CiiAT – The Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy
Leading the Way in Virtual Art Therapy

CiiAT Specializes in Virtual Art Therapy Education and Clinical Services

Start your career as an art psychotherapist

Discover more about our accredited Art Psychotherapy Diploma

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Therapeutic Arts Professional Development

Explore our Therapeutic Arts Series and determine your perfect fit

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Organizational Development

Let us design your creative event to build your team capacity

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Virtual Art Therapy Clinic

Affordable and accessible virtual art therapy services

Visit vatc.ca

Accredited — Respected — Trusted

Private Training Institutions Branch Approved

Private Training Institutions Branch

CiiAT is a Registered Institution regulated with PTIB with the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills in British Columbia, Canada.

Canadian Art Therapy Association

Canadian Art Therapy Association

Our Diploma is recognized by CATA, who works alongside provincial art therapy associations to uphold professional standards in the interest of public safety and trust.

College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario

CRPO develops standards and procedures to regulate psychotherapists and art psychotherapists while striving to ensure competent and ethical practice within a professional accountability framework.

CiiAT

Our School

CiiAT (pronounced see-at) strives to be a community of equity and inclusion by welcoming students from many backgrounds and diverse cultures, creating space for all voices to be heard.

Leading the way in virtual art therapy

About CiiAT

Since 2016, the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy has been leading the way in virtual art therapy education, clinical services, research and publications.

Currently, all CiiAT accredited programs are taught online in real time and are heavily interactive. Coursework is delivered through Moodle, our comprehensive learning management system.

Art Psychotherapy Diploma

The Art Psychotherapy Diploma consists of 17 academic and clinical courses, delivered online with instructor-led and self-directed options, and 350 client hours and supervision. These 1,200 instructional hours are taught on a part-time schedule over 30 months of study. Graduates of the program qualify for membership with CATA and CRPO to become leaders in the field in the areas of professional practice, research, and theoretical development.

Therapeutic Arts Series

The Therapeutic Arts series consists of a certification program and specialized short courses, ideal for personal and professional development for individuals and teams looking for continuing education in mental health, emotional wellness, and creativity. These courses guide the participants through an experiential and exploratory process of self-discovery and personal growth while building the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to safely facilitate therapeutic arts sessions with individuals and groups.

Organizational Development

CiiAT designs Organizational Development events and offers therapeutic arts training to private groups and teams online or on location. CiiAT faculty recognizes the need for a creative, engaging, and informational training program to build employee capacity and team cohesiveness. From an intimate group of six to a banquet hall of 600, CiiAT will provide tailored material to better suit your unique needs, and your team's targeted learning outcomes.

Trusted training and curriculum

The faculty and facilitators at CiiAT provide their diverse experiences, qualifications and education to bring engaging, inclusive, and relevant educational content for individuals and teams.

All Diploma Instructors and clinical supervisors are Registered Art Therapists / Psychotherapists and in good standing with CATA. All other program facilitators are Therapeutic Arts Practitioners and Professional Art Therapists.

Virtual Art Therapy Clinic

Virtual Art Therapy Clinic

Virtual Art Therapy Clinic

The Virtual Art Therapy Clinic (VATC) is a CiiAT initiative that provides virtual art therapy services by donation to the global community.

Since 2020, VATC has provided 10,000 clinical sessions in nine languages, led by supervised post-graduate Art Psychotherapy Diploma students completing their clinical requirements.

Virtual Art Therapy

Virtual Art Therapy

CiiAT has been leading the way in virtual art therapy education and clinical services since 2016. Starting with education, CiiAT offered post-graduate courses via a learning management system and videoconferencing to students worldwide. This led to the successful launch of  CiiAT’s Virtual Art Therapy Clinic (VATC) in 2020. A critical research study conducted at VATC demonstrated a 34% reduction in anxiety levels during pre and post art therapy sessions for clients.

Virtual Art Therapy: Research and Practice book cover

Virtual Art Therapy: Research and Practice

The success of VATC led to the publication of Virtual Art Therapy: Research and Practice, Routledge, 2022 edited by Michelle Winkel, RCAT. This book is also authored by 17 leading international practitioners and provides a practical and research-based exploration of virtual art psychotherapy and how its innovations are breaking new ground in the mental health field.

Ability to learn remotely

They use an online learning platform called Moodle. My previous experience being a student was in the early 2000’s so I’m honestly blown away by the ability to learn remotely like this.

Rachel Robbins
Graduated Art Psychotherapy Diploma Student

Classes have quality content

The classes have quality content, but their small size leaves plenty of room to participate and deepen learning from each other and the instructor. Study groups are optional but so rich that I attend as many as I possibly can… It’s like getting twice the class you pay for.

Tehani Burnett
Graduated Art Psychotherapy Diploma Student

Excellent school

Excellent school, excellent programs, excellent instructors.

M Desjardins
Graduated Student

Loved it!

I have done a few sessions with a CiiAT Student Therapist and have loved it!

VATC Client

Helpful, knowledgeable and supportive

All the personal at CIIAT are very helpful, knowledgeable and supportive.

Nathalie Paradis
Graduated Art Psychotherapy Diploma Student

It was such a positive experience

If you’re considering this field, I highly recommend taking CiiAT’s TAPPs program to start, it was such a positive experience and would be useful for anyone, even if you’re not looking to do the APD.

Rachel Robbins
Graduated Art Psychotherapy Diploma Student

Celebrating what everyone brings to the table

The staff and instructors are really vocal about celebrating what everyone brings to the table and helping us navigate how we’re going to have the greatest impact in this field based on who we are and how we want to use the credentials we’re working towards.

Rachel Robbins
Graduated Art Psychotherapy Diploma Student

Much appreciated

The experience has been much appreciated.

VATC Client