Art Therapy and Counseling MA

Major: Art Therapy and Counseling
Degree Awarded: Master of Arts (MA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 90.0
Co-op Option: None
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 51.2301
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 29-1129

About the Program

Drexel University’s Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling is one of the nation’s most well-established programs, founded in 1967 at Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital. This distinctive on-campus program combines art therapy and counseling education through an interdisciplinary, experiential approach. Students learn to integrate creative methods with counseling and psychotherapy skills, guided by treatment objectives developed collaboratively with clients. A hallmark of the program is its multilayered pedagogy, blending in-class experiential learning, didactic coursework, and supervised clinical practice in community, arts-based, educational, rehabilitative, medical, and behavioral health settings. This structure fosters professional growth, interpersonal development and ethical practice. The program prepares entry-level Art Therapists in cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) domains.

The curriculum emphasizes creativity, empathy and cultural humility as essential components of therapeutic work. Students explore how cognitive, behavioral and emotional responses influence relationships in therapy and professional settings. The 90-credit quarter program offers specialized art therapy courses in trauma-informed and systemic approaches, creativity and symbolism, digital media, neuroscience, and addiction recovery, alongside counseling topics such as lifespan development, assessment, diagnosis, cultural foundations, and group dynamics. This comprehensive design ensures graduates are prepared for diverse care systems and populations.

Graduates earn ATR-Provisional certification and progress toward ATR and ATR-BC credentials, as well as professional counseling licensure in Pennsylvania and other states after completing required supervision hours. The program meets Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) educational requirements and adheres to accreditation standards set by CAAHEP and ACATE, ensuring high-quality education aligned with national standards. Because licensure requirements vary by state, students receive individualized guidance to navigate regulations and pursue certification.

With its long-standing history, integrated clinical experiences, and emphasis on creativity and cultural responsiveness, Drexel’s program offers a uniquely rigorous and supportive pathway, in two distinct lengths of study, for those seeking careers in art therapy and counseling.

For additional information about the program, visit the College of Nursing and Health Professions Art Therapy and Counseling website.

Degree Requirements

Core Courses
CATX 501Foundations of Creative Arts Therapies2.0
CTCN 501Human Psychological Development 4.5
CTCN 503Differential Diagnosis and Processes4.5
CTCN 504Professional Orientation and Ethics4.5
CTCN 505Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy4.5
CTCN 509Social and Cultural Foundations4.5
CTCN 540Approaches to Addictions and Recovery 4.5
CTCN 601Introduction to Behavioral Research4.5
CTCN 603Clinical Appraisal and Assessment4.5
CTCN 604Career Counseling4.5
CTCN 606Group Dynamics and Processes4.5
Art Therapy Track Courses
CATX 528Systems, Community Practices, and Therapeutic Relationships4.5
CATX 529Family Systems for Assessment and Treatment Planning4.5
CATX 532Trauma, Crisis, and Community Care3.0
CATX 535Creativity, Symbolism, and Metaphor in Art Therapy and Counseling3.0
CATX 536Studio Art for Art Therapists1.0
CATX 631Media, Materials and Process in Art Therapy3.0
CATX 645Professional Identity & Contemporary Practices3.0
Clinical Education Courses
CTCN 513Orientation to Counseling Theories, Helping Relationships, and Supervision2.0
CTCN 523Clinical Practicum I2.0
CTCN 524Group Supervision I1.5
CTCN 533Clinical Practicum II2.0
CTCN 534Group Supervision II1.5
CTCN 613Advanced Group Supervision and Internship I3.0
CTCN 623Advanced Group Supervision and Internship II3.0
CTCN 633Advanced Group Supervision and Internship III3.0
Culminating Project
CATX 621Culminating Project I1.5
CATX 622Culminating Project II1.5
Art Therapy Electives *
Digital Media Use in Art Therapy and Counseling
Mindfulness in Clinical Practice
Additional Electives *
For Culminating Project Only
Total Credits90.0
*

Please note that electives are in addition to the 90 credits required for the degree.  Please consult with you advisor before registering for an elective.

Sample Plan of Study

Two Year Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
CATX 501 Foundations of Creative Arts Therapies 2.0
CATX 528 Systems, Community Practices, and Therapeutic Relationships 4.5
CTCN 501 Human Psychological Development 4.5
CTCN 513 Orientation to Counseling Theories, Helping Relationships, and Supervision 2.0
 Credits13
Winter
CTCN 509 Social and Cultural Foundations 4.5
CATX 529 Family Systems for Assessment and Treatment Planning 4.5
CTCN 523 Clinical Practicum I 2.0
CTCN 524 Group Supervision I 1.5
 Credits12.5
Spring
CATX 532 Trauma, Crisis, and Community Care 3.0
CATX 535 Creativity, Symbolism, and Metaphor in Art Therapy and Counseling 3.0
CTCN 505 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy 4.5
CTCN 533 Clinical Practicum II 2.0
CTCN 534 Group Supervision II 1.5
 Credits14
Summer
CATX 536 Studio Art for Art Therapists 1.0
CTCN 503 Differential Diagnosis and Processes 4.5
CTCN 504 Professional Orientation and Ethics 4.5
 Credits10
Second Year
Fall
CATX 631 Media, Materials and Process in Art Therapy 3.0
CTCN 601 Introduction to Behavioral Research 4.5
CTCN 606 Group Dynamics and Processes 4.5
CTCN 613 Advanced Group Supervision and Internship I 3.0
 Credits15
Winter
CATX 621 Culminating Project I 1.5
CTCN 603 Clinical Appraisal and Assessment 4.5
CTCN 540 Approaches to Addictions and Recovery 4.5
CTCN 623 Advanced Group Supervision and Internship II 3.0
 Credits13.5
Spring
CATX 622 Culminating Project II 1.5
CATX 645 Professional Identity & Contemporary Practices 3.0
CTCN 604 Career Counseling 4.5
CTCN 633 Advanced Group Supervision and Internship III 3.0
 Credits12
 Total Credits90

