Clinical Experience

Clinical experience has several parts. At first, it is appropriate to do some observations, and students will observe several sessions in the Nazareth Art Therapy Clinic to gain an initial understanding of the profession during the first semester of graduate school as pre-practicum hours. Within their total hours, students may complete up to 100 hours of observation (25 recorded/75 live), including up to 3 hours with non-art therapy allied health professionals (e.g., PT, MT, SLP, OT).

Next, when registered for ATR 501, students will be assigned to specific clients in the Nazareth Art Therapy Clinic and work under the guidance of an assigned supervisor. They will be expected to work in that setting for a minimum of ten hours per week. This experience also begins with observation and gradually evolves to include planning and facilitating sessions.

Nazareth art therapy students also learn to document their clinical work. Planning, documentation, and supervision time all count toward the required 700 clinical hours—it is not limited to direct face time with clients. For every hour spent in active sessions (assisting, co-leading, or leading), students are typically engaged in an additional hour of preparation, documentation, or supervision.

If a client cancels or fails to show, a student must engage in an observation and complete required documentation. Completing additional observation hours—up to the allowed 100 (25 recorded/75 live)—can be a valuable and approved way to supplement their experience. These opportunities offer rich learning, build confidence, and support professional growth as students continue developing their clinical identity.