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Students work together in our 2,000-square-foot art studio.

Art Therapy and Counseling, MS

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Develop your identity at EVMS as a world-class, culturally responsive and creative artist-therapist.

Art Therapy and Counseling, MS

  1. Home
  2. Education
  3. Master's Programs
  4. Art Therapy and Counseling, MS
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Explore Art Therapy and Counseling, MS

What is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a mental health profession in which an art therapist facilitates client engagement in the creative process of art making and understanding resulting artworks for healing.

Our art therapy graduates help clients:

  • Explore their emotions and lived experiences
  • Foster self-awareness, self-esteem and social skills
  • Focus on growth and healing
  • Manage and recover from post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, addictions and other mental illnesses

We prepare all graduates to seek Registered Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor credentials.

Why choose EVMS?

Art making

Learn how to prescribe art processes and media for clients in our spacious studio.

Art making

Additionally, create response art in our fully-stocked, 2,000-square-foot studio, which is available to students around-the-clock.

Response art making facilitates self-awareness and depth, helping students process experiences with academics, life and clients.

Students are trained and encouraged to keep a visual journal throughout the program.

Clinical practice & specializations

Develop your own integrated theoretical approach to practicing art therapy and explore specializations.

Clinical practice & specializations

Learn psychological theories and evidence-based practices applied to art therapy to develop an integrative theoretical approach that works best for your clients and matches your values and beliefs.

You can select specializations in:

  • Trauma-informed art therapy
  • Art therapy in the schools
  • Depth psychology
  • Geriatric art therapy
  • Medical art therapy
  • Licensure preparation
Capstone

Execute a culminating project and work with faculty on research.

Capstone

Projects may include:

  • Human subjects research
  • Nonhuman subjects research
  • Art therapy advocacy and art shows
  • Social justice
  • Community engagement
  • Service learning

Students can also partner with faculty on research.

Art making

Learn how to prescribe art processes and media for clients in our spacious studio.

Clinical practice & specializations

Develop your own integrated theoretical approach to practicing art therapy and explore specializations.

Art making

Additionally, create response art in our fully-stocked, 2,000-square-foot studio, which is available to students around-the-clock.

Response art making facilitates self-awareness and depth, helping students process experiences with academics, life and clients.

Students are trained and encouraged to keep a visual journal throughout the program.

Capstone

Execute a culminating project and work with faculty on research.

Art making

Learn how to prescribe art processes and media for clients in our spacious studio.

Clinical practice & specializations

Develop your own integrated theoretical approach to practicing art therapy and explore specializations.

Capstone

Execute a culminating project and work with faculty on research.

Art making

Additionally, create response art in our fully-stocked, 2,000-square-foot studio, which is available to students around-the-clock.

Response art making facilitates self-awareness and depth, helping students process experiences with academics, life and clients.

Students are trained and encouraged to keep a visual journal throughout the program.

Clinical practice & specializations

Learn psychological theories and evidence-based practices applied to art therapy to develop an integrative theoretical approach that works best for your clients and matches your values and beliefs.

You can select specializations in:

  • Trauma-informed art therapy
  • Art therapy in the schools
  • Depth psychology
  • Geriatric art therapy
  • Medical art therapy
  • Licensure preparation

Capstone

Projects may include:

  • Human subjects research
  • Nonhuman subjects research
  • Art therapy advocacy and art shows
  • Social justice
  • Community engagement
  • Service learning

Students can also partner with faculty on research.

Help patients by facilitating creativity and self-expression through art making for wellness and healing.

Apply now

Emphasis on experience

Engage with standardized patients to develop your art therapy and counseling skills and receive immediate feedback in your first two weeks on campus.

Work with children, adolescents and adults over three semesters at three of our 50 internship sites in Hampton Roads.

Our graduates

Our graduates are world-class art therapists who are culturally responsive, community-involved and ethical professionals with successful careers. Explore alumna Paige Scheinberg's story.

Meet Paige
Art Therapy graduate runs her own consulting firm

Our program provides Continuing Education classes and workshops. See our offerings.

Continuing Education

Service learning

You will practice service learning in many settings, including working with community members through Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) and in open studio. Our students are dedicated to caring for individuals in a way that:

  • Embraces diverse perspectives and lived experiences
  • Fosters a climate of openness to explore using the creative process
  • Provides compassionate service to individuals, the community and our world
Contact Us
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Art Therapy and Counseling
P.O. Box 1980
Norfolk, VA 23501

757.446.5895

Get directions 
A map with a blue pin indicating EVMS' main campus location in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk, VA.
 
 

This website reflects current program information, including admission criteria and curricula. Information is subject to change.