Art therapy is for art therapists, therapeutic art is for social workers ;-)

Thanks for giving me an opportunity to correct a common (and understandable) misconception about art therapy. A social worker without art therapy training cannot refer to herself as doing art therapy any more than an art therapist can describe herself as a social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist. The term 'therapeutic art' is appropriate for mental health professionals without art therapy credentials.

This may seem like a petty point, but given,

1) the need for art therapists to be accepted as professionals on par with pyschologists & social workers, and

2) the ethical responsibility of a therapist to avoid misrepresenting both art therapy and her own credentials to the public, I think it is important (and respectful to the profession of art therapy) to use the correct terms.

This is not intended in any way as a 'flame' and good luck with finding a social work placement where you can use art therapeutically.

Sophia Kelly,

Forum Editor

Member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association

Replies:

There are no replies to this message.

| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |

Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.