Counseling and Art Therapy is a dual master's degree and while art therapy and counseling can be intertwined, they can also stand equally on their own. The American Counseling Association and the Ohio Counseling Association specifically advocate for counseling and the American Art Therapy Association and the Buckeye Art Therapy Association advocate for art therapy. The goals for each are similar, to help people, but the process is what is different. This post will define both counseling and art therapy with information from each association.
Counseling
The American Counseling Association (2018) is an organization that helps the counseling profession to grow and advance. Counseling is defined as a mental health profession where counselors are trained to help “individuals, families, and groups in treating mental, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders” (ACA, 2018). It helps individuals connect and to navigate through a counseling career. The ACA supports students in ways that help them succeed and grow by providing internship and volunteer opportunities that foster interests as well as scholarship opportunities. After completing a degree, one has the option to become a National Certified Counselor, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, and a Licensed Professional Counselor. The Ohio Counseling Association (2018) is an organization that represents all licensed counselors in Ohio. This organization is a branch of the ACA and creates connections and networking within the state of Ohio as well as benefits individual counselors and the profession in all. OCA is a great resource for counselors to be able to find opportunities for local work and for networking. They strive to educate and work proactively to achieve career goals for counselors.
Art Therapy
The American Art Therapy Association (2018) is an organization that seeks to expand and grow art therapy as a profession. Art therapy is defined as the mental health and human service profession with a goal to enrich lives through the art-making and creative process. Art therapy is used in several ways that strive to seek “emotional, creative, and spiritual growth” (AATA, 2018). AATA works to inform communities about what art therapy is and make a more capable art therapist help individuals and groups of people. After completing a degree, one can obtain a Provisional Registered Art Therapist, Registered Art Therapist, Board Certification, and Art Therapy Certified Supervisor. The Buckeye Art Therapy Association (2018) is an organization that communicates opportunities, continuing education, and art therapy events members have access to. BATA is a branch of AATA, specifically for Ohio art therapists, and strives to connect and be a resource to grow on the knowledge and purpose of art therapy. They believe self-expression that comes from art, can help people “resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight” (BATA, 2018). BATA also allows students to gain experience through volunteer work and internship opportunities in the state of Ohio.
My Goals
My intended goal is to become a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Art Therapist. I think eventually I want to get Board Certified and become a supervisor to help others in the art therapy field. Art therapy and counseling can both be separate entities, while art therapy is still growing as a profession, the goal is the same, to help others. I want to combine both and help my clients in any way possible as both an art therapist and counselor.
References
About Art Therapy. (2018). American Art Therapy Association. Retrieved from https://arttherapy.org
American Art Therapy Association. (2018). Retrieved September 24, 2018, from https://arttherapy.org/
American Counseling Association. (2018). Retrieved September 24, 2018, from https://www.counseling.org/
Buckeye Art Therapy Association. (2018). Retrieved September 24, 2018, from http://www.buckeyearttherapy.org/
Knowledge Center. (2018). American Counseling Association. Retrieved from http://counseling.org
Ohio Counseling Association. (2018). Retrieved September 24, 2018, from http://www.ohiocounseling.org
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