ARTH - Art Therapy

Prerequisite: Admission in MA or permission of instructor. A survey introductory course in the history of art therapy as it developed in the United States and Europe from 1940-present. Also, included is an in-depth exploration of the different philosophies which have emerged and which continue to evolve in contemporary practice. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Admission in MA or permission of the instructor. Study of the theoretical and practical framework of the field of art therapy, the technical qualities of art media and the development of therapeutic responses. Theory will be practiced in experiential settings. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Acceptance in MA degree program or permission of the instructor. Various drawing and painting media will be introduced with an emphasis upon the progression from restrictive to expansive self-expression. The media's applicability and relationship to the emotional realm will be explored. Community clinical experiences will apply skills. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Acceptance into the MA degree program or permission from the instructor. Study and experimentation of the various concepts, media and techniques of clay. Discussion of the relationship of the powers of creating art and its direct application to the human psyche. Community clinical experiences will apply skills. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Acceptance in MA degree program or permission of the instructor. Exploration of the practice of group psychotherapy. In this course, major theories and research findings will be addressed as they apply to group practice in the field of art therapy. In-depth exploration of drawing, painting, and sculpture for their diagnostic value and review of specific clinical interpretations. This course is repeatable for credit.

This course provides students with the opportunity to develop a professional identity as an art therapist which integrates understanding of ethical, professional, and legally principled practices while performing roles and responsibilities in mental health and community-based settings. Additional areas of coverage include the importance of supervision, benefits of professional organizations and credentialing, collaboration, advocacy for the profession, and advocacy for clients and their access to mental health services.

In depth review of the major categories of mental illness using the DSM and/or the ICD, engagement in the diagnostic process, examination of possible art-based indicators of mental disorders, a review of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications, and a study of the effects that culture, society, and crisis have on individuals with mental illness. Additional areas of coverage include ongoing conceptual developments in neuroscience.

This course integrates stages of human growth and development in assessment and treatment of typical and atypical client and patient populations. Additional areas of coverage include contextual/ecological factors that impact these groups, recognition that development exists along a continuum, and the feasibility of health across the lifespan. Stages of artistic development are examined.

This course reviews a variety of specific art therapy instruments and procedures used in appraisal and evaluation as well as traditional psychological testing. Additional areas of coverage include the selection of assessments with clients/patients as the basis for treatment planning, establishing treatment effects, evaluating assessment validity and reliability, documentation of assessment results and ethical, cultural, and legal considerations in their use. Attention is given to culturally and developmentally appropriate assessment and evaluation methods as well as administration and interpretation of results to identify individual or familial challenges, strengths, resilience, and resources for art therapy and counseling treatment planning.

This course provides students with the opportunity to understand the purposes, methods, and ethical, legal, and cultural considerations of research and demonstrate the necessary skills to design and conduct a research study. Additional areas of coverage include the use of research to assess effectiveness of mental health and art therapy services by becoming an informed consumer of art therapy research.

Understand major psychological and counseling theories and applications to practice. Students will learn traditional verbal counseling as well as art therapy application.

This course provides students with observation of counseling and art therapy. Students gain familiarity with entry level assessment skills, facilitating individual and/or group therapy, and treatment planning. Students are given opportunities to build therapeutic relationships and participate in basic engagement and intervention. Attention is given to the counseling and/or art therapy space, materials, and overall process of treatment.

This course provides students with the opportunity to integrate knowledge with regard to the profession of Art Therapy, including literature in the field, through a culminating project which may include, but is not limited to, thesis or other extensive, in-depth project. Use of established research methods (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based), innovative methods of inquiry, clinical practice, or a synthesis of clinically-based personal and professional growth (e.g., service learning, designing a program, designing a "tool kit" for Art Therapists). This course guides students in identifying a thesis or project topic, problem statement, hypothesis or project development, literature review, and formation of the graduate thesis or project committee.

This course provides students with the opportunity to integrate knowledge with regard to the profession of Art Therapy, including literature in the field, through a culminating project which may include, but is not limited to, thesis or other extensive, in-depth project. Use of established research methods (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based), innovative methods of inquiry, clinical practice, or a synthesis of clinically-based personal and professional growth (e.g., service learning, designing a program, designing a "tool kit" for Art Therapists). This course guides students in finalizing a thesis or project.

This course provides students with the opportunity to understand the relevance of cultural competence to strategies for working with diverse communities, understanding of privilege and oppression and reflective thinking in regards to the therapist's own attitudes and beliefs. The role of arts in social justice, advocacy, and conflict resolution are also explored.

