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Art Therapy

Creative tools: support people through artistic expression
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Does Art Therapy suit me?

Studying Art Therapy

Art therapy is a field of study that shows you how art can be used to promote health: whether through painting, music, dance or theater, artistic expression can be used to address or overcome mental and physical problems.

An interdisciplinary art therapy degree program combines art, psychology, medicine, and education: on the one hand, you can expect to study creative content where you’ll deepen your knowledge in your chosen artistic discipline (e.g., music, theater or painting). On the other hand, you’ll acquire knowledge of therapeutic techniques and interventions, diagnostics, treatment planning and documentation methods.

In art therapy as a field of study, you’ll acquire both the scientific foundations and the practical skills. You’ll learn how to set up therapy sessions, motivate people to practice art and support them in their self-awareness and self-reflection.

If you’d like to enable patients to find new forms of expression and creative processes, a degree in art therapy could be a good fit for you. Your interests and talents are important when choosing a course of study: typical degree programs are called art therapy, drama therapy, painting and design therapy, and art therapy and life counseling.

Personal requirements | Art Therapy

  • Enjoy working with people
  • Creativity and a love of art
  • Mental stability
  • Empathy and communication skills
  • Patience

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Typical course content | Art Therapy

  • Art therapy in an interdisciplinary context
  • Image and material science
  • Trauma therapy
  • Art and therapy in practice
  • Professional conversation and interaction
  • Ethical and legal framework conditions
  • Qualitative and quantitative research methods
  • Social and curative education
  • Hospice work
  • Target group-specific methodology

Career prospects | Art Therapy

As an art therapist, you’ll use various methods, exercises and techniques to help your patients overcome physical or psychological problems. You’ll create therapy plans and motivate artistic expression through dance, painting or other mediums. You’ll work with different target groups such as children, adults and people with disabilities.

You can work independently as an art therapist or you can be employed in hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric facilities or rehabilitation centers. There will also be jobs for you in schools, social organizations, and prisons.


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