I agree! DBT’s language based curriculum that uses lots of abstract thought/phrases/concepts makes it difficult to integrate its use with DD clients. I periodically check Amazon to see if Julie’s book has come out. So far not…but hopefully soon!

Thanks so much for your feedback. I’m glad to hear that you find the site helpful and interesting

I hope you continue evolving and growing into the next stage of your life, which is a difficult thing to do. Hang in there!

- Liz

Well, I suppose that depends on your definition of “doing art therapy”. Without an MA in Art Therapy or a certificate, which is available to those who already have an masters degree or PhD in a related field, you cannot call yourself an Art Therapist in the US. Other places around the world have different rules, so check in with your local/national art therapy agencies. If you got a job in the (mental) health field, where a part of your job was to run a group or two, and you made those groups into art groups, then perhaps you would consider yourself to be “doing art therapy”. However, in the eyes of the American Art Therapy Association your groups would not be considered art therapy sessions because you’re not a trained art therapist.

Certainly, there is overlap between many counseling practices and art therapy—for example, psychologists and counselors have been known to incorporate art making in the treatment of trauma. Are they “doing art therapy”? Not in my opinion. They’re mental health professionals who acknowledge the benefit of art making but who are not trained art therapists.

In sum, you cannot be hired as an art therapist in the US without the educational credentials and there is a difference between an art session and an art therapy session. The difference lies in the knowledge of the person conducting the art session: developmental art theory, counseling theories, art therapy assessment, group art therapy, group psychotherapy, multicultural art therapy, and so on.

I cannot stress enough how important being educated in the profession of art therapy is. I’ve volunteered with an artist (before I went to school to become an art therapist), who happened to have a knack for working with the mentally ill. In retrospect, I realize how much both the artist and the clients would have benefited from the artist being educated in art therapy theories, techniques and ethics. Just because art therapy looks on the surface to be similar to other professions, like being an art teacher for example, it does not mean that the dynamics of art therapy sessions are not complex, requiring training and a solid educational background.

I very much hope that job openings for MFTs will also apply to LPCCs. I think some LCSW jobs will be open to LPCCs, but LCSWs seem to have more opportunity out here than any other license (besides psychologist). Part of the reason, I think, is that they have specialized case management training.

I suppose we’ll have to wait and see exactly what the demand will be for LPCCs in California, but I imagine that this license will create substantial opportunities for those of us who were unlicensable up until this point.

Hope this helps!
- Liz

I totally identify with your frustration! I would like to work with the VA as well, but cannot…hopefully the LPCC will change this!

Thanks for writing!
- Liz