Three-Year Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
CATX 501 Foundations of Creative Arts Therapies 2.0
CTCN 501 Human Psychological Development 4.5
CATX 528 Systems, Community Practices, and Therapeutic Relationships 4.5
 Credits11
Winter
CATX 529 Family Systems for Assessment and Treatment Planning 4.5
CTCN 509 Social and Cultural Foundations 4.5
 Credits9
Spring
CATX 532 Trauma, Crisis, and Community Care 3.0
CATX 535 Creativity, Symbolism, and Metaphor in Art Therapy and Counseling 3.0
CTCN 505 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy 4.5
 Credits10.5
Summer
CATX 536 Studio Art for Art Therapists 1.0
CTCN 503 Differential Diagnosis and Processes 4.5
 Credits5.5
Second Year
Fall
CATX 631 Media, Materials and Process in Art Therapy 3.0
CTCN 513 Orientation to Counseling Theories, Helping Relationships, and Supervision 2.0
CTCN 606 Group Dynamics and Processes 4.5
 Credits9.5
Winter
CTCN 523 Clinical Practicum I 2.0
CTCN 524 Group Supervision I 1.5
CTCN 603 Clinical Appraisal and Assessment 4.5
 Credits8
Spring
CTCN 604 Career Counseling 4.5
CTCN 533 Clinical Practicum II 2.0
CTCN 534 Group Supervision II 1.5
 Credits8
Summer
CTCN 504 Professional Orientation and Ethics 4.5
 Credits4.5
Third Year
Fall
CTCN 601 Introduction to Behavioral Research 4.5
CTCN 613 Advanced Group Supervision and Internship I 3.0
 Credits7.5
Winter
CATX 621 Culminating Project I 1.5
CTCN 540 Approaches to Addictions and Recovery 4.5
CTCN 623 Advanced Group Supervision and Internship II 3.0
 Credits9
Spring
CATX 622 Culminating Project II 1.5
CATX 645 Professional Identity & Contemporary Practices 3.0
CTCN 633 Advanced Group Supervision and Internship III 3.0
 Credits7.5
 Total Credits90

Four-Year Plan of Study 

Plan of Study Grid
First Year (Part-Time)
FallCredits
CATX 501 Foundations of Creative Arts Therapies 2.0
CATX 528 Systems, Community Practices, and Therapeutic Relationships 4.5
 Credits6.5
Winter
CTCN 509 Social and Cultural Foundations 4.5
 Credits4.5
Spring
CATX 535 Creativity, Symbolism, and Metaphor in Art Therapy and Counseling 3.0
CTCN 505 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy 4.5
 Credits7.5
Summer
CATX 536 Studio Art for Art Therapists 1.0
CTCN 503 Differential Diagnosis and Processes 4.5
 Credits5.5
Second Year (Part-Time)
Fall
CTCN 501 Human Psychological Development 4.5
CTCN 513 Orientation to Counseling Theories, Helping Relationships, and Supervision 2.0
 Credits6.5
Winter
CATX 529 Family Systems for Assessment and Treatment Planning 4.5
CTCN 523 Clinical Practicum I 2.0
CTCN 524 Group Supervision I 1.5
 Credits8
Spring
CTCN 603 Clinical Appraisal and Assessment 4.5
CTCN 533 Clinical Practicum II 2.0
CTCN 534 Group Supervision II 1.5
 Credits8
Summer
CTCN 504 Professional Orientation and Ethics 4.5
 Credits4.5
Third Year (Part-Time)
Fall
CTCN 606 Group Dynamics and Processes 4.5
CTCN 613 Advanced Group Supervision and Internship I 3.0
 Credits7.5
Winter
CATX 621 Culminating Project I 1.5
CTCN 623 Advanced Group Supervision and Internship II 3.0
 Credits4.5
Spring
CTCN 604 Career Counseling 4.5
CTCN 633 Advanced Group Supervision and Internship III 3.0
 Credits7.5
Summer
Vacation  
 Credits0
Fourth Year (Part-Time)
Fall
CATX 631 Media, Materials and Process in Art Therapy 3.0
CTCN 601 Introduction to Behavioral Research 4.5
 Credits7.5
Winter
CTCN 540 Approaches to Addictions and Recovery 4.5
CATX 622 Culminating Project II 1.5
 Credits6
Spring
CATX 532 Trauma, Crisis, and Community Care 3.0
CATX 645 Professional Identity & Contemporary Practices 3.0
 Credits6
 Total Credits90

Program Level Outcomes

Upon completion of the Art Therapy & Counseling program, students will be able to:
 

1.  Apply knowledge about their privileged and oppressed intersectional identities in the design and implementation of building therapeutic relationships and treatment goals in art therapy practice.  

