The Graduate Certificate in Creative Arts Therapy in Mental Health develops competencies in one of the newest specializations within the helping professions. The curriculum integrates a wide-range of creative art and therapeutic approaches applied to various types of populations. Whether using visual art (painting, sculpting), poetry, journaling, storytelling, dance/movement, sand play, or music (including instrumental and singing), students learn how the creative arts can provide tools for enriching lives through a combination of active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.
Creative Arts Therapy is being used in a variety of health care environments including disability centers, psychiatric hospitals, special education programs, drug abuse centers, community mental health centers, other health institutions, and prisons. Students learn how to use the creation of art to resolve emotional conflicts and foster self-awareness and personal growth through education, rehabilitation, and psychotherapy. Art therapy incorporates psychology, art, and therapeutic techniques to provide a creative alternative to conventional therapies.
