Art Therapy and Counseling, MS
Develop your identity at EVMS as a world-class, culturally responsive and creative artist-therapist.
Art Therapy and Counseling, MS
Learn more about the program.
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What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy is a mental health profession in which an art therapist facilitates client engagement in the creative process of art making and understanding resulting artworks for healing.
We prepare all graduates to seek Registered Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor credentials.
How we help clients
Our art therapy graduates help clients:
- Explore their emotions and lived experiences
- Foster self-awareness, self-esteem and social skills
- Focus on growth and healing
- 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 & specializations
Develop your own integrated theoretical approach to practicing art therapy and explore specializations.
Clinical practice & specializations
Learn psychological theories and evidence-based practices applied to art therapy to develop an integrative theoretical approach that works best for your clients and matches your values and beliefs.
You can select specializations in:
- Trauma-informed art therapy
- Art therapy in the schools
- Depth psychology
- Geriatric art therapy
- Medical art therapy
- Licensure preparation
Capstone
Execute a culminating project 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 & specializations
Develop your own integrated theoretical approach to practicing art therapy and explore 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 & specializations
Learn psychological theories and evidence-based practices applied to art therapy to develop an integrative theoretical approach that works best for your clients and matches your values and beliefs.
You can select specializations in:
- Trauma-informed art therapy
- Art therapy in the schools
- Depth psychology
- Geriatric art therapy
- Medical art therapy
- Licensure preparation
Capstone
Execute a culminating project 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 & specializations
Develop your own integrated theoretical approach to practicing art therapy and explore specializations.
Capstone
Execute a culminating project 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 & specializations
Learn psychological theories and evidence-based practices applied to art therapy to develop an integrative theoretical approach that works best for your clients and matches your values and beliefs.
You can select specializations in:
- Trauma-informed art therapy
- Art therapy in the schools
- Depth psychology
- Geriatric art therapy
- Medical art therapy
- Licensure preparation
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 patients by facilitating creativity and self-expression through art making for wellness and healing.
Service learning
You will practice service learning in many settings, including working with community members through Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) and in open studio. Our students are dedicated to caring for individuals in a way that:
- Embraces diverse perspectives and lived experiences
- Fosters a climate of openness to explore using the creative process
- Provides compassionate service to individuals, the community and our world
Our graduates
Graduating Art Therapy and Counseling, MS Class of 2019 positive employment rate is 94%.
Our graduates are world-class art therapists 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.
