The perfect place to explore

If you have a passion for the arts, helping others, and furthering your education, CiiAT is the perfect place to explore all of the above, regardless of where you are in the world.

Would recommend to anybody!!

I have done a few sessions with a CiiAT Student Therapist and have loved it! It brings a new perspective to my art, and thinking, and helps me step outside of my own! Would recommend to anybody!!

I had a wonderful learning experience

I am an artist and wanted to help disadvantaged children with art, so I decided to learn art therapy two years ago. I had a wonderful learning experience with the instructors in CiiAT. They did not just teach me knowledge. They guided me to “experience” the spiritual world and the healing power that art therapy can bring about. I actually experienced several amazing healing moments in Lucille’s and Patricia’s classes. Of course, they are art therapy classes not therapy sessions. Because of those experiences in class and my studio experiences in the early years, I truly believe the healing power of art. I also love Michelle’s Ethics class and Nancy’s art therapy with families class. I learned a lot about therapy and clients from my teachers and constantly reflect on how to be an art therapist. Being an art therapist is a long journey, which is far more than gaining the diploma but involves a lifetime exploration of my inner world and the collective psyche, which is shared by all human beings. I am now involving in creating art and on the way to the depth of my soul through the process. I hope I can bring delight and heal I have experienced in art therapy and artistic process to more people in my life.

Start this journey sooner

The Canadian Institute of Art Therapy is a great place to learn. I chose to study with CiiAT because of its personal and family feel and large multicultural and global perspective. Staff are so friendly and willingly helpful. 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. CiiAT is on the  leading edge of education and training with their virtual art therapy clinic. It provides such a valuable service to the community, while giving students an opportunity to experience a way of providing therapy that makes them flexible for the future. I have felt so supported in my educational learning and personal growth at CiiAT. I’ve made meaningful connections with teachers and fellow students and feel confident about my future in art therapy. I only wonder why I didn’t start this journey sooner

Passionate and Engaging

I love the live online format of these classes and being able to connect with other students from anywhere in the world. My experience so far has been very positive! The teachers and staff are passionate and engaging.

Way beyond my expectations

CiiAT is a unique institution for Art Therapy studies. As a student, I enjoy the opportunity to interact with a wide diversity of students located across the globe, all connected virtually. The program’s curriculum is intellectually and emotionally rewarding; it goes way beyond my expectations. Love it!

Unparalleled learning experience

I think for me it felt very transformative to watch sessions in action, something we don’t otherwise ever get to do. And as a practitioner I don’t know if I will ever have the courage to put something like this out! It’s amazing what you’ve done and also the change that I was able to see in a range of different clients! I felt very engaged, I felt involved and in moments also emotional, bored, irritable and recognized my own transference as I got more involved in some of the cases. I think it’s an unparalleled learning experience and I’m glad this was the last piece of my CIIAT course journey

It was such a positive experience

Choosing a career shift into Art Therapy was a huge decision! My first experience with CiiAT was taking their Therapeutic Arts Practitioner Program (TAPPs) in Spring 2022 and it was a transformational course for me. Each of the four modules had a huge impact on both my personal artistic/therapeutic practice and deciding what I wanted to do with my career. TAPPs gave me a strong foundation in therapeutic arts and solidified my decision to apply to their Art Psychotherapy Diploma (APD). It’s exciting to be in an international program, our cohort is from all around the world. I also chose CiiAT because they are now recognized by the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and that will aid my entry into the field as I intend to practice in Ontario.

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. And no database is perfect of course but they are very responsive to questions and feedback.

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.

Choosing the right school is a really personal decision and each Canadian program that is recognized by CATA will provide the same core curriculum but through a different lens/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.