I am trying to decide whether the campus hybrid format or online hybrid would be a better fit. What should I take into consideration?

The campus hybrid option on location in Nelson is ideal for anyone studying art therapy. Students benefit from being surrounded by mountains, trees and water, making it an optimal ecological setting for creativity and healing. Nelson is known for its vibrant art community and world class outdoor recreational opportunities. Students on campus are immersed in a collaborative learning community which provides a supportive holding environment for deep transformational learning. Students who are early in their careers and/or changing careers benefit from the collective in-person learning and ease of access to a variety of clinical placements.

Students who choose the online hybrid option are professionally established in their communities.

The online hybrid cohort is intended for