Artist-in-Residence: An Alternative to “Clinification” for Art Therapists

This article identifies and describes the “clinification syndrome,” a process where art therapists gradually cease making art as clinical skills become the primary career focus. Priorities of training programs and the policies of the American Art Therapy Association contribute to this trend. Lack of research and theory development in art therapy are seen as major ramifications of the clinification syndrome. Several suggestions are offered to anchor art therapy students and beginning professionals more firmly in an art-based practice.