Art Therapy
Curriculum
Studio Courses (6)
VATI 601: 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.
VATI 603: 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.
Intervention Strategies (3)
VATI 607A and 607B: Group and Family Art Therapy
This course focuses on the study of practical and theoretical approaches to group and family dynamics, specific to the practice of art therapy.
VATI 608A: Child Art Therapy
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.
VATI 608B: Adolescent Art Therapy
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.
VATI 610: Art Therapy Cultural Care and Intersectionality
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)
VATI 605: Art Therapy Assessment Techniques
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.
VATI 605: Art Therapy Assessment – Field Research (Case Studies)
Students design, prepare, and present case studies for assessment, treatment, and professional development purposes. The objective is for students to develop the skill of art therapy case conceptualization and present so as to articulate their clinical work for a collegial or professional audience.
VATI 606: Art Therapy Ethics
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: Art Therapy History & Theory - Arts Based Psychotherapy
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 SPECIAL TOPICS (4)
VATI 611: The Art of Loss: 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.
VATI 612: Trauma-informed Practices in Art Therapy
(pass/fail) This online course 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.
VATI 631: Salutogenesis: Abnormal Psychology and Art Therapy
(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.
VATI 621: 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.
Practical Applications (6)
VATI 617a: Clinical Placements
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 600 clinical placement hours in an agency/school/hospital/community setting; of which 300 hours are direct client contact time. The practicum site must meet the approval of VATI requirements.
VATI 617b: Clinical Supervision
Each student is assigned a VATI faculty supervisor with whom they will have regular contact. 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.
MAJOR PROJECT, ARTS-BASED RESEARCH (3)
VATI 618: Final Project
The culmination of training is the submission of a creative arts-based research project. The final project is offered as a guided independent study. Working with a final project advisor, students will research a topic of personal interest related to the field of art therapy.