Art Therapy: A Career As A Career

This paper serves the purpose to explore three main topics: who am I, what have I learned thus far, and who do I want to become? Through my experience at Adler University I have gained insight into what it takes to become an art therapist. Though the journey of pursuing art therapy is a lifelong experience, it didn’t start here. Who am I? Growing up I lived my life with the fundamentals of art as therapy. I participated in dance, theater, music, shop class, and produced photography, origami, ceramics, sculptures, paintings and drawings. There wasn’t a creative outlet I hadn’t tried in my community. I often took it apon myself to strengthen these skills by staying late in art class and by teaching myself new skills not readily available to

Every fear I had resolved itself and for one of the first times in my life I felt I was in the right place. Then the question came back, what are you going to do with this degree? I thought about teaching, and remembered how the moments I spent in the art room left a lifelong impact on my life. That was it, I believed my purpose in life was to teach youth about the powers of art and signed up for a semester full of teaching courses. Half way through the semester I was told by a professor, “the arts will be cut from public schools so don't waste your

I have not narrowed down my population to something specific, however I have several interest. I am interested first a foremost in sleep disorders. Dream work has been a positive influence in my life and has provided me with understanding into personal and unconscious struggles. My artwork thus far has surrounded the idea of making the unknown known. Therefore, I feel helping others become aware of their unconscious motives can prove helpful. I am also interested in addiction, however worry I have person conflicts. Addiction runs strong in my family which I feel can be a catch 22. I have seen addiction first hand, but am I the right person to help? Finally, my third interest is helping teens who struggle with mental health. I am a positive person and have worked predominantly with youth through the YMCA. Working with teens and young children comes with a specific personality requirement which I have become to understand. Sometimes all they need is one person to believe in them, I think that can be said for everyone