ART THERAPY ADVANCED DIPLOMA
Our distance art therapy stream is designed for those with a Master’s degree.
ADVANCED DIPLOMA PROGRAM STREAM
The Advanced Diploma Stream is delivered through online coursework, supervision through teleconferencing, the Internet, and intensive residential learning. The studies focus on art therapy skills development, art therapy assessment and interventions, as well gaining an in depth general knowledge of the field of art therapy. The intensive residential components (two weeks and one week, respectively) present direct experiential learning opportunities. The program accommodates people who are working full-time in their own community. The first cohort enrolled in the summer of 2002.
By completion of the Advanced Diploma, students will have gained:
- In depth understanding of art therapy, through personal experience
- An understanding of how creativity and symbolic language can promote healing
- In depth appreciation of the value of art in practice and treatment
- A knowledge of the unique contribution that art therapy offers to treatment
- Experience and learning with a wide variety of client groups
- A broad knowledge of the field, both past and present
- An appreciation and integration of both theory and practice
The program focuses on training professionals through a practical approach. The emphasis is on promoting therapeutic relationships with clients using art therapy as a healing modality as well as making a contribution to multi-disciplinary team involvement.
On completion of the Advanced Diploma, students will have completed 27 credits of graduate level study. This includes:
- 700 hours of practicum experience
- 700 hours of coursework (both face-to-face and online)
- 25 hours of individual supervision
- 20 hours of group supervision
- A final applied project
TUITION
- Tuition fees for the program are $18,000.00 payable in four installments. Foreign student fees are $18,500.00 (CAD).
- On acceptance into the program a $175.00 CAD non-refundable registration fee is required.
- Canadian students are eligible to apply for bank loans.
- On entry into the program, students will sign a financial agreement contract as required by the Private Training Institutions Branch of British Columbia.
- Extra to program costs: Students must have access to the internet, and the use of a digital camera.
VATI OFFERS TWO ART THERAPY PROGRAM STREAMS
A 15-month Diploma Program stream and an Advanced Diploma Program stream. Both follow the guidelines for training art therapists as established by the British Columbia and Canadian Art Therapy Associations.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the Advanced Diploma stream, please contact:
Laura Worrall, Director of Distance Programs
Phone: 604.681.8284
Email: laura@vati.bc.ca
ADVANCED DIPLOMA
The Distance Advanced Diploma program:
FOR STUDENTS WHO ALREADY HAVE A MASTER’S DEGREE and wish to continue working while training as art therapists. This provides the opportunity to add the skills required by an art therapist to their professional practice. This 18-month program starts in every July.
PREREQUISITES
A Master’s degree in a Psychology, Counselling, Education, Social Work or a related field. (Applicants with a Master’s degree in a non-related field with applicable experience will be considered). Including demonstration of work related experience.
PLEASE NOTE: Graduates of the AD program receive a diploma from The Vancouver Art Therapy Institute.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Download the Advanced Diploma Stream Application Form (PDF).
- View our Letter of Reference Guidelines (PDF).
- When complete application materials have been received, in-person or phone interviews will be arranged.
- On acceptance, a letter of confirmation and date of entry is sent to the applicant.
- Summer applications are due by March 30th every year. Candidates are invited to apply early.
- Subject to space availability late applications may be considered.
ATTENDANCE
Students attend the program with their original cohort rotation. If a leave of absence is necessary, arrangements may be made for reentry, subject to space availability.
WITHDRAWALS
In the event of withdrawal prior to completing the program, students receive refunds as mandated by PTIB (Private Training Institutions Branch). View our refund policy.
REGISTRATION AND ASSOCIATIONS
According to the credit system and art therapy practicum hours, the Advanced Diploma Program satisfies the art therapy education requirements established by the provincial associations in Canada, and the Canadian Art Therapy Association.
Graduates are eligible to apply for Registration with National and Provincial art therapy associations, as well as the CRPO in Ontario.
CALENDAR
PART I: 3-WEEK SUMMER INTENSIVE or RESIDENCY IN VANCOUVER
SUMMER INTENSIVE or RESIDENCY:
Learning includes direct art therapy experiential learning, labs and coursework. For some classes, preparation reading will be required in advance. Assignments will be submitted according to instructors’ requirements.
Courses include:
- Art Therapy Training Group I
- Art Therapy Techniques Lab I
- Art Therapy Assessment
- Art Therapy Ethics
- Interventions: Group and Family Art Therapy
- Introduction to Practicum & Supervision
PART II: 12-MONTH DISTANCE LEARNING
ONLINE COURSES:
1. INTERVENTIONS
- Child Art Therapy
- Adolescent Art Therapy
- Equity & Diversity in Art Therapy
2. ART THERAPY HISTORY AND THEORY: Arts-Based Psychotherapy
PRACTICUM REQUIREMENTS:
700 hours of art therapy practical experience arranged in a local school, agency, hospital or community setting in the student’s home town (350 hours direct client contact, with the balance being work related activities). The practicum site must be approved by the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute. Students are covered by VATI liability insurance.
SUPERVISION REQUIREMENTS:
25 hours of individual Supervision via internet and teleconferencing
PART III: 2-WEEK SUMMER RESIDENCY IN VANCOUVER
The Second Summer Intensive is conducted in a similar manner as the first.
