Tuesday, November 24. 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A·Page 7
Absence of art therapy program forces KU students to seek alternatives
Andrea Harrison proudly wears a fireman's hat given to her by a pupil. Harrison uses art activities to help local children in the Lawrence Arts Center's art-based preschool class.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ART THERAPY
1. What is art therapy?
A treatment for the developmentally, medically, educationally or socially impaired.
It is based on the knowledge of human developmental theories, which are implemented into art models. The treatment can be used to help with self-esteem, reality orientation,
solving problems, self-awareness, reconciliation with others and managing behavior.
2. Where is art ther-
correctional facilities,
schools, private practices,
shelters and with in-hospital
patients. People of all ages
and backgrounds can benefit
from art therapy. For example,
Menninger in Topeka uses art therapy to treat adult patients diagnosed with atina disorders.
3. When did art therapy begin?
People who lived along the Nile River hundreds of years ago used art to treat people with pain in Rafael's house.
with means. Before that, was an important communication tool used by the cavemen to talk with others. The field began to emerge in the United States in the early 20th century and became a distinct profession in the 1930s.
4. Are jobs available for art therapists?
Nancy Knap, art therapy program director at
Continued from page 1A
Emploria State University, said jobs were available for students who actively sought them. Because it has become a recognized profession, jobs have continued to open up. It is best for art therapy students to register with the American Art Therapy Association Inc. or other affiliates to find out about job opportunities.
involved."
So what happens to the 21st student, the 22nd and so on?
The Emporia State program typically has 10 graduates a year. Knapp said that ESU never accepted more than 20 students per year.
"We want to have graduates who will have no problems finding a job," Knapp said. "We wouldn't want to flood the market with too many students."
KU students interested in art therapy may not have the opportunity to be the 21st or 22nd student. Many who have inquired about possible programs run into obstacles right away.
KU: A Dead End
Lois Elmer, office manager for art and music education
tion and music therapy at the School of Education, takes inquiries from KU students with questions about art therapy.
"I don't know the undergraduate requirements for art therapy because we don't have it here," Elmer said. "I just tell them to go to Emporia."
Repeated attempts to ask Elmer about other KU officials who might have information about art therapy degrees and repeated attempts to reach other professors or advisers, all led back to Elmer. She contends that there are no professors or administrators at the University of Kansas
with additional information about art therapy.
The dead end at Elmer's desk and inadequate information about other art therapy programs are leading to additional problems for students who do want to pursue art therapy.
It is not clear whether the University is pursuing a policy of no overlapping programs at the Regents
universities or if it is just catering to market demands. The University of Kansas does teach music therapy, while Kansas State University has a horticulture therapy program.
Kim Wilcox, interim director of academic affairs with the Kansas Board of Regents, said that it was difficult to duplicate small programs within a single state. Not only does there have to be huge need from students, but the university has to have the facilities.
He agreed that it would be helpful for schools to offer introductory classes in programs that they do not have, such as a introduction to art therapy at the University of Kansas.
Because the University of Kansas does not have anything like introductory art therapy classes, Campbell has never learned more about the therapeutic technique that saved her life.
When she questioned the University about art therapy, nobody knew anything about the requirements or volunteer opportunities.
"It's too late for me now," she said. "I can't just pick up and go to another university. I'm too old to do that. But other students, they should be able to find out what art therapy is about, or other therapies."
There are places and ways to study art therapy, but KU students find they are at a disadvantage when they transfer.
Finding Alternatives
"AT KU it's very difficult to
major in both art and psychology, which is a requirement for our program," Knapp said. "Out of all of our students, KU students have this problem more than any other. There's just nobody to tell them soon enough that this is a requirement by the national organization of art therapy."
A former KU student who will graduate from the Emporia art therapy program in December, had that problem when he first transferred schools. Matt Smith, who earned a KU psychology degree, had to make up his art classes at Emporia.
"Since I didn't know, I had to overlap all my art classes and take an extra workload," Smith said.
Smith is now finishing up his 750 required internship hours at Bert Nash Community Mental Health Centers in Lawrence by working with eight adolescents who have problems in the typical school settings or have been diagnosed with severe depression. He does art projects with them to increase their self-confidence, help them open up to others and put their emotions onto paper.
His ultimate goal is to work with the children so that they can eventually be integrated back into regular schools.
ative way to handle frustration and the positive and negative emotions they feel."
He said that children with problems in school could easily adapt to using art to express themselves.
"I have this one child who really has trouble keeping his mouth shut," Smith said. "He's constantly talking out loud. But if I give him a pencil and paper, he can do dwell for a long time and concentrate on something. In the end, that makes him feel better about himself."
KU students are on their own if they decide to volunteer or pursue art therany.
Heather Wilkinson, Louisville, Ky., sophomore, said that she was upset that the University of Kansas was unable to guide her better.
"I realize that I'm going to have eventually change schools," Wilkinson said. "But you'd figure they'd help me with the undergraduate aspect and locating places to volunteer. I know I'd love to volunteer someplace, and I'm not the only one."
She has worked as a camp arts and crafts counselor to help children get their minds off of missing home. She also has worked as part of a program which helped 12- to 14-year-olds gain self-confidence by learning to draw.
Lawrence Arts Center and done art projects with preschool children.
"You can tell a lot about a child by looking at the way they express themselves through art," Harrison said. "Like with fingerpainting: some kids go crazy and paint the whole page, but others are real careful about each movement. Some others may just sit there zoning out everything."
Linda Reimond, director of the preschool program, said that the Arts Center did not analyze the art produced by the children. Instead, the teachers encouraged the children to work on their problem-solving skills and creative expression.
Each week, the 144 children enrolled paint, draw or play with clay.
Reimond said that she loved watching all the children and even the timid ones open up.
A parent who had volunteered at an elementary school told Reimond that she could always pick out the students who had gone to the Arts Center.
"They're always more willing to try new things and they have more confidence. They aren't
afraid of getting something wrong and they don't say 'I can't.' " Reimond said.
Knapp said that Nebraska, Iowa or New Mexico all had openings.
See
www.kansan.com, for web links and a slide show of children's art that has been analyzed by a therapist. Information about related journals, books and experts are provided.
As an immediate resource, contact the American Art Therapy Association at (847) 949-6064.
"Everybody that actively seeks a job can get one," she said. "They have to be flexible and willing to travel, but they can get a job. The demand for art therapists has steadily increased in the last few years."
Campbell hopes the University will consider offering an introductory class. She said that she would take it, even though it did not meet any requirements for her current degree in textiles.
"Art therapy is like playing the lottery," she said. "You have to buy a ticket to win. KU needs to offer an introductory class before they will see the results."
TO MELANIE L ISA AND WHITNEY: THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOU ARE THE WIND BETWEEN OUR CHEEKS.
LOVE PHI DELT DIRECTORS
To the Women of Pi Beta Phi:
Thank you for all your hard work preparing for RCR.
Sincerely.
Boneless Arms Dede, Pregnant Belly Josh, Brenna's Boyfriend and the Men of Phi Kappa Psi
"It's Over."
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