinical Art Therapist."
