Q.   What did you study? What advice do you have for students interested in your field?

A.  My undergraduate degree is from Stern college where I majored in fine arts with a concentration in psychology. My masters in art therapy is from NYU. I received my license in the States, (getting licensed means working a certain amount of supervised hours).
In Israel there is no certification in art therapy. If you have an MA in art therapy you are way ahead of the game. The field is much more respected in Israel than it is in the States. Here it is considered part of the therapies.

Q.  What are the professional options for an art therapist in Israel?

A.  At this point you are part of a team of therapists. The most common places to work are schools or geriatric institutions. I have found interesting programs being initiated here such as working with post partum depressed women.

Q.  Are there jobs available?

A.  Yes. Many schools have in house art therapists and you can be placed by the Ministry of Education.

Q.  How do you feel about living in Israel and being an art therapist here?

After training in Bellevue Hospital in New York I really appreciate working in Har Nof. It is a wonderful feeling to work in my field in Eretz Yisrael.

To learn more about Mercaz Harmony and Gan Harmony see their website at: www.ganharmony.org

Last Updated: October 2005

Additional information about Art Therapy, related professions and study options in Israel:

The Rachel Shazar Institute - Programs for Music, Art and Movement Therapy
Persons who have a B.A. in Music, Art or Movement can retrain to become therapists in their areas of specialization. They will be able to work with children and adults with special needs.

This is a two-year program.

Graduates receive a diploma from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and the Israeli Association for Creative and Expressive Therapies (ICET).

Address: 7 Rehov Ma’agal Beit Midrash, Beit Hakerem, POB 3578, Jerusalem 91035
Telephone: 02-6558111, 02-6521628
Fax: 02-6521548
Website: http://www.snunit.k12.il/sachlav/davidyellin/main/upload/english/programs.html

Lesley College
Lesley University offers three master's degree programs: Master of Arts Degree in Expressive Therapies; Master of Education Degree in Creative Arts in Learning and Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies at its extension site in Netanya.

Master of Arts Degree in Expressive Therapies is a program for individuals who want to activate progressive change in people's lives and in the world. Graduates practice expressive therapies in clinics, health care facilities, school community agencies, private practices and other settings internationally.

Address: P.O.Box 8178, Industrial Park Building #F, 10 Netanya South 42160
Telephone: 09-865-6501 09-865-6502
Fax: 09-865-6503
Website: http://www.lesley.edu/gsass/israel.html

Last Updated: April 2006