Dual MSW and Art Therapy Programs

[kendrakay]

Hi,

I notice that a lot of Art Therapists are also licensed MFT's rather than SW. Are there programs out there that anyone knows that combine the two (SW + Art Therapy), like I see with MFT + Art Therapy?

[nettyspaghetti]

Most MSW programs have a generalist model - meaning they train you to work in many different aspects of social services rather than specifically focusing on clinical therapy (like MFTs do). If you decide to go for an MSW you will probably have to complete a postgraduate certification course in art therapy if that’s what you want to do. It’s possible your school might offer one of those courses to take after you graduate, but I think it’s unlikely you’ll find an MSW program with an integrated art therapy certification component. I could be wrong though, I don’t know the details of what every program offers. If you’re set on doing art therapy as a career you may be better off doing an MFT than an MSW.