Mental Health Counseling: Art Therapy Track
Phylis Lan Lin School of Social Work & Counseling
As the world of healthcare evolves, so does our approach to preparing the next generation of mental health providers. The Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling (MHC) Art Therapy Track program trains students to use the creative process of art-making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. Furthermore, the program aims to prepare competent entry-level art therapists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
The program focuses on providing students with the knowledge and clinical practice necessary to assist in improving and restoring client functionality and a personal sense of well-being. Art therapy combines the theories and techniques of human development and counseling with visual art (drawing, painting, ceramics, etc.) and the creative process. Students in the program will gain both the knowledge and the hands-on experience to create lasting impacts on their future clients.
Students are also encouraged to learn from and network with their future colleagues through a cohort model. In addition to traditional and studio classroom instruction, the MA in MHC Art Therapy Track curriculum includes entire semesters dedicated to practicum and internship experiences in various healthcare settings to ensure students graduate a step ahead in the job market. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to successfully pursue mental health counseling licensure and art therapy credentials and lead their communities to stronger, healthier outcomes.
The Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling Art Therapy Track at UIndy prepares future clinicians to address the needs of individuals, groups, and communities through culturally-informed, social justice-oriented, ethical, reflective, and effective practice of mental health counseling and art therapy.
Combine Passion with Purpose
As the only university in Indiana to offer both an undergraduate pre-art therapy program and master’s program for art therapists, UIndy trains its students to use the creative process of art-making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. The mental health counseling program’s art therapy track prepares its students to recognize and address their clients’ needs through various creative methods. Upon graduation, art therapy track students will be prepared to pursue licensure as a mental health counselor and registration as an art therapist.
Through UIndy’s art therapy track, I developed a unique specialty to combine my passion of creativity with helping others to explore their mental health and recovery. This distinctive skill set has been marketable in the field of mental health and offers a creative, appealing method of therapy to serve a wide range of clients in a spectrum of settings.
Real-World Experience
- Personalized internship placement & support
- Graduate Assistantship Opportunities
- 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship experience
- 300-hour advanced internship elective
- Networking with healthcare professionals and supervisors
- Strong partnerships with local internship sites
- Job offers from internships
Past Internship Placements
- Substance abuse and addiction treatment centers
- Inpatient behavioral health units
- School-based behavioral health
- Residential treatment programs
- Medical settings, including neuroscience centers, cancer support and primary care