Elizabeth Beck

Volunteer with an Art Therapist

10/25/09

Here’s a question posted originally posted on my contact page;

Hello, my name is Jenie Hooper and I am a current student at Georgia Southern University. I graduate in December with my Bachelors in Psychology and I also have a Associates Degree of Art. I’m very interested in becoming an Art Therapist. However I’m having trouble finding a place where I can volunteer to gain some experience before going to graduate school to become an Art Therapist.

I wish the AATA website, which has been recently updated and is soooo much better than before, had a section for people interested in volunteering with art therapists. Since they don’t, here are my suggestions (and if anyone else would care to add some, please do).

Email your local Art Therapy Association chapter, letting them know that you want to volunteer and whether they can send out a mass email to all their members, asking for anyone interested to contact you.

Join LinkedIn and become a member of the various art therapy groups that have popped up. Post your request on the LinkedIn group(s) of your choice.

Contact the Director of the Art Therapy Masters level program in your area. Perhaps he/she will be able to put you in contact with a colleague or know of more resources in your area

Join an art therapy group on Facebook. You can post your question there. Similar to LinkedIn, most art therapy groups on fb are global in nature, making it less likely that someone in your community would see your question and respond.

Good luck in your search, Jenie!