Art Therapy Program
The George Washington University Art Therapy Graduate Program trains exceptionally skilled therapists whose professional practice is grounded in a broad understanding of the most current clinical art therapy, counseling, and trauma theories. Our students are taught the most effective research and evaluation methodologies, clinical skills and studio expertise, all within a diverse, integrative and culturally responsive format. Our approach is student-focused, allowing each student to cultivate their own unique art therapist identity.
Founded in 1971, our program is one of the first of its kind in the country, and one of the first to receive approval from the American Art Therapy Association. The Art Therapy Program offers three options: a Master’s in Art Therapy (with a thesis option), a Master’s in Art Therapy Practice, and a combined Bachelor of Arts/Masters of Arts in Art Therapy.
Program Highlights
- Faculty -- Five full-time faculty and approximately 20 adjunct faculty (experienced and practicing art therapists) encompassing a wide range of therapeutic specializations.
- State-of-the-Art Space -- Technological studio classrooms; Art Therapy Gallery; on-site open art studio, Program library, and student computer lab.
- Trauma coursework integrating current research with experiential work in the Art Therapy Clinic.
- Social & Cultural Diversity emphasis -- International and service-learning coursework summer courses and internship opportunities in India, France, South Africa, and American Indian country.
- Research opportunities for individual, collaborative, faculty, and programmatic research.
- Art Therapy Clinic -- Opportunities for individual, collaborative, faculty, and programmatic research.
- Internship Sites -- Over 100 internships with diverse populations in psychiatric, educational, medical, and community-based settings in DC, Virginia, and Maryland.
- History -- One of the oldest, most well established art therapy programs, created and developed by founders in the field of art therapy—Edith Kramer, Hanna Yaxa Kwiatkowska, Bernard Levy and Elinor Ulman.
Meet the Program Director
Heidi Bardot received her Masters in Art Therapy from GW. She has presented and conducted workshops nationally and internationally on issues of war, secondary trauma, self-care, resiliency, grief, and promoting peace and hope.
Professional Licensure
Students graduate prepared to seek professional licensure in art therapy and counseling (in states where this is applicable). The traditional master’s program has been combined with additional coursework in trauma training—a huge growth area in the art therapy field to integrate the latest research on neurobiology and trauma treatment with expressive, art based approaches.