Art Therapy and Counseling, MS
Develop your identity at EVMS as a world-class, culturally responsive artist-therapist and counselor.
Art Therapy and Counseling, MS
Learn more about the program.
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What are Art Therapy and Counseling Professions?
Art therapy is a mental health profession in which an art therapist facilitate client engagement in creative processes of art making and understanding resulting artworks for wellness and mental health.
Counseling is a mental health profession in which a counselor builds a professional relationship to empower diverse individuals, families and groups to support mental health and wellness.
We prepare all graduates to seek Registered Art Therapist Credentials and Professional Counselor Licensure.
How we help clients
Our art therapy and counseling graduates help clients:
- Explore their emotions and lived experiences
- Foster self-awareness, self-esteem and social skills
- Focus on growth, healing and wellness
- Manage and recover from post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, addictions and other mental illnesses
Why choose EVMS?
Art making
Learn how to prescribe art processes and media for clients in our spacious studio.
Art making
Additionally, create response art in our fully-stocked, 2,000-square-foot studio, which is available to students around-the-clock.
Response art making facilitates self-awareness and depth, helping students process experiences with academics, life and clients.
Students are trained and encouraged to keep a visual journal throughout the program.
Clinical practice
Develop your own integrated theoretical approach to practicing art therapy and counseling and explore sub-specializations.
Clinical practice & sub-specializations
Learn psychological theories and evidence-based practices applied to art therapy and counseling to develop an integrative theoretical approach that works best for your clients and matches your values and beliefs. During your studies in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling tracks, you may also explore sub-specializations.
You can select sub-specializations in:
- Trauma & Neuroscience Informed Art Therapy and Counseling
- Art therapy in schools
- Depth psychology
- Geriatric art therapy
- Medical art therapy
- Community Art
Capstone
Execute a culminating project of excellence and work with faculty on research.
Capstone
Projects may include:
- Human subjects research
- Nonhuman subjects research
- Art therapy advocacy and art shows
- Social justice
- Community engagement
- Service learning
Students can also partner with faculty on research.
Art making
Learn how to prescribe art processes and media for clients in our spacious studio.
Clinical practice
Develop your own integrated theoretical approach to practicing art therapy and counseling and explore sub-specializations.
Art making
Additionally, create response art in our fully-stocked, 2,000-square-foot studio, which is available to students around-the-clock.
Response art making facilitates self-awareness and depth, helping students process experiences with academics, life and clients.
Students are trained and encouraged to keep a visual journal throughout the program.
Clinical practice & sub-specializations
Learn psychological theories and evidence-based practices applied to art therapy and counseling to develop an integrative theoretical approach that works best for your clients and matches your values and beliefs. During your studies in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling tracks, you may also explore sub-specializations.
You can select sub-specializations in:
- Trauma & Neuroscience Informed Art Therapy and Counseling
- Art therapy in schools
- Depth psychology
- Geriatric art therapy
- Medical art therapy
- Community Art
Capstone
Execute a culminating project of excellence and work with faculty on research.
Capstone
Projects may include:
- Human subjects research
- Nonhuman subjects research
- Art therapy advocacy and art shows
- Social justice
- Community engagement
- Service learning
Students can also partner with faculty on research.
Art making
Learn how to prescribe art processes and media for clients in our spacious studio.
Clinical practice
Develop your own integrated theoretical approach to practicing art therapy and counseling and explore sub-specializations.
Capstone
Execute a culminating project of excellence and work with faculty on research.
Art making
Additionally, create response art in our fully-stocked, 2,000-square-foot studio, which is available to students around-the-clock.
Response art making facilitates self-awareness and depth, helping students process experiences with academics, life and clients.
Students are trained and encouraged to keep a visual journal throughout the program.
Clinical practice & sub-specializations
Learn psychological theories and evidence-based practices applied to art therapy and counseling to develop an integrative theoretical approach that works best for your clients and matches your values and beliefs. During your studies in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling tracks, you may also explore sub-specializations.
You can select sub-specializations in:
- Trauma & Neuroscience Informed Art Therapy and Counseling
- Art therapy in schools
- Depth psychology
- Geriatric art therapy
- Medical art therapy
- Community Art
Capstone
Projects may include:
- Human subjects research
- Nonhuman subjects research
- Art therapy advocacy and art shows
- Social justice
- Community engagement
- Service learning
Students can also partner with faculty on research.
Help clients with self-esteem for wellness and optimal health.
Service learning
You will practice service learning in many settings, including working with community members through our Arts for Optimal Health Program. Our students are dedicated to caring for individuals in a way that:
- Embrace diverse perspectives and lived experiences for prevention and wellness
- Fosters a climate of openness to explore using the creative process
- Provides compassionate service to individuals, the community and our world
- Enacts social justice
Our graduates
Graduating Art Therapy and Counseling, MS Class of 2022 positive employment rate is 100%.
Our graduates are world-class art therapists and counselors who are culturally responsive, community-involved and ethical professionals with successful careers. Explore alumna Paige Scheinberg's story.
Our program provides Continuing Education classes and workshops. See our offerings.
Emphasis on experience
Engage with standardized patients to develop your art therapy and counseling skills and receive immediate feedback in your first two weeks on campus.
Work with children, adolescents and adults over three semesters at three of our 50 internship sites in Hampton Roads.
