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Since the dawn of human consciousness, people have created art to communicate personal and universal concepts. Art therapy as a profession combines art making with psychological concepts in order to access an individual or group's internal resources that can then aid in healing the mind and body, and even the community. The graduate program in art therapy, established at The George Washington University in 1971, was one of the first to be developed in the United States and to receive approval from the American Art Therapy Association.
Our philosophy has been influenced by the teachings of the founders of art therapy who have been associated with the development of our program—Edith Kramer, Hanna Yaxa Kwiatkowska, Bernard Levy and Elinor Ulman. We believe the art therapist's unique competence lies in the capacity to use art therapeutically, to offer people the experience of making art and the opportunity to gain the insights that may come through this kind of endeavor. While the art therapist works in varied settings and serves a myriad of populations, we believe that art therapy must maintain a firm base in the visual arts. The expressive use of drawing, painting and sculpture is the heart of the Art Therapy program at GW.
Special Features of the Program
- Opportunity to study in the nation's capital with leaders in the field of art therapy; attend lectures and seminars by nationally known mental health professionals
- Proximity to major (free!) art museums, medical and research libraries
- Wide variety of internship options in psychiatric, educational, medical and community-based settings
- Colloquia and postgraduate continuing education seminars on advanced clinical issues
- Experienced and practicing art therapists as faculty, encompassing a wide range of therapeutic specializations
- Choice of combined art therapy and counseling program (60 credit option)
- Maximum educational credit received toward credentialing as a Registered Art Therapist (ATR) with the Art Therapy Credentialing Board
- Opportunity to combine Bachelor of Arts in the field of fine arts or psychology and Masters of Arts in the field of art therapy (BA/MA option) in a five year program
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