3 answers
Maddie
Student
Cinnaminson, New Jersey
4
Questions
Asked
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Therapists and Counselors: What Niche do you feel is most in demand as of 2025?
What population, modalities, or treatments are you seeing in your profession as gaining need or popularity? I’m enrolled into an art therapy graduate program and would like to know if there is anything w should educate myself on. Thank you!
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3 answers
Michelle M.
Actress
2400
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hi, Maddie !
The special thing about working as an Art Therapist is that you'll get the opportunity to work with everyone, all populations. Your college path, lab work as well as any hands on experience you have while in college will totally prepare you to work with the wide range of populations as needed. They will be people that have physical illnesses or injuries as well as people of all ages that have mental health illnesses. There's no one specific population that is "in demand". You will learn about various disabilities through college courses and trainings.
It's also going to depend on what place you apply for work and where you end up working. There are a variety of places that you can work as an Art Therapist such as hospitals, counseling clinics, schools, and private practices. Your population will vary. But do not worry, you'll be able to work with everyone before your first career job.
As for modalities and treatments for your patients, you will learn all of that in college and be totally prepared. In addition, when new treatments come about, you will learn them through trainings, in-services, workshops, conferences and by reading. You will discover a lot by reading Journals such as Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, Art Therapy Magazine which is an Instagram Account, and The Arts in Psychotherapy which contains up to date current research findings.
If you are in a Masters Program for this already, you are probably aware of the issues and perhaps it's that you need to find out more about any conferences or trainings that you can ask your professor about. Instead of jumping to the future, for which no one can tell you what patients you will have right now, see if your professor can give you a list of local conferences, panel discussions, special presentations or speakers that may be addressing current issues in Art Therapy. You can also check with your local hospital to see if they will allow Masters level students to come to their trainings at the hospital.
Your best bet is to inquire about this to your professors as they can inform you of any advances or changes in the Art Therapy field of work. It's already a lot of work in the Masters Program and a good idea to remember that the program is there to show you what you need to know to be prepared for applying for your License and Certification as well as working hands on as an Art Therapist.
Best wishes in your Masters Program and always !
The special thing about working as an Art Therapist is that you'll get the opportunity to work with everyone, all populations. Your college path, lab work as well as any hands on experience you have while in college will totally prepare you to work with the wide range of populations as needed. They will be people that have physical illnesses or injuries as well as people of all ages that have mental health illnesses. There's no one specific population that is "in demand". You will learn about various disabilities through college courses and trainings.
It's also going to depend on what place you apply for work and where you end up working. There are a variety of places that you can work as an Art Therapist such as hospitals, counseling clinics, schools, and private practices. Your population will vary. But do not worry, you'll be able to work with everyone before your first career job.
As for modalities and treatments for your patients, you will learn all of that in college and be totally prepared. In addition, when new treatments come about, you will learn them through trainings, in-services, workshops, conferences and by reading. You will discover a lot by reading Journals such as Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, Art Therapy Magazine which is an Instagram Account, and The Arts in Psychotherapy which contains up to date current research findings.
If you are in a Masters Program for this already, you are probably aware of the issues and perhaps it's that you need to find out more about any conferences or trainings that you can ask your professor about. Instead of jumping to the future, for which no one can tell you what patients you will have right now, see if your professor can give you a list of local conferences, panel discussions, special presentations or speakers that may be addressing current issues in Art Therapy. You can also check with your local hospital to see if they will allow Masters level students to come to their trainings at the hospital.
Your best bet is to inquire about this to your professors as they can inform you of any advances or changes in the Art Therapy field of work. It's already a lot of work in the Masters Program and a good idea to remember that the program is there to show you what you need to know to be prepared for applying for your License and Certification as well as working hands on as an Art Therapist.
Best wishes in your Masters Program and always !
I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question.
Maddie
I am happy the advice could be of help !
Michelle M.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
939
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Maddie,
In addition to what Michelle has said, your decision to enroll in a graduate program in art therapy is fantastic! The field of mental health is always changing, and as awareness of mental health issues grows, so does the demand for particular populations, modalities, and treatments.
Growing Niches in Therapy (2025 and Beyond)
1. Trauma-Informed Care and Treatment for PTSD
For trauma-related conditions like PTSD, childhood trauma, and complex trauma, more people are going to therapy. More people are using techniques like somatic therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR. Exploring this niche could be very beneficial because art therapy can be a very effective tool for trauma processing.
2. Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy for conditions like autism and ADHD
More people, particularly adults, are looking for therapy that acknowledges and comprehends neurodivergent experiences as the discussion surrounding neurodiversity continues to expand. Since many conventional treatment modalities don't always work for individuals with autism or ADHD, using art therapy as a different kind of self-expression and communication could be immensely beneficial.
3. Assistance with Mental Health for Young Adults and Generation Z
Younger generations frequently struggle with anxiety, burnout, and identity exploration, and they are more receptive to treatment than ever before. Support for mental health has become essential due to social media, academic pressure, and post-pandemic challenges. Art therapy is exactly what is needed because many young clients also connect with creative, non-traditional treatment approaches!
4. Integrative Methods & Expressive Therapies
More therapists are shifting their practice away from talk-only treatment and toward body-based and creative therapies. In addition to art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, and theater therapy are becoming more and more acknowledged as effective therapeutic modalities. Gaining the ability to combine various expressive modes could help you advance in your work.