ONLINE COURSES:
- Art Therapy Training Group II
- Art Therapy Techniques Lab II
- Assessment: Art Therapy Assessment (Field research)
- Group Supervision
PART IV: FINAL PROJECT
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ART THERAPY TRAINING GROUP (3)
Provides and encourages a self-directed exploration and understanding of symbolic language. Emphasis is placed on the development of skills that support engagement with the creative process as it emerges and the thoughtful evocation of personal meaning as it relates to imagery. The course introduces students to a training model that provides a framework for the practice of art therapy.
* For GCAP students, the credits for this course are transferred from VATI to the GCAP transcript as approved by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education.
ART THERAPY TECHNIQUES (3)
Combines a practical and theoretical focus to develop a framework from which to approach symbolic language and the practice of art therapy. Students are expected to be available to explore the use of basic counselling skills within the context of art therapy. The course introduces aspects of the art therapy alliance that support the creative and experiential process. Emphasis is placed on identifying and developing skilful means that allow for successful integration of counselling strategies in art therapy practice.
* For GCAP students, the credits for this course are transferred from VATI to the GCAP transcript as approved by the BC Ministry of Advanced Education.
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES (3)
Through experiential and didactic learning, this course focuses on the study of practical and theoretical approaches to group and family dynamics, specific to the practice of art therapy.
CHILD ART THERAPY: (VATI 608)
Delivered online, this course will educate students on the issues they will encounter, and the interventions they will consider, when working with children in an art therapy environment.
ADOLESCENT ART THERAPY: (VATI 608)
Delivered online, the use of art therapy with adolescents and the relevant development and clinical issues will be studied. Techniques for encouraging graphic expression and relationship with art and the therapist will be emphasized.
ART THERAPY EQUITY AND DIVERSITY: (VATI 601)
Delivered online, this course will help students to examine their own attitudes, behaviours, perceptions and biases, and develop a personal understanding of different lenses that we have to view the world.
ASSESSMENT (3)
Emphasizes an understanding of the process of art therapy assessment. Students view assessments, read and discuss relevant theory and enhance their skills in observation and inference making. Art therapy clinical techniques and tools are emphasized.
ART THERAPY ASSESSMENT – FIELD RESEARCH (Case Studies): (VATI 605)
Utilizing work with clients from their practicum sites, students conduct and present art therapy assessments.
ART THERAPY ETHICS: (VATI 606)
Students will become familiar with ethical issues in art therapy practice and provide a foundation for thinking through ethical problems that can arise.
ART THERAPY HISTORY AND THEORY: Arts Based Psychotherapy (3)
(VATI 651)
Delivered online, the Art therapy History and Theory course is intended to increase students’ understanding and knowledge about the history of art therapy through introduction to the works of pioneers and practitioners in the field as well as current trends in the field of art therapy. Students will have the opportunity to explore how art therapy evolved in tandem with the major orientations in psychology and psychotherapy, and the gradual development of a theory that is indigenous to the arts.
ART THERAPY ELECTIVES
VATI offers three art therapy electives for students who need/want more information on certain topics:
ART THERAPY & ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY: (pass/fail)
This online course looks at Abnormal Psychology through an art therapy lens. This course focuses on the biological, environmental, and cultural influences on abnormal behaviour.
ART THERAPY & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: (pass/fail)
This online course looks at human development through an art therapy lens. People grow and change right up to the end of their lives.
GRIEF AND LOSS THROUGH AN ART THERAPY LENS: (pass/fail)
Throughout this online course, students will acquire an understanding of grief as a multi-faceted response to loss.
TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES IN ART THERAPY (DELIVERED ONLINE): (pass/fail)
Trauma Informed Practices in Art Therapy is an online course that brings together the awareness of the complex impact of trauma on an individual’s suffering. Throughout the course, students will become familiar with how art therapy could be utilized effectively to weave together, within a relational context, creativity, movement and the body, and the power of the image to support clients to experience a renewed sense of vitality.
PRACTICUM (6)
The art therapy practicum component of the course prepares students for professional development and practice in the art therapy context. While students are involved in direct client work and site responsibilities they are engaged in individual and group supervision. Students are required to complete a total of 700 onsite art therapy practicum hours in an agency/school/hospital/community setting. The practicum site must meet the approval of VATI (as well as the practicum requirements of GCAP for the MC:AT students).
SUPERVISION
Each student is assigned an individual supervisor with whom he/she will have regular contact over the phone and via the internet; 25 hours of individual supervision is required. In addition students participate in 20 hours of group supervision at the final residential intensive. Students bring to supervision the art therapy of clients and questions and observations about working with clients. Through interactive discussion students facilitate their own and the learning of others.
FINAL PROJECT (3)
The culmination of training is the submission of a creative project.
For further information about MC:AT coursework, see Specializations (Master of Counselling).
SOCIAL MEDIA
CONTACT
Vancouver Art Therapy Institute
#300 - 291 E. 2nd Ave.
Vancouver, BC V5T 1B8
Phone: 604-681-8284
Email: info@vati.bc.ca
Expressive Arts Therapy Contact
Email: heatherdawson@vati.bc.ca
Email: sabette@vati.bc.ca