Art Therapy
About
History of the Art Therapy Program
Now in its 5th decade as a school, the art therapy diploma has continued to grow and stretch beyond its original historical frames.
At the centre of how we work, play and train is the visual arts as a creative medium. 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.
From its beginnings, the training has been grounded in group and studio-based learning, group creativity, and a movement from its early psychodynamic processes to embrace a more interdisciplinary and phenomenological lens. While honouring the wisdom and knowledge of art therapists of the past, we are committed to addressing the challenges and themes of contemporary life, and the application of the visual arts for individual and community therapeutic exploration and growth.
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.
In 2020, VATI became 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.
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 the 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.