going into art therapy... need some help...

elkpark · Jul 28, 2005

I don't want to discourage you, and I definitely think you should pursue whatever career path you are most passionate about! However, having said that, I've been a psych nurse for ~20 years, and the trend I've noticed in the last decade or so is that, more and more, psych units are using the bare minimum of staff necessary to get by/stay in business, and art therapists are definitely considered a luxury that most units can get along without.

The few places that I have seen art therapists working have been child psychiatric units, and, in those cases, the art therapists were VERY part-time (i.e., working on a free-lance, contract basis, maybe a few hours a week ...)

Some of the big, private, established (old) psychiatric hospitals may still have art therapy departments. I used to work at one of those (and, yes, they had a busy art therapy department with several full-time therapists), but, unfortunately, it went out of business.

Other people here may have different experiences and more hopeful perspectives to offer you (I hope so :balloons: ) Best wishes --

CharlieRN · Jul 29, 2005

We still have an art therapy department but yes it is clearly an adjuctive therapy and has been much reduced in scope. Insurers like to pay for pills, not talk. There is a real use for art therapy as a diagnosic tool in child abuse cases. Forensics are a pretty rough environment, though, be very sure you can handle it before making that your specialty.

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Jul 31, 2005

I agree with all above....seen as an adjunct. Sad really. I've seen the benefits of art therapy with patients in understanding their illness better and improving self insight into better coping, especially with group work. Hopefully, maybe somewhere way down the road, this form of treatment will be rediscovered and recognized once again...and reinbursed. Thank the managed care insurance and pharmaceutical companies for this.

NancyNursz71 · Aug 3, 2005

Don't forget, as an RN and an art therapist, you may have better luck. You can fill dual functions and save moolah by running a group and then covering the unit needs. . .

spaniel · Aug 8, 2005

I hope I have my information reasonably correct. I do agree with the other posters that it's not easy to find something in this field. HOWEVER, in NY State a therapist in the creative arts at the MASTERS level is now able to obtain a license. I DO believe that with this, there will ultimately be more money as third party payers may be involved. (Check out the NY state online profession site).

Nontheless-what a great field. A few of the really really great psych places still probably use salaried art therapists. A few come to mind: Austin Riggs in Massachusetts (Stockbridge), Payne Whitney Clinic (New York Presbyterian Hospital, was once called The New York Hospital), Four Winds, Saratoga NY(inpt childrens/adolescents).

Part of me wants to be a "music therapist"!!! Now here's a slant- just thinking out loud here. What about working for Hospice? I do some work with Hospice and the arts are very welcomed as a healing modality. One of the beauties of hospice-use literature, art, music...

Trish1974 · Aug 9, 2005

Hi. Just wanted to let you know that the Brattleboro Retreat (VT) employs Art Therapists, but from what I understand they only have 2 on staff. (I actually just started there myself and there was actually an Art Therapist in our orientation group today.)

moodygem · Apr 28, 2010

Just wondering if you had any luck. I am an RN and i am thinking of taking the path towards psych NP a with a focus in Art Therapy and after having experience in psych nursing having an art therapy clinic.

LethaChristina · May 8, 2010

Hi, I have education both in music therapy (and plain music) and art (visual)... I worked as a professional artist as well as psych nurse for several years. I have also worked in many different modalities and treatment facilities. The best place to use all my skills was at a State Hospital (in this case, Dammasch State Hospital in Wilsonville, OR)... where, as charge nurse, I had utter freedom in running groups and activities for the 120 patients on my unit (mostly adolescents). Using art and music in these groups was welcomed both by the patients as well as the staff. I was employed as a charge nurse, however--receiving the appropriate remuneration. The whole experience was very pleasant and rewarding. At least, in state hospitals at the time--there was quite abit of flexibility in how the milieu was managed.

lilyserene · Dec 5, 2010

Hi,

That's Amazing! It's so Rare to run across people who share this same dream of combining Art Therapy and RN! I am planning on doing the same exact thing in a couple years, as soon as I pay off my initial school loans, and get more RN experience.

I have your same background--Med RN and Art. I'm new to the medical field, but have been a professional visual artist for over 16 years. Also planning on going into Psych nursing before I go to grad school for art therapy. I've been researching this combination for the past couple years. I am positive that there will be a place for it. As long as you have the passion and drive, then you will have people who need your service.

Research is proving that Art Therapy is just as powerful as many Drug Therapies, but because it is the 'baby' of therapies, (and pharm companies can't figure out how to make money off of it, Yet) it gets hardly any recognition.

Compassion87 · Feb 22, 2012

Hey folks... I know this isn't exactly a post about nursing but I wondered if some psyche nurses could help me. I am currently an RN but am planning on going to graduate school to study art therapy and perhaps become a therapist. I know that a lot of psyche units/hospitals use art therapists. Do any of you possibly know of any, and could provide email addresses where I could get in touch with them?
I'm currently in med-surge but have been considering switching to psyche nursing for quite some time, and then soon after I do that, will hopefully be starting art therapy school. I'm hoping to perhaps have the two professions go hand in hand, as I'll probably still need to nurse part time/PRN when I become a therapist, at least for a while. Art therapists do not make a great deal of money, but I'm passionate about art and I think that this would be a great career for me. I have an extensive art background and have always wanted to do something significant with it.

Hi!!!! i'm currently an lvn student and i also considered going to art therapy just today!!!! i've loved art so much since i was young but also had a compassion and need to want to help people. although i want to become an rn, i still want to incorporate art into my career as well. This is so funny how i cam across this blog because i was looking for someone who is in the same or similiar situation as i am! for so long i have been seeking how i can incorporate my artistic background into the medical field and whoala! i just realized about art therapy! i want to persue both careers but the time for schooling will most likely be consuming. it is sad that there is not much of a demand for art therapist, but i believe if i have a background as an rn will also help me out. i'm typing all this in a hurry because i have a test. please leave me a suggestion as well. i have no read all the responses from everyone yet! okay thanks!