School of Health Professions and Human Services
Careers in Health Care: Become a Creative Arts Therapist
“[Art Therapy] is one of the most powerful forms of therapy out there. The ability to have an effect on a client is incredible.”
Deborah L. Elkis-Abuhoff, PhD Program Director, Creative Arts Therapy Master’s Program Hofstra University
Careers in Health Care: Become Creative Arts Therapist
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“With visual, nonverbal communication, there’s no filter. Everything comes out visually. Even if you want to hide something or you can’t find the right words, it comes out. There is a neural connection once it’s visually expressed. It allows you to talk about something that’s over here as opposed to inside you, and you’re able to express yourself.”
What do they do? Art therapy is a form of therapy that requires proficiency in both art and counseling. Art therapists help their clients work through difficult emotions or memories using creativity and visual expression.
— Deborah L. Elkis-Abuhoff, PhD Program Director Creative Arts Therapy Master’s Program Hofstra University
Careers in Health Care: Become Creative Arts Therapist
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What are my job prospects in this field? The field of mental health therapy and advanced health care therapists is expected to grow as much as
34% in the next eight years and the
American Art Therapy Association’s 2016 salary survey estimated salaries between $30,000 and $79,000 a year. The explosive growth in art therapy is perhaps not surprising given that it taps into the nonverbal side of therapy and allows clients to work through trauma in a creative way.
Careers in Health Care: Become Creative Arts Therapist
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Job prospects for art therapists The NY metro area is second in the nation in terms of job openings for art therapist. (California is number one.)
According to Burning Glass Technologies*, the average salary in the NY metro area is
$48,633, though the Bureau of Labor Statistics** quotes the mean annual salary in New York as $71,100.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, states with the highest employment level of art therapists are: Employment
Employment per thousand jobs
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Indiana
1,300
0.43
$20.72
$43,110
Maryland
1,090
0.41
$25.53
$53,100
Illinois
840
0.14
$26.73
$55,590
California
770
0.05
$29.47
$61,290
Wisconsin
720
0.25
$19.76
$41,100
Employment
Employment per thousand jobs
Hourly mean wage
Annual mean wage
Nevada
50
0.03
$42.21
$87,800
Kentucky
390
0.21
$41.46
$86,240
New Mexico
190
0.24
$35.80
$74,460
New York
660
0.07
$34.18
$71,100
Virginia
90
0.02
$34.02
$70,760
State
BLS reports the top-paying states for this occupation: State
*Source: Burning Glass Technologies, March 2019 **Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016
Careers in Health Care: Become Creative Arts Therapist
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What kind of education do I need?
“We’re very close with our students. It’s a very intimate community. When a student enters our program, they enter the CAT community at Hofstra, and even after they become alumni, they are always part of us. So they stay connected and we support each other. I know every student’s name. When students come here, they feel like family. They’re not just coming to classes.” — Deborah L. Elkis-Abuhoff, PhD Program Director Creative Arts Therapy Master’s Program Hofstra University
Art therapy is a form of professional counseling and requires a master’s degree to get an entry-level job.
What should I look for in an educational program? Your training should cover the entire creative process including a variety of mediums, including sketching, painting, sculpture, and other expressive therapies. Being adept in a variety of creative modalities helps you adapt to your clients’ interests and abilities. Also, look for a program that covers all the content areas outlined by the American Art Therapy Association and that nurtures both your creativity and career growth.
