Master’s Program in Art Therapy – Visual Art (M.A.A.T)
Program head: Dr. Ofira Honig
Director of training and practice coordinator: Neta Naor Kimhi
The art of creativity in the psychotherapeutic field forms the essence of art therapy. Creative processes allow psychological and emotional processes to occur without breaking them down into words. This approach is based on the assumption that art per se, and art therapy in particular, offer the individual a chance to use their creative strengths for self-exploration and growth. The explorative process in art therapy employs various conventional and unconventional art materials, each of which can potentially enable the creator – the art therapy patient – to touch on different corners of their soul and to illuminate darker and less accessible corners.
The presence of an art therapist during this process creates the unique space of art therapy through a three-way relationship between patient, material and creativity, and therapist.
In the M.A.A.T program for training visual art therapists, we believe that while we are engaged in artistic creativity, we reorganize our thoughts, feelings, and fears in order to receive strengths for growth. In this spirit, we train the students – future art therapists – to observe, contain, and understand the materials, the art creation, and the creator.
The integration of the Art Therapy program in the historical campus of Hamidrasha – Faculty of Art provides inspiration; the setting expands, enriches, and challenges the students of art therapy, who study in a framework that is devoted entirely to broad-based creativity and artistic action.
The special character of the program lies in the experiential and dynamic teaching methods based on art. The teaching is transformative and unique, enabling the students to examine the contents they address, their own developing professional identity, and their identity as art therapists through the language they learn.
Scope and structure of the studies
The program extends over two academic years (with a third year of practical work under the supervision of leading art therapy clinicians in Israel).
The scope of 21 weighted weekly hours of compulsory studies + 12 weekly hours of unweighted compulsory studies and practical training hours.
Practical training in art therapy
Practical training in the field forms an important part of the curriculum. The program is based on a training and support system run on an individual basis and in small groups. Practical work is undertaken in various settings and with diverse populations (all sectors of mental health, the education system, residential facilities, the geriatric population, prisons, welfare).
Year 3 – advanced practical training:
1. Individual placement in training frameworks.
2. Professional insurance.
3. Training through art – the Art Training course is based on studio work in sculpture and drawing, including supervision and a curating process leading to a final exhibition at the studio.
4. At the end of the year of advanced practical training, the students receive a booklet including the catalog of the exhibition in which they participate (in the style of curatorship in art therapy) and the abstracts of their master’s theses.
5. Training in small groups (up to eight students).
6. A thematic group therapy course on the use of art and Gestalt with adult groups.
7. In-depth examination of psychotherapy in dynamic, focused, and time-restricted art.
8. Interested students can register for the course Emotional Channeling and Parental Guidance though CbtArts.
After completing three years of art therapy training, including close supervision, program graduates also receive an advanced practical training certificate and can serve as visual art psychotherapists within diverse multiprofessional teams in the fields of mental health, welfare, trauma, and education.
Conditions for continued studies and completion of the degree
- Progress from Year 1 to Year 2 is conditional on a grade of at least 80 in each of the courses, and completion of the required practical experience hours.
- After completing two years of academic studies, submitting two research seminar papers, completing the required submissions and academic obligations with a grade of at least 80 in each course, and completing all the practical work requirements – the students will receive a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy – M.A.A.T.
- After completing two years of academic studies, during the practical training year, the students will receive an “Authorization of completion of the advanced practical training program in art therapy” at a scope of 960 hours, including supervision.