VATI is committed to providing an educational experience that cultivates student creativity, self-awareness, and therapeutic competence. We aim to train art therapists who are active members of the art therapy community, and good ambassadors to the larger community.
ABOUT VATI
Founded in 1982 as a non-profit society and charitable organization, the institute is accredited by the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB).
VATI is committed to providing an educational experience that cultivates student creativity, self-awareness, and therapeutic competence. We aim to train art therapists who are active members of the art therapy community, and good ambassadors to the larger community.
Entering its fifth decade, VATI is one of two longstanding Canadian art therapy programs that were influenced by the teachings of Dr. Martin Fischer. We honour the psychoanalytic roots of art therapy and include various theoretical lenses that inform the practice of art therapy. VATI offers coursework that is delivered by a diverse and accomplished faculty that allows the students to develop a solid understanding of current theory and practice.
Secondarily, the Institute provides art therapy as a service to the community at large via student practicum placements. Students are placed at agencies, schools, and hospitals. Our clinical placement students gather their required hours while offering this valuable service to
the community.
VATI follows the guidelines for training established by Canadian art therapy associations. As well, VATI is recognized by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) as an approved training program; graduates can become members of the CRPO upon completion of the VATI diploma.
In 2023, VATI expanded its educational offerings to include an established expressive arts therapy program that has graduated over 300 students with a certified expressive arts therapy designation. This program follows the guidelines of collaborative training programs recognized by the European Graduate School and meets both Canadian and international standards of expressive arts therapy training.
Students who graduate from these VATI programs may be eligible to obtain the additional qualification of registered therapeutic counsellor through the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists.
TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
At VATI we train art therapists using a meta-theoretical, client-centered approach that includes contemporary theories from broader paradigms.
Our curriculum challenges students to advance their therapeutic values and practical approaches through different lenses. We incorporate psychotherapy, anthropology, sociology, aesthetic theory, social action and critical theory to encourage students to become more aware of themselves, and their clients, in the therapeutic frame. Our students see how social policy and theory affect human beings, and whole communities through their clinical placement experiences.
By focusing on training professionals through a practical approach, our program brings together the theory and practice of arts-based psychotherapy in the following ways:
- By engaging in their own art journey, students gain a personal understanding of the power of the creative process.
- Through clinical placement experience in community, students gain familiarity with a wide variety of client groups.
- Through the study of advancing research and theory in the field, students integrate both experiential and theoretical appreciation of art therapy.
- Students are well prepared for professional therapeutic practice with a strong ethical foundation.
The emphasis is on promoting therapeutic relationships with clients as well as contributing to a multi-disciplinary approach to mental health.
HISTORY OF VATI
DR. MARTIN A. FISCHER
In 1982, the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute was originally founded by Lois Woolf on the principles and teachings of Toronto psychiatrist, Dr. Martin A. Fischer; he first used art therapy in the 1940s when working with adults who had psychiatric challenges.
ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
In 2001, the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute (VATI) entered into a collaborative relationship with Athabasca University. As of 2021, this relationship has changed to a more streamlined transfer credit affiliation, where graduates of either AU or VATI have coursework that is recognized for transfer. Please see Art Therapy Program Streams (affiliation).
JULY 2002
In July 2002, the Advanced Diploma (our distance program) began. This program attracts local and international students with a Master’s degree from various fields including social work, counselling, education and fine arts. Some students incorporate art therapy into their current work practice, while others come in order to make a career change.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CONTACT
Vancouver Art Therapy Institute
291 E. 2nd Ave.
Vancouver, BC V5T 1B8
Phone: 604-681-8284
Email: info@vati.bc.ca