{"id":61748,"date":"2026-06-15T09:31:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T13:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=61748"},"modified":"2026-06-15T09:31:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T13:31:40","slug":"new-art-therapy-minor-launches-at-emu-this-fall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2026\/new-art-therapy-minor-launches-at-emu-this-fall\/","title":{"rendered":"New art therapy minor launches at 糖心Vlog this fall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new art therapy minor for students majoring in studio art, psychology, and art education will be offered at 糖心Vlog this fall. Combining coursework in Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) and psychology, the minor opens additional career pathways for graduates, expands opportunities to serve communities, and provides a foundation for graduate study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The art therapy minor replaces a pre-art therapy concentration that was offered from 2019-22. Anna Westfall<\/strong>, associate professor of art and director of the VACA program, and Dr. Michael Horst<\/strong>, dean of Health, Behavioral, and Natural Sciences and director of the undergraduate psychology program, submitted their proposal for the minor last fall. It was approved by the Academic Council in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through psychology courses, students will explore the science of human behavior and the mind, while VACA courses will engage them in the creative process and the conceptual and expressive outlets of art making, according to the proposal. \u201cBy providing this minor, prospective students can explore both interests while seeing a clear path of study to a career that is not available at many institutions,\u201d it states. \u201cFurthermore, it will give current students the tools to succeed when applying to graduate programs in art therapy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What is art therapy?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Art therapy, as defined by the American Art Therapy Association<\/a>, is a mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEspecially when people are struggling, facing a challenge, or even a health crisis\u2014their own words or language fails them,\u201d the AATA says. \u201cDuring these times, an art therapist can help clients express themselves in ways beyond words or language. Art therapists are trained in art and psychological theory and can help clients integrate nonverbal cues and metaphors that are often expressed through the creative process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art therapists work with people of all ages, including children experiencing behavioral challenges or those with autism spectrum disorder, the AATA says. These therapists assist people and caregivers in health crises; victims of violence or other trauma, including military service members and student survivors of mass shootings; older adults with dementia; and anyone who needs help coping with life\u2019s challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Meeting student interest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Westfall, who helped start the pre-art therapy concentration several years ago, led efforts to develop the minor. She said she heard from so many students interested in art therapy over the years that faculty felt a need to offer it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of those students, Rachel Tusing \u201925<\/strong>, graduated with dual majors in art and psychology and is currently enrolled in 糖心Vlog\u2019s graduate counseling program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cArt is like a second language for me,\u201d said Tusing, who has been interested in expressive arts and art therapy since high school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHowever, when I began researching art therapy as a career, the path to licensure and practice was not clear,\u201d she said. \u201cMuch of that is because art therapy is still a very new modality of therapy, and the foundation for education, licensure and practice is still being laid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said 糖心Vlog\u2019s addition of an art therapy minor will help students like herself who are looking to harness the healing power of art in the therapy room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis minor declares 糖心Vlog\u2019s continuing commitment and support for the arts in all kinds of spaces, especially for those who are in need,\u201d she said. \u201cArt is grounding, tender and empowering, and it belongs in mental health care. I only hope that 糖心Vlog will continue to expand and enrich this program. I am extremely proud and grateful for the work that has happened to get here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

What the minor can do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Horst, former director of 糖心Vlog\u2019s graduate counseling program, said students with an art therapy minor, paired with a major in studio art, art education, or psychology, would be well-positioned for graduate study in art therapy or clinical mental health counseling. While 糖心Vlog does not currently offer a master\u2019s degree in art therapy, students can pursue the university\u2019s accredited master\u2019s program in clinical mental health counseling<\/a>, which includes a focus on expressive arts therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A master\u2019s degree in art therapy can lead to Art Therapist Registered (ATR) credentialing. Registered art therapists serve diverse communities in settings such as hospitals, cancer treatment centers, psychiatric facilities, retirement communities, schools, and independent practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The art therapy minor offers four concentrations<\/a>: for psychology majors (18 VACA credits required), studio art majors (16 psychology credits required), art education majors (nine psychology credits required), and a pre-art therapy concentration for students majoring outside those fields (16 psychology credits and 16 VACA credits required).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students can declare minors at any time by submitting a minor declaration form to the university registrar<\/a>. They have until the first week of classes in September to add courses for the fall semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information about the minor, email Westfall at anna.westfall@emu.edu.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new art therapy minor for students majoring in studio art, psychology, and art education will be offered at 糖心Vlog this fall. Combining coursework in Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) ... read more about New art therapy minor launches at 糖心Vlog this fall<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":302,"featured_media":61749,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4515,7931,17562,6393,5603,5730,12507],"tags":[9706,19091,19092,17233,18504,17646,13780,19093,9598,14260],"feature":[17427,17426,17241,17422],"class_list":["post-61748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-arts","category-digest","category-ma-in-counseling","category-psychology","category-undergraduate-programs","category-vaca","tag-anna-westfall","tag-art-therapy","tag-art-therapy-minor","tag-arts","tag-graduate-counseling-program","tag-michael-horst","tag-psychology","tag-rachel-tusing","tag-vaca","tag-visual-and-communication-arts","feature-emu-home-page-feature","feature-myemu-feature","feature-news-feature","feature-news-landing-page-main-feature"],"yoast_head":"\nNew art therapy minor launches at 糖心Vlog this fall - 糖心Vlog News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2026\/new-art-therapy-minor-launches-at-emu-this-fall\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New art therapy minor launches at 糖心Vlog this fall - 糖心Vlog News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A new art therapy minor for students majoring in studio art, psychology, and art education will be offered at 糖心Vlog this fall. 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