Occupation · SOC 29-1129.01
Art Therapists
Plan or conduct art therapy sessions or programs to improve clients' physical, cognitive, or emotional well-being.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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—
Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
123 mapped
Core skills
Social PerceptivenessSpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingCritical ThinkingService OrientationActive LearningWritingComplex Problem SolvingTime ManagementCoordinationPersuasionLearning StrategiesInstructingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisNegotiationManagement of Personnel ResourcesOperations AnalysisMathematicsScienceOperations MonitoringManagement of Material ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingEquipment SelectionQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesTroubleshootingRepairingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Therapy and CounselingPsychologyFine ArtsSociology and AnthropologyCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and TrainingEnglish LanguagePhilosophy and TheologyAdministrativePublic Safety and SecurityCommunications and MediaLaw and GovernmentAdministration and ManagementComputers and ElectronicsMedicine and DentistryPersonnel and Human ResourcesDesignTelecommunicationsHistory and ArcheologyForeign LanguageSales and MarketingMathematicsEconomics and AccountingTransportationBiologyMechanicalChemistryProduction and ProcessingGeographyEngineering and TechnologyPhysicsBuilding and ConstructionFood Production
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatAdobe After EffectsAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopAppointment scheduling softwareAutodesk MayaCase management softwareIBM SPSS StatisticsImage databasesMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordTrimble SketchUp ProWeb browser softwareZoom
Representative tasks
Thinking CreativelyAssisting and Caring for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDocumenting/Recording InformationGetting InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersCoaching and Developing OthersUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsScheduling Work and ActivitiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming Administrative ActivitiesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationDeveloping and Building TeamsProcessing InformationTraining and Teaching OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleWorking with ComputersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesSelling or Influencing OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsControlling Machines and ProcessesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Client observation records — document initial reactions and behavioral responses to art-making activities under clinical supervisor guidance in an inpatient or outpatient mental health setting.Art therapy session protocols — follow established formats to deliver guided self-expression exercises to assigned clients under direct supervision in a structured therapeutic environment.Client needs assessments — apply drawing and painting tasks to gather baseline data on cognitive and emotional functioning under the direction of a licensed art therapist.Treatment team participation — attend interdisciplinary case conferences and contribute observational notes on client art therapy progress in a hospital or community mental health setting.Individualized treatment plans — assist in drafting preliminary art therapy goals using studio art and psychotherapy frameworks under clinical supervision.Therapeutic rapport — engage clients in structured verbal reflection during art sessions to acknowledge effort and normalize the creative process in a supervised clinical placement.Progress documentation — complete structured case summary templates and session notes using document management software in compliance with facility record-keeping standards.Art media selection — identify appropriate artistic materials and modalities aligned with client diagnoses and safety protocols in a clinical or rehabilitative care environment.Psychological and counseling knowledge — apply foundational understanding of psychology and therapy principles to inform responsive behavior during supervised client sessions.Social perceptiveness — recognize nonverbal cues and emotional shifts in clients during art-making activities and report observations to supervising clinicians.
developing
Session design — develop structured art therapy programs with measurable objectives tailored to individual client goals within outpatient mental health or educational settings with minimal oversight.Clinical documentation — write thorough treatment plans, progress reports, and case summaries using office suite and document management software in compliance with professional and regulatory standards.Assessment administration — conduct comprehensive needs assessments using sculpting, painting, and collage techniques to evaluate clients' cognitive, emotional, or physical impairments across a defined caseload.Reflective dialogue — facilitate client conversations during art therapy sessions that build therapeutic alliance, track progress, and encourage insight into the artistic and emotional process.Interdisciplinary coordination — collaborate routinely with psychologists, social workers, and occupational therapists to align art therapy interventions with integrated care plans in multidisciplinary team settings.Treatment plan integration — incorporate studio art therapy, counseling, and psychotherapy techniques into individualized plans adapted for diverse client populations in community or clinical contexts.Outcome monitoring — track and analyze client progress data using analytical software and spreadsheets, adjusting session approaches based on documented trends over time.Scheduling and caseload management — organize therapy appointments and program calendars using scheduling software to maintain consistent service delivery across an active client roster.Cultural and sociological awareness — adapt art therapy interventions to reflect clients' cultural backgrounds and social contexts, drawing on sociology, anthropology, and philosophy knowledge.Group therapy facilitation — lead structured art therapy groups for clients with shared diagnoses or treatment goals, managing group dynamics and individual needs simultaneously.
