Proposal for an "open art therapy studio" at the University of Arts

The University of the Arts in Philadelphia is one of three institutions of higher education in the United States that is exclusively dedicated to training students in the visual arts, performing arts and creative writing. In my role as Director of Counseling at UArts, I have sought to integrate the creative arts therapies into the therapeutic and outreach programming of the university and to use the arts to support student wellness. In this presentation, I will discuss a proposal for submission to the Student Affairs administration in which I encourage the establishment of an "open art therapy studio" at the university and with the Counseling Center. I argue that such an initiative would have great benefits to the campus community and minimal cost in terms of space, staffing, and supplies. I review the literature that suggests how art therapy has been an effective treatment option for a variety of symptoms and diagnoses affecting adolescents and young adults. And I provide a detailed overview of the specific mental health challenges that UArts students are experiencing to draw connections to the benefits of a new potential art therapy studio on campus. All too often, art students are aware of the stress that a life in art school can cause. My goal is to help as many students as possible recognize the therapeutic value of the arts.