Art Therapy
Students in the Art Therapy Specialization take their art therapy courses through the Vancouver
Art Therapy Institute. VATI was established in 1982 and is accredited
by the Post-Secondary Educational Commission of British Columbia. VATI
offers a Graduate Level Diploma Program in Art Therapy. Students in the Master of Counselling: Art Therapy (MC:AT)
take core program courses through the Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology and then access their specialization courses through
VATI. The VATI courses are then recognized for transfer credit into the Athabasca University MC:AT.
The MC:AT is designed to provide students with both a solid foundation in counselling practice and specialized training in art therapy. Art therapy provides individuals with an opportunity to explore personal problems and potentials through painting, sculpture, or drawing. The symbolic communication of emotions and experiences through art leads naturally into more traditional verbal forms of counselling processes.
Additional Prerequisite
Applicants to the Art Therapy Specialization must have an abnormal psychology course, either undergraduate or graduate level. This prerequisite is in addition to the general prerequisites for the MC program. Students may be admitted to the program without this prerequisite if they meet all other program prerequisites; however, it must be completed before entering Stage II of the program.
Program Structure
Students enrolled in the Art Therapy Specialization will complete the Stage I Core Courses, as well as the Assessment, Intervening to Facilitate Client Change, and Methods of Inquiry courses from the Stage II Core Courses with the Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology. They will then take a number of art therapy courses from VATI to complete the Art Therapy Specialization. Upon completion of these courses and submission of a VATI transcript, students will be granted transfer credit for these specialization courses. Students will then complete their final practicum and project with GCAP.
Art Therapy Specialization Courses
Art Therapy students will complete the following through GCAP:
- GCAP 651: Art Therapy History and Theory
Art Therapy students will complete the following through VATI:
- Two specialization courses:
- VATI 601 Art Therapy Training Group
- VATI 603 Art Therapy Techniques
- A range of assessment and intervention modules, specifically designed for art therapy students
- A specialized practicum in art therapy with extensive supervision
Page last updated: July 26, 2010 @ 01:31:35 PM