proficient
Comprehensive program design — independently design, implement, and evaluate multimodal art therapy programs aligned with evidence-based practices for complex clinical populations in hospital or rehabilitative settings.Advanced clinical assessment — conduct in-depth psychodiagnostic assessments integrating fine arts modalities with psychological frameworks to inform differential diagnosis and treatment planning across non-routine cases.Autonomous treatment planning — develop and revise individualized treatment plans that synthesize studio art therapy, psychotherapy, and counseling interventions for clients with comorbid or complex presenting needs.Outcome evaluation and reporting — produce high-quality clinical reports, case formulations, and outcome analyses using data management and analytical software to inform quality improvement in service delivery.Interdisciplinary leadership within teams — lead collaborative care planning discussions with physicians, psychiatrists, and allied health professionals, ensuring art therapy perspectives shape integrated treatment goals.Complex client engagement — skillfully manage therapeutic alliance and reflective dialogue with clients presenting trauma, resistance, or cognitive impairment, adapting communication strategies to maximize therapeutic benefit.Ethical and legal decision making — apply professional ethics codes, mandatory reporting obligations, and clinical judgment independently to navigate ambiguous or high-stakes situations in a licensed practice environment.Supervisory clinical observation — systematically observe and interpret subtle behavioral and emotional signals across a full caseload, using inductive and deductive reasoning to refine ongoing treatment approaches.Technology-enhanced therapy delivery — integrate video creation, graphics imaging, and desktop publishing tools into therapeutic programming to expand access and engagement in telehealth or community outreach contexts.Fine arts expertise application — draw on advanced knowledge of fine arts theory and technique to select and sequence artistic interventions that align therapeutic intent with client creative development across the care continuum.
advanced
Program leadership — direct department-wide or organizational art therapy service lines, setting clinical standards, defining scope of practice, and ensuring alignment with institutional strategic goals in a healthcare or human services setting.Clinical supervision and workforce development — mentor and formally supervise emerging and developing art therapists, designing structured supervision frameworks that build professional competence across the organization.Policy and standards contribution — represent the art therapy profession on institutional committees, accreditation bodies, or advocacy platforms to shape clinical guidelines and regulatory standards at regional or national level.Research and knowledge translation — lead applied research initiatives or systematic program evaluations that generate evidence for art therapy efficacy, publishing findings and disseminating practice innovations across the field.Interprofessional system integration — drive the integration of art therapy into multidisciplinary care pathways at an organizational scale, negotiating roles and resources with executive and clinical leadership.Strategic curriculum development — design and implement advanced training curricula, continuing education programs, or academic courses that advance the theoretical and applied knowledge base of the art therapy profession.Organizational quality improvement — lead quality assurance and outcomes measurement initiatives using project management and analytical software, translating data into actionable improvements in clinical service delivery.Equity and advocacy leadership — champion trauma-informed, culturally responsive art therapy frameworks across the organization, influencing hiring, programming, and community partnerships to serve historically underserved populations.Grant and resource development — secure funding through grant writing, institutional partnerships, and stakeholder persuasion to expand art therapy program capacity and sustainability in nonprofit, academic, or healthcare environments.Thought leadership and professional representation — present at national conferences, contribute to professional literature, and engage media or public audiences to elevate the evidence base and public understanding of art therapy.
Also known as
25 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Art PsychotherapistArt TherapistArt Therapy SpecialistArts TherapistBoard Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC)Board Certified Arts Therapist (ATR-BC)Certified Art TherapistClinical TherapistCognitive TherapistCreative Art TherapistCreative Arts TherapistCreative TherapistExpressive Art TherapistExpressive TherapistGroup TherapistHospice Art TherapistLicensed TherapistMedical Art TherapistOncology Art TherapistOutpatient TherapistProgram TherapistRegistered Art Therapist (ATR)Rehabilitation Creative TherapistRehabilitation TherapistTherapist