2.  Examine information gained through both content and process in clinical practice as it applies to both their role as a therapist as well as in continued educational pursuits.  

3.  Value the identity of lifelong learner through participation in ongoing interpersonal work, continued education, self-care, clinical supervision and mentorship.

4.  Justify the selection of specific art therapy methods and applications for varied and diverse populations and systems.  

5.  Originate contemporary art therapy and counseling arts-based scholarship materials for presentations and/or publications.  

6.  Demonstrate proficiency in the application of a range of assessment tools from both art therapy and other counseling practices and theories including formal, informal and strengths-based measures.  

7.  Evaluate the Ethical Principles for Art Therapists and American Counseling Association Code of Ethics for an ongoing critical assessment of welfare safeguards for individuals and communities receiving care.  

8.  Summarize the student individualized and relevant credentialing and licensure requirements, dependent upon post-graduate plans and employment.  

9.  Prioritize practices that promote self-understanding through personal growth experiences, reflective practice, and personal artmaking to strengthen a connection to the creative process, assist in self-awareness, promote well-being, and guide ongoing professional identity development.  

Creative Arts Therapies Department Faculty

Joke Bradt, PhD, MT-BC (Temple University) Director, PhD Program in Creative Arts Therapies. Professor. Research in music therapy, chronic pain, systematic reviews.
Natalie Rae Carlton, PhD, ATR-BC, LPCC (Lesley University) Clinical Coordinator, Art Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Associate Clinical Professor. Digital media, queer worldmaking and comics, zines & graphic novel uses in art therapy.
Girija Kaimal, EdD, MA , ATR-BC (Harvard University) Interim Department Chair. Professor. Art therapy, indigenous arts, oncology, trauma leadership, program evaluation.
Clarissa Lacson, PhD, MT-BC (Drexel University) Director, Music Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Assistant Clinical Professor. Interprofessional collaboration, program development, clinical supervision, research coordination, pediatric and medical music therapy
Dawn Morningstar, MA, BC-DMT, LPC (Drexel University). Associate Clinical Professor. Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Dance/movement therapy, children and adolescents, special needs, clinical supervision.
Nalini Prakash, PhD, BC-DMT, CMA (Drexel University) Program Director, Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Assistant Clinical Professor. Dance/Movement Therapy. movement observation and assessment, mental illness, criminal justice, violence prevention, de-escalation, clinical supervision, arts-based community development.
Michele Rattigan, DHSc, ATR-BC, NCC, LPC, LPAT (Drexel University) Program Director, Art Therapy and Counseling MA Program. Associate Clinical Professor. Art Therapy. self-compassion, community compassion, and mindfulness-based arts therapies approaches; unresolved trauma; post-partum depression and anxiety; disordered eating and body image concerns; self-harming behaviors; & dissociative disorders. Critical compassionate pedagogy, interprofessional collaboration, & Universal Design for Learning in higher education.
Minjung Shim, PhD, BC-DMT (Drexel University). Assistant Professor. Medical dance/movement therapy, chronic pain management, mindfulness-based interventions, healthy aging, virtual reality and eHealth interventions, clinical trials, theory/model-building, scoping reviews.
Adenike Webb, PhD, MT-BC (Temple University) Clinical Education Coordinator, Creative Arts Therapy MA Programs . Assistant Clinical Professor. Anti-oppressive pedagogy, wellbeing and creativity, social justice, culturally sustaining practice.
Denise Wolf, ATR-BC, ATCS, LPC, LPAT (Drexel University). Associate Clinical Professor. Consulting, trauma sensitive care/complex interpersonal trauma, clinical supervision, hand papermaking, Dialectical behavior therapy, art museum spaces, school-based art therapy, community engagement.

Emeritus Faculty

Nancy Gerber, PhD, ATR-BC (Union Institute and University). Associate Clinical Professor Emerita. Art therapy assessment and treatment of adolescents and adults; modern psychoanalysis and art therapy; arts therapy education and doctoral education; arts based research and mixed methods research.
Sharon W. Goodill, PhD, BC-DMT, NCC, LPC (Union Institute and University). Clinical Professor Emerita. Medical dance/movement, mind/body studies, movement assessment for DMT, CAT research and leadership.
Florence Ierardi, MM, MT-BC, LPC (Temple University). Associate Clinical Professor Emerita. Clinical improvisation, trauma-informed music therapy, multicultural music therapy perspectives.
Ellen Schelly-Hill, MMT, BC-DMT, NCC, LPC (Antioch NE Graduate School). Associate Clinical Professor Emerita. Adults diagnosed with mood disorders, anxiety, chronic pain and with histories of trauma; clinical supervision; ethics.