Art Therapists are individuals who bring together a passion for art and a deep commitment to the well-being of others. They understand the power of the creative process to heal and create opportunities for growth. Art therapists provide opportunities for groups, families, adults, and children to explore verbally and visually their potentials as well as their problems. The use of imagery in art therapy allows clients to access their individual symbolic language to gain personal insight, contain painful feelings, communicate more fully, and bring meaning to their life experience. During the art therapy process clients become creators discovering new possibilities and transforming both their artwork and their lives.

Avila’s Master of Science in Counseling and Art Therapy is a 60-credit degree program designed to meet the educational requirements for students to become licensed as professional counselors in Missouri (L.P.C.) and to become registered and board certified (ATR-BC) as art therapists with the Art Therapy Credentialing Board, Inc.. The program is committed to the clinical proficiency of graduates and provides in-depth coursework in both art therapy and counseling/psychology. Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of art therapy assessments and interventions designed to meet the needs of a variety of client populations in clinical, educational, rehabilitative, and community settings. Students will develop the counseling skills necessary to therapeutically process art products and creative activity, as well as the clinical judgment needed in evaluating client needs and effectively developing treatment strategies.