Counseling Art Therapy Gallery

Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Art therapy specialization is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight. At Caldwell, art therapy is practiced within the counseling model.

The mission of the Gallery is to highlight the importance of the artist identity. The gallery provides a platform for students, alumni, and affiliates of the university to share their voice and illustrate the power of art in communicating about mental health, self-care, and social justice.

View the Current Exhibitions

The clinical mental health counseling with art therapy specialization program seeks to prepare competent entry-level Clinical Mental Health Counselor/Art Therapists in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior/professional dispositions) learning domains, attending to the sustainment of the program guided by the CACREP and CAAHEP standards. Students participate in an active, inclusive learning environment where they foster meaning through the process of self-reflection, become scholar-practitioners, and generate new knowledge and methods. Students mature and develop competencies leading them through the transition from graduate student to a professional prepared to offer healing opportunities to members of society.

Program Mission

This program seeks to prepare competent entry-level Clinical Mental Health Counselors with Art Therapy specialization in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior/professional dispositions) learning domains, attending to the sustainment of the program guided by the CACREP and CAAHEP standards. Students participate in an active, inclusive learning environment where they foster meaning through the process of self-reflection, become scholar-practitioners, and generate new knowledge and methods. Students mature and develop competencies leading them through the transition from graduate student to a professional prepared to offer healing opportunities to members of society.

Program Objectives

The counseling program with art therapy specialization operationalizes its mission through the program goals and objectives. The broad program goals are to attain and develop:

• Sustainability plans for the learning community
• Community Service opportunities through active involvement of faculty, students and constituents in co-curricular activities;
•  Curricula Emphasizing Competency in Knowledge, Skills, and Awareness from Professional Core Content Areas and Learning Domains by developing benchmarks, remediation plans, curricula, signature assignments, comprehensive exam, and measures for professional dispositions;
•  Support for students to make the transition from Student to Professional

Where do Graduates Work?

– Medical and Psychiatric Hospitals and Centers
– Mental Health Clinics
– Day Treatment Facilities
– Eating Disorder Settings
– Residential Treatment Centers
– Rehabilitation Centers
– Schools and Preschools
– Child Life Departments

Graduate Psychology and Counseling Programs

Dr. Annette Vaccaro
Program Coordinator
avaccaro@caldwell.edu

All three of Caldwell University’s Graduate Programs in Counseling have received accreditation from The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP, www.cacrep.org).

The Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Art Therapy Specialization Program is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of ACATE, The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education.

Caldwell University has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 4598. CE Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Caldwell University is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.