If I'm undecided between two career paths, how do I determine which one will be best for me?

Hi Elliot,

A psychology background can be useful in the arts. Understanding perceptual processes, individual differences in emotion and mental health can help students plan and create works that speak to various issues or feelings. The use of creative works can be very effective therapeutic tools. Psychology majors may work as performers, as administrators or as therapists.

What Is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy, in which clients, facilitated by an art therapist, use the creative process of making art to explore their feelings. Art therapists use the process of self-expression, and the resulting artwork to help clients understand their emotional conflicts, develop social skills, improve self-esteem, manage addictions, reduce anxiety, and restore normal function to their lives.

Research shows that art therapy benefits diverse client populations, and can be effective in a variety of formats. Art therapists work with people of all ages and challenges in life, including patients with severe behavioral problems and addictions, to clients without medical or psychological issues who are simply looking for personal insight into their lives. Art therapy is most commonly recommended for people with medical, educational, developmental, or psycho-social impairment. Art therapy is also an effective treatment for people dealing with the following issues:

Individuals who are struggling with frightening memories or upsetting emotions as a result of trauma, combat or abuse

Persons with serious medical health conditions or disabilities such as traumatic brain injury, cancer, depression, autism, anti-social personality or dementia

Couples attempting to reconcile emotional conflicts

Individuals seeking personal growth and increased self-esteem

People experiencing stress, anxiety, and other problematic behaviors.

The underlying goal of art therapy is to improve or restore a client's functioning and his or her personal feelings of well-being. This begins with an art therapist encouraging the client to engage in the creative process, to explore their feelings, and to enjoy the pleasures of making art. Art therapy does not require the client to be talented or an artist, to experience the benefits. An art therapist's job is not to teach art or critique a client’s work, instead, art therapists work with clients to dive into the underlying messages communicated through their art, and combine psychotherapeutic counseling techniques to promote personal development, foster self-awareness, and build coping skills.

Art therapists must also have a strong understanding of visual art. Art therapy often embraces a variety of art forms, such as sculpture, painting, drawing and others, so a practitioner of art therapy must have experience working with these art mediums, and the ability to guide a client through the creative process.

https://psychology.uiowa.edu/undergraduate-program/career-information/arts-related-careers

http://careersinpsychology.org/start-your-art-therapy-career/

Best!

Good day,

This is great that your being honest with yourself and finding two potential paths of interest. I would highly recommend getting your feet wet and volunteering or doing some entry level work with each. See what you really enjoy and by doing it in person you can really get a feel for it and see if it is for you.

Personally I always dreamed of being in law enforcement and after finishing my business degree I got my feet wet with a few departments. Personally I could not stand it and it was not at all as I visualized it. I thought I would give Education and training a try and after years of being in it and most recently becoming a training manager I can never look back. I absolutely love it!! You can have the same results if you stay patient and be honest with yourself about how your work really makes you feel.

My best to you and I'm sure you'll find that fit! :)

Sincerely,

Troy

Most of us have this issue in High School and even in college. Try volunteering in your areas of interest. This will let you get some first hand experience and you will not have invested a lot if you end up hating it. You also take classes as well. I switched majors a couple of times in college after completing introduction courses and seeing what the field really was like. I was still able to use the classes as electives.