According to the American Art Therapy Association (2017) "Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship."
"Art therapy, facilitated by a professional art therapist, effectively supports personal and relational treatment goals as well as community concerns. Art therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change."
A certificate in Pre-Art Therapy seeks to achieve two primary goals:
- To increase students' understanding and knowledge about the field of art therapy
- Prepare students to apply to art therapy graduate programs since a graduate-level art therapy degree is required in order to practice art therapy professionally.

