MILWAUKEE — Art therapy is becoming a growing field as more people seek out health services. There are projected to be nearly 27,000 new art therapy jobs will be filled over the next four years, according to Recruiter.com.
That's an increase of over 27% each year over the next few years. Outlook has remained positive since 2004, with growth of 2.05% per year.
Drea McAlister is a recent Alverno College graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in art therapy. She said she decided to pursue the field because it changed the course of her life.
When she was in sixth grade, she found out she had an undetected strep infection, which led to heart and neurological issues. She temporarily lost her mobility and her speech became slurred.
McAlister regained her health through intense therapy, but said it was art therapy that she connected with most as a form of treatment.
“The biggest thing I would say is that it gave me my voice back, a way to express myself,” she said. “Not only was it healing physically, but it also gave me a way to express my emotions without having to speak.”
Kelly Henckel, Alverno’s art therapy program director, said she looks forward to seeing how McAlister will use art therapy to help others.
“She’s resilient, she has overcome so many obstacles,” said Henckel. “Being able to communicate and share that with others; she’s going to be the best support that somebody could have.”
McAlister said she hopes to find a job as a creative arts facilitator in the nonprofit sector. She said she also has aspirations to earn a master’s degree in art therapy or special education.