About The Program

History Of The Nazareth University Art Therapy Program

Nazareth University’s program in Art Therapy grew out of an existing merger with the former Hillside Children’s Center’s (in Rochester, New York) program in Creative Arts Therapy (approved by the American Art Therapy Association in 1990 and founded by Dr. Horovitz).

In 1992, a union between the Creative Arts Therapy Program and Nazareth University was created in order to offer students an education which granted a master’s degree. At that time, the academic component if the Hillside Children’s Center program was moved to the Nazareth University campus and augmented with additional course work in order to enhance the education possibilities for matriculated, degree-seeking students.

The Creative Arts Therapy Department resides within the School of Health and Human Services. The Art Therapy program at Nazareth University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of The Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. 25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158. Clearwater, FL 33763, 727-210-2350, www.caahep.org. Our students come from all over the country and internationally. Our students are consistently licensed as mental health providers in other states as required by local regulations.

Clinical Training Preparation

All Art Therapy students have their practicum and first internship at the York Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute Art Therapy Clinic at Nazareth University. In the clinic, students become familiar with a variety of individuals with a broad range of needs. Nazareth’s program is heavily embedded in a humanistic foundation with a strong clinical component intended to prepare students as effective therapists for the 21st century. Students have the opportunity to see individual clients, facilitate groups, and family therapy sessions. There is collaborative work with other disciplines in our nationally recognized co-treatment opportunities. Students are responsible for all assessments, documentation, and charting. They learn to produce and maintain a clinical record for their clients. All student activities are supervised in both an individual and group format and there is a licensed art therapy supervisor available on site at all times. Student clinicians have the opportunity to observe treatment sessions of other students through our two-way mirrors, as well as viewing their own sessions via our audio-visual system. Students build their confidence as clinicians through this process and a great deal of growth can be achieved in the six months’ time frame of this placement.