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ALUMNI PROFILE: STUDENT PROFILE: Megan Patierno, Hofstra Class of 2018 Stephanie Laureano Major: Athletic TrainingArts Hired: TK MA in Creative Therapy,
Class of 2019
I endedprogram up beingataccepted and given How did you become in artthat therapy?athletic training Hofstra. Jayne Student-athlete Meganinterested Patierno knew thehave opportunity to actively and acquire the always encouraged Hofstra’s program beloved and Kristin SL: “Fromathletic a very training young age, I havewould always psychology credits within the first year of supported me in my studies.” the and perfect wayalways to combine herthe passions forin which art, I have admired manner the graduate program. Thus, in many ways biology sports. and father would create both myand grandfather After logging more my than 1,000 hours of the Creative I consider acceptance into artwork. Both father figures were stoic in nature; experience between freshman and As she prepares to graduate, Megan, an Arts Therapyher Counseling program a huge however, they truly came alive when they put pencil senior years, Megan feels ready to meet the infielder on Hofstra’s softball team, is one blessing.” to paper. I relate to their nature and attitude in of the first female students to be chosen
demands of working for an NFL team.
many ways. Thus, they became my inspiration to for a paid, postgraduate athletic training What are theyou’re thingsassigned you liked about practice my craft. My personal experience with MP: “Every semester, internship with the New York Jets, a position being a Hofstracollege CATC team student? art making has always left me feeling empowered.to work with a different or she’ll start this summer. Moreover, being that I’m shy by nature, art has doctor. I SL: also“Ihelped manage the doctors’ really enjoyed passion each always helped me convey things wasplayers afraid to clinics forprofessor Hofstra athletes able to Each MP: “I’ll be working directly with Ithe had for and the was profession. vocalize. When it came time consider what I assist them with orthopedic general during pre-season, setting uptopractices, professor provided and a unique perspective wanted to do with my life, I knew I needed to make medicine.” doing treatments, and all aspects of sports on their application of creative arts creativity and art-making a lifetime decision. Yet, medicine.” therapy counseling. Furthermore, I was freshman year, Megan has done my path to discovering a role that would mesh Since herconstantly inspired by each of my peers athletic training rotations with three Hofstra She credits strong m entorship from Hofstra my desire to help others and create art was not who come from such diverse backgrounds Molloy College’s softball team, Softball Head Coach Larissa Anderson and apparent at first. It was through the guidance of sports teams, and walks of life.” twoundergraduate professors in the Department Health my counselor that of I discovered theand Nassau Community College’s football Professions, Ellinger and Kristin creative arts Jayne therapy counseling career path.” team, as well as a physical therapy rotation What is the best experience you had as a with ProHealth. LoNigro. CATC student? What did you study in your undergraduate degree? MP: “I’veSL: had thefavorite opportunity to workwhile MP: “Jayne and Kristin recommended me “My experience under a lot of athletic trainers and have the for “Fine the opportunity and were instrumental SL: Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design.” studying at Hofstra was getting learned so much. I’ve built a large in helping me get my foot in the door ... opportunity, through onenetwork of the program of professionals in my field and hope to expand Athletic training really wasn’t considered electives during the summer, What brought you to Hofstra? to continue make connections at my a profession for women. They’ve worked my to knowledge of sand-play therapy. SL: “After graduation, I took a year off from internship and beyond.” in the field for 20 years and pioneered the Getting the chance to see the professors’ school to work and fervently research different sand-play therapy studio firsthand was art therapy programs. At the time, I was short a amazing.” few psychology prerequisite credits. I knew that my lack of psychology credits would make my Megan’s story isn’t unique – 100% of 2015-2016 School of Health Professions and Human What populations do you like to work with? application to art therapy programs a lot more Services undergraduate degree recipients who responded to our graduation survey or difficult. I found that Hofstra considers all aspects SL: “I haven’t determined a particular other reliable sources knowledge rate) reported that they were employed or have - application, portfolio, and (64% personal interview, population I wish to work with. However, withinstarted their acceptance decision. tookgraduate a leap school within or were planning to Istart year of open graduation. I am one completely to creating a positive of faith and submitted my application. Upon my change through art in whichever community interview, I was ecstatic to hear that I could still I get the opportunity to work in.” be considered for acceptance with my situation.
Healthcare: Athletic Trainer Careers in Health Care:Become Becomean Creative Arts Therapist 6
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School of Health Professions and Human Services
Click here to learn more about Hofstra’s Creative Arts Therapy program