5. The Developing Field of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Although it is still strictly restricted, psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine are increasingly being used in therapy. Integration therapy, which assists clients in safely processing insights from psychedelic experiences, is something that many therapists are learning more about. Although this field is still in its infancy, being informed now could prove beneficial in the future.
How to Get Ready for These Trends
- Take into account obtaining more qualifications in expressive therapies, neurodiversity-affirming treatment, or trauma-informed care.
- Through workshops, podcasts, and professional associations, stay up to date on research and new developments in these fields.
- Through volunteer work, internships, or networking with therapists in various specialties, you can obtain experience dealing with a variety of populations.
You are already in a unique and useful position because of your enthusiasm for art therapy. The need for therapists who can provide unconventional, innovative, and non-verbal healing methods is undoubtedly increasing. Continue learning and discovering, and have faith that you are on a fantastic journey!
Best wishes!
In addition to what Michelle has said, your decision to enroll in a graduate program in art therapy is fantastic! The field of mental health is always changing, and as awareness of mental health issues grows, so does the demand for particular populations, modalities, and treatments.
Growing Niches in Therapy (2025 and Beyond)
1. Trauma-Informed Care and Treatment for PTSD
For trauma-related conditions like PTSD, childhood trauma, and complex trauma, more people are going to therapy. More people are using techniques like somatic therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR. Exploring this niche could be very beneficial because art therapy can be a very effective tool for trauma processing.
2. Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy for conditions like autism and ADHD
More people, particularly adults, are looking for therapy that acknowledges and comprehends neurodivergent experiences as the discussion surrounding neurodiversity continues to expand. Since many conventional treatment modalities don't always work for individuals with autism or ADHD, using art therapy as a different kind of self-expression and communication could be immensely beneficial.
3. Assistance with Mental Health for Young Adults and Generation Z
Younger generations frequently struggle with anxiety, burnout, and identity exploration, and they are more receptive to treatment than ever before. Support for mental health has become essential due to social media, academic pressure, and post-pandemic challenges. Art therapy is exactly what is needed because many young clients also connect with creative, non-traditional treatment approaches!
4. Integrative Methods & Expressive Therapies
More therapists are shifting their practice away from talk-only treatment and toward body-based and creative therapies. In addition to art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, and theater therapy are becoming more and more acknowledged as effective therapeutic modalities. Gaining the ability to combine various expressive modes could help you advance in your work.
5. The Developing Field of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Although it is still strictly restricted, psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine are increasingly being used in therapy. Integration therapy, which assists clients in safely processing insights from psychedelic experiences, is something that many therapists are learning more about. Although this field is still in its infancy, being informed now could prove beneficial in the future.
How to Get Ready for These Trends
- Take into account obtaining more qualifications in expressive therapies, neurodiversity-affirming treatment, or trauma-informed care.
- Through workshops, podcasts, and professional associations, stay up to date on research and new developments in these fields.
- Through volunteer work, internships, or networking with therapists in various specialties, you can obtain experience dealing with a variety of populations.
You are already in a unique and useful position because of your enthusiasm for art therapy. The need for therapists who can provide unconventional, innovative, and non-verbal healing methods is undoubtedly increasing. Continue learning and discovering, and have faith that you are on a fantastic journey!
Best wishes!
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
157
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Maddie, good question to ask. It is good to know in general what modalities- and this mostly applies to techniques and not to theory- are being sought after. I am also going to share a personal belief that is a bit in contrast to this statement. These days any evidence-based practice is considered the golden standard. Keep in mind that being in private practice is very different from working for a community agency or government organization. Working with insurance companies will also dictate (to a certain extent) how you chart your notes and what you might include for purposes of coverage. Talk therapy with a basic understanding about CBT will serve you well in any setting. Many therapists are eclectic (combining different trainings and techniques) but some become wedded to a certain type of therapy like IFS or Jungian analysis (for example) and base their work around this. There is no right or wrong way to choose; it is entirely dependent upon what you enjoy and find most useful. As an art therapist, art making may be a complement to any type of therapeutic foundation- whether Existential, Depth psychology, Rogerian, etc. Some jobs will require you to take certain trainings they want to be utilized. Other jobs may leave the choice open to you. Most importantly I have found it crucial to seek the trainings you feel personally aligned with and inspired by. Otherwise, it will be awkward to try to implement them as it goes against the grain of your personality and beliefs about therapeutic process. I advise you to really dig into theory in particular and get to know it inside and out; this will be your guide. There will always be a popular technique that is receiving tons of social media applause; it is all too easy to get caught up in the fads. Your post-grad years will be filled with ongoing training and certifications; you will not learn everything you want as a graduate student. It is truly just the beginning. In the private practice realm somatic work and ketamine assisted therapy has been popular. Just because a kind of therapy is not evidence-based does not mean it is not effective; there is simply a shortage of research. Even within the art therapy field there is a lack, especially for quantitative study. Follow your heart; it will save you time and money. Hone your craft and therapeutic presence- the highest skill of all and one that takes a great deal of intention and practice. Be willing to be yourself and this is what will draw clients to you. Dare to be unique and different; this will be your superpower.