Danielle E. Swan, "Still," 2021
Art Therapy and Counseling
Art Therapy and Counseling Department
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling program explores the relationship between life experiences and artmaking and prepares graduates for a career helping people gain or recover intellectual and emotional clarity, equilibrium, and power through artistic expression.
Undergraduate Admission Deadline: January 1
Submit your application and portfolio by January 1 for priority fall 2025 merit scholarship consideration.
Graduate Programs Application Deadline: January 10
Apply to SAIC's Graduate and Post-Bacc programs by January 10 for fall 2025 admission.
File Your FAFSA
In order to be eligible for need-based aid such as SAIC, state and federal grants, loans and work study you need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov.
Jess Bass, Goo & Ooo, 2022
Our Departmental Mission
To provide an art therapy and counseling education that prepares artist-art therapists to practice in specialized settings within a socio-cultural context.
Annalise Castro, "Just Let It Happen," 2021
Program Guide and Admissions
For admissions questions about the MAATC Program Guide or additional questions about the MAATC program, please email the Art Therapy and Counseling department at maatcinquiries@saic.edu.
Contact Us
Department of Art Therapy and Counseling
Sharp Building
37 S. Wabash Ave., Suite 713
Phone: 312.899.7481
Department Chair
Adelheid Mers amers@saic.edu
Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (ACATE) Coordinator
Leah Gipson lgipson1@saic.edu
MAATC Program Director
Katherine Marie Kunkel Kamholz kkamholz1@saic.edu
Associate Director of Clinical Education
Deborah Ann DelSignore ddelsignore@saic.edu
Licensure Specialist
Valerie Vasquez vvasqu@saic.edu
Senior Administrative Director
Kathleen McGrath kmcgrath@saic.edu
Administrative Assistant
Kristi Moynihan kmoyni1@saic.edu