What Does an Expressive Arts Therapist Do?
Published on: January 18, 2024
Do you dream of a career where you can help others achieve personal growth and overcome mental health challenges through art? If so, working in expressive arts therapy could be your calling.
Read on for a better understanding of what an expressive art therapy career entails and how to start working in this rewarding field to help determine whether this path may be right for you.
What Is Expressive Arts Therapy?
Expressive arts therapy incorporates various art forms and creative processes to help patients pursue personal growth, healing and self-expression. The idea behind expressive arts therapy (also known simply as art therapy) is that artistic self-expression can help patients achieve personal discovery and a sense of emotional release—both of which can be effective in overcoming internal struggles and growing as a person.
When Art Therapy Should Be Used
While not suitable for all counseling or therapy cases, there are many situations in which expressive arts therapy can be useful. Some examples of mental health and behavioral health conditions that art therapy can help with include:
- Anxiety and depression
- ADHD
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Developmental disorders
- Stress disorders
In many ways, expressive or creative arts therapy can help clients better understand their own emotions and thought processes. For example, expressive arts therapy is often used to help young children describe or explain how they're feeling—even when they may not yet have the words or vocabulary to describe their emotions verbally. Adding to this, dance movement therapy serves as a form of physical therapy that aids in healing from physical trauma, utilizing the therapeutic power of movement to enhance emotional and physical well-being.
Role of an Expressive Arts Therapist
An expressive arts therapist is a mental health professional who has received specific training on the efficacy and use of art therapy as well as the appropriate techniques for carrying out this unique form of therapy. These professionals must be familiar and comfortable with using many different art form examples in their treatment plans, such as:
- Writing therapy
- Dance therapy
- Music therapy
- Painting, sketching and sculpting
- Theater and Drama
In addition to encouraging active participation among clients, expressive arts therapists must be calm and compassionate, helping patients address their own unique goals while embracing their creative process.
About Art Therapy Careers
If a career in art therapy sounds like something that would be up your alley, it's important to understand the nuances of this line of work—especially as it relates to common job duties and work settings.
Job Duties of an Expressive Arts Therapist
Though the exact roles and responsibilities of an expressive arts therapist can vary, some typical job duties include:
- Conducting assessments on patients
- Creating personalized treatment plans for each patient
- Discussing patients' progress with other professionals
- Staying up to date on industry news and new creative arts techniques
Where Art Therapists Work
Expressive art therapists can work in a wide range of settings, including schools and medical facilities. It is not uncommon for schools to bring in expressive art therapists on a regular basis to help students who are struggling better understand and communicate their own needs. Meanwhile, behavioral health centers, long-term care facilities and hospitals often employ expressive art therapists for this type of work.
Some expressive art therapists go on to open their own private practices. This way, they can establish their own client base and provide services out of an independent office. It is even possible for expressive arts therapists to work remotely, providing virtual sessions to patients from just about anywhere.
Techniques Used by Expressive Arts Therapists
If you decide to go into a career as an arts therapist, you will need to get comfortable using any number of standard techniques in visual arts, performing arts and literary arts. Each patient will have their own unique goals and needs—and it will be your job to determine which technique(s) will help them achieve the highest level of personal growth. Some therapists may specialize more in some techniques than others, but all arts therapists should have a solid understanding of the following.
Visual Arts
Examples of techniques used in visual arts therapy include:
- Painting
- Drawing
- Sculpting
- Self-portraits
- Printmaking
- Photography
Performing Arts
The use of performing arts techniques can also be effective in helping clients express themselves and heal from trauma. Some examples of performing arts techniques used in art therapy include:
- Filmmaking
- Improvisation
- Music
- Role-playing
Literary Arts
For some clients, writing is the best form of self-expression. A few techniques that expressive art therapists may encourage clients to use in this realm include:
- Poem writing
- Journal writing
- Prose writing
Education and Requirements for Art Therapists
If you're interested in working as an expressive arts therapist, you'll need to possess numerous soft and hard skills related to this line of work. First, you must have solid communication and interpersonal skills as well as plenty of patience and compassion for others. Oftentimes, people seeking expressive arts therapy are facing trials and tribulations in their own lives that make them especially sensitive, so being able to turn to a compassionate therapist who does not judge and provides plenty of support is a must.
Likewise, art therapists generally need to have some kind of degree or certificate in therapy, arts therapy or a related field. A formal degree or training program provides the foundational knowledge needed to understand human behavior, psychology, common mental conditions and how to use various expressive art techniques to help patients thrive.
In certain cases, employers looking to hire expressive arts therapists also want candidates who have a certain level of experience working in the field in addition to a formal degree or certificate. This is where volunteering and taking advantage of internship opportunities may work to your advantage as an aspiring professional.
In some states, formal licensing is required in order to work as an art therapist. Because requirements can vary so much from one state to the next, it's a good idea to research the specific requirements for the state in which you plan to live and work before pursuing a career in this field.
For those suffering from mental health struggles or simply looking to achieve personal growth, expressive arts therapy can be an effective means of self-exploration and healing. And with so many different techniques and applications to draw upon, the work of an expressive arts therapist can be highly dynamic and rewarding.
Learn More About Expressive Arts Therapy at Husson University
Interested in pursuing a certificate in expressive arts or a related field? Husson University offers a number of online programs to suit your personal and professional goals. Check out our variety of program offerings to learn more or start your online application today.
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