Prerequisites: Acceptance in the MA degree program or permission of the instructor. In-depth survey of different populations being served by art therapists, including autism, developmental disabilities, sensory deficits, physical illnesses, neurological disorders, emotional/behavioral disorders and other disorders of childhood. Ethnical/legal issues will be discussed. Assessment and treatment strategies will be covered. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Admission to the MA degree program or permission of the instructor. Supervised community clinical experiences with individuals and groups. Referral process, assessment, treatment planning, goal-directed interventions, progress recording, interdisciplinary treatment process, and closure processes for accountability will be practiced. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Admission to the MA degree program or permission of the instructor. In-depth survey of different adult populations being served by art therapists, including psychiatric, medical, rehabilitation, geriatrics, hospice, in-patient, and developmental disabilities. Ethical/legal issues will be discussed. Psychological foundations of theory will be presented with applications for art therapy. Assessment and treatment strategies will be covered. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Acceptance in the MA degree program or permission of the instructor. Supervised community clinical experiences with individuals and groups. Referral process, assessment, treatment planning, goal-directed interventions, progress recording, interdisciplinary treatment process, closure processes for accountability will be practiced. Skills needed to design art therapy positions will be explored. This course is repeatable for credit.

This course provides students with the opportunity to review the therapeutic benefits of art processes and media, strategies and interventions, and culturally-appropriate and diverse applications of the treatment process of art therapy and counseling with children. Relevant and current literature and research on current trends in art therapy and counseling practices with children are surveyed.

This course provides students with the opportunity to practice art therapy and counseling with children and to attend supervision sessions. Supervision sessions are held in small groups led by a registered art therapist who oversees student discussions of professional development, case conceptualization, assessment, treatment planning, interventions, and overall therapeutic process with the goal of helping students to develop a theoretical orientation, practice self-care, explore relational dynamics, and self-awareness through personal art making.

This course provides students with the opportunity to review the therapeutic benefits of art processes and media, strategies and interventions, and culturally-appropriate and diverse applications of the treatment process of art therapy and counseling with adolescents. Relevant and current literature and research on current trends in art therapy and counseling practices with adolescents are surveyed.

This course provides students with the opportunity to practice art therapy and counseling with adolescents and to attend supervision sessions. Supervision sessions are held in small groups led by a registered art therapist who oversees student discussions of professional development, case conceptualization, assessment, treatment planning, interventions, and overall therapeutic processes with the goal of helping students to develop a theoretical orientation, practice self-care, explore relational dynamics, and self-awareness through personal art making.

This course provides students with the opportunity to review the therapeutic benefits of art processes and media, strategies and interventions, and culturally-appropriate and diverse applications of the treatment process of art therapy and counseling with adults, couples, and families. Relevant and current literature and research on current trends in art therapy and counseling practices with adults are surveyed.

The course provides students with the opportunity to practice art therapy and counseling with adults, couples, and/or families and to attend supervision sessions. Supervision sessions are held in small groups led by a registered art therapist who oversees student discussions of professional development, case conceptualization, assessment, treatment planning, interventions and overall therapeutic process with the goal of helping students to develop a theoretical orientation, practice self-care, explore relational dynamics, and self-awareness through personal art making.

Prerequisites: Acceptance in the MA degree program or permission of the instructor. Completion of academic courses. Written comprehensive synthesis of all courses in art therapy curriculum. Successful completion before continuation of Thesis/final project. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Acceptance in the MA degree program or permission of the instructor. Research and preparation of the thesis. Working both in class and on an individual basis, students will select a topic and develop a review of the relevant literature in the field which comprises the first half of the thesis. This course is repeatable for credit.

This course reviews creativity, symbolism, metaphor, and artistic language as it relates to the practice of Art Therapy with individuals, groups, and communities of diverse cultures. The role of symbolism in psychopathology, mental health, assessment, and treatment is examined. Symbolic language and metaphor is studied in order to develop and enhance a deeper understanding of inner experience.

Prerequisites: Acceptance in the MA degree program or permission of the instructor. Completion of comprehensive examination. In-depth field clinical experience, under the direct supervision of a registered art therapist. Internship requires 300 hours on site. Population requirements: one internship with adults, one with children or adolescents. The seminar provides an atmosphere for interns to reflect upon this experience which leads to further integration and synthesis. Students will present case studies on an individual or group process. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Acceptance in the MA degree program or permission of the instructor. Completion of comprehensive examination. In-depth field clinical experience, under the direct supervision of a registered art therapist. Internship requires 300 hours on site. Population requirements: one internship with adults, one with children or adolescents. The seminar provides an atmosphere for interns to reflect upon this experience which leads to further integration and synthesis. Students will present case studies on an individual or group process. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Acceptance in the MA degree program or permission of the instructor. Completion of comprehensive examination. Completion of the thesis/final project including implementation, data collection, analysis, presentation of materials, visual productions, discussion and conclusion. This course is repeatable for credit.

Prerequisites: Acceptance in the MA degree program or permission of the instructor. Completion of comprehensive examination. Graduate committee comprised of primary art therapy faculty, and 2 faculty of choice. Written and oral presentation of thesis/final project. This course is repeatable for credit.

The study of trauma, treatment, and recovery across the lifespan. Discussion includes identifying major types of trauma, co-occurring disorders, effects, methods of assessment, graphic indicators of trauma seen in art, and a survey of clinical Art Therapy interventions.

This course reviews current family systems theory, the family life cycle, evaluation, and counseling and art therapy practice. This course examines family dynamics from various theoretical perspectives.