My Future Career As An Art Therapist

I’ve always wanted to combine my love of art and my compassion for people. I plan to do this by studying Social Work for my second master’s degree and eventually becoming an art therapist. My first master’s degree was in Fine Art; while making my work and appreciating how therapeutic it was, I realized how practicing art could change other people’s lives like it did mine. Given the opportunity, I believe I could make a difference in the mental well being of my clients. I want to use my creativity and sensitivity to help guide people through hard times they are going through.

Furthermore, it is important to help people while looking through the lens of social justice because that truly helps one understand just how difficult circumstances may be for an individual. Defining social work is not an easy task to be done. There are many different forms of social work, but essentially social work is a huge discipline that encompasses many methods and practices. What this vast group of occupations has in common is that social work strives to better the lives of people whether it’s at the individual, family, group or societal level.

Another aspect that all of social work has in common is the examination of a client and their situation, this happens at many levels and always requires a strong analysis of the situation. When it comes to the type of work I want to do, this analysis would take form as a diagnosis of the mental condition of the client and then a decision on what method would be most helpful for their symptoms and situation. Analysis helps social workers decide what treatment or measures taken are most effective and prudent. Sometimes it is simply a matter of connecting a client with resources such as government assistance.

In other cases, a client might need serious medical or mental health care. Being able to quickly and accurately diagnose the needs of a client during a situation is a critical skill in social work. I want to be a mental health counselor specializing in art therapy, and while all social work requires a high degree of empathy and excellent communication skills, counselors rely on these skills even more heavily than other fields. I anticipate the challenge and learn new things about mental health every day. I also take time to learn about government assistance and how programs work; counseling is important, but sometimes a suggestion of tangible help is what really helps a bad situation improve.

I have prepared for my future career as an art therapist by studying art and its psychological effects, I now hope to further study social and economic justice in practice. My work experience has also prepared me for this path; I have worked with children as a tutor and the elderly and disabled as a caretaker—both jobs that challenged and taught me much about working with marginalized groups. Right now my job is as an editor and tutor to students learning English as a second language, working with immigrants has given me a great understanding of the challenges and discrimination they face. Because of my experience, I feel more than prepared to begin my journey as a student of Social Work. I have laid down a foundation of knowledge on which to build.

My mission aligns with the School of Social Welfare at the University at Albany because I put great emphasis on social and economic justice. I want to serve those who are at a disadvantage and give them the opportunities and compassion they deserve. The oppressed and marginalized groups of this world are at risk and need help I am more than willing to give. As a disabled woman, I feel that I offer a nuance and understanding that many others may not be able to bring to the table due to their being limited by their own life experiences. I have real empathy to give and a passion to help marginalized people like myself. I am a strong analytical thinker with a sharp memory, creativity, and all the compassion in the world to give. I care about people and want to help whether it’s through counseling, art therapy, or suggestion of meaningful services.

I have prepared myself for the responsibility of helping underprivileged and marginalized groups by not only studying but actually working with people in said groups. I know personally how difficult it can be when you are oppressed and discriminated against, and I would make every effort possible to fight against that happening to someone else. Social Work is the path I am meant to follow and I have the perseverance and sensitivity to do so effectively. I hope to use art as a channel to positivity and self healing, I hope to use counseling as a way to meaningfully reach out and aid others.