Art therapy combines the creative process and psychotherapy, facilitating self-exploration and understanding. Using imagery, colour and shape as part of this creative therapeutic process, thoughts and feelings can be expressed that would otherwise be difficult to articulate. 

There are certain qualifications required of art therapists.

In Canada, professional art therapists must have at minimum a master’s level diploma or master’s degree in art therapy to practice. This graduate level education includes supervised clinical practicum hours (700 hours minimum for Canadian art therapy students), thus ensuring the safety of the client as well as professional liability for agencies and employers offering this form of therapy.

Why Work with an Art Therapist?

1. Art therapists are trained professionals

Art therapists are trained professionals with expertise in counseling psychology and fine arts.

In Canada, professional art therapists must have at minimum a master’s level diploma or master’s degree in art therapy to practice. This graduate level education includes supervised clinical practicum hours (700 hours minimum for Canadian art therapy students), thus ensuring the safety of the client as well as professional liability for agencies and employers offering this form of therapy.

A Registered Canadian Art Therapist (RCAT) is a Professional Member in good standing that received additional training in the profession, clinical supervision (50 hours for 1000 client contact hours) beyond graduation, displays involvement in the art therapy community and are experienced in working with a variety of clients in diverse settings. For more information, visit our Membership Levels page.

2. Art therapists abide by a Code of Ethics that is specific to art therapy

Please see our Standards of Practice page for more details

3. Art therapists work with diverse clients

Art therapy is effective for people of any age.  An art therapist works with individuals, couples, families or groups in settings such as counselling agencies, schools, treatment centers, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, correctional institutes and elder care locations.

4. Professional and Registered Art therapists have liability insurance

To graduate, art therapists are required to have at least 700 hours of supervised art therapy practicum hours. This ensures that graduated art therapists have a deep and professional understanding in working with clients and ensures client safety when working with deep psychological issues. As working professionals, Professional and Registered Canadian Art Therapists are required to have professional liability insurance to offer art therapy.

5. Research supporting art therapy exists

Art therapy outcome research with diverse populations continues to be published in different academic journals in art therapy, psychology, psychotherapy, counseling, special populations, art education, etc.

The Canadian Art Therapy Association has been publishing quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods and arts-based academic research on art therapy with diverse populations since 1985 through our academic journal.

The American Art Therapy Association Research Committee has created a Research Outcome Bibliography on outcome and single-subject studies in art therapy to support the practice of art therapy through providing empirical evidence of its use.

6. Where can I find an art therapist in Canada?

To find a Professional or Registered member of CATA, check out our online Art Therapist Directory. You can also obtain information from the following provincial associations:

BC Art Therapy Association

Ontario Art Therapy Association

L'Association des art-thérapeutes du Québec

Art Therapy Brochures