Theoretical Orientation

The British Columbia School of Art Therapy provides a training program with a flexible theoretical orientation grounded in current principles of professional practice. The philosophy of the School is to maintain an equal emphasis on the academic, experiential and practical sides of the discipline. The School's theoretical orientation stems from the position that an art therapist must be well grounded within their own experience and within their own knowledge of themselves. They also must be thoroughly familiar with the language and experience of the visual arts since an understanding of the visual arts and the creative process is considered fundamental to the practice of art therapy.

The School requires that students have training in three foundation areas prior to admission: psychology, counselling, and the fine arts. The program then builds on this training by providing a range of theoretical orientations that reflect the differing views of the practicing clinicians on the faculty. Students are encouraged to explore the uses and potentials of each orientation when dealing with different client populations, treatment goals, and the student's own preferred therapeutic style. Thus, students are not expected to adhere to a particular theoretical model but, instead, are encouraged to become familiar with a variety of models. In recent years, owing to the nature of the faculty, the theoretical views most strongly represented in the program are those associated with the Phenomenological, Gestalt, Jungian, and Eclectic forms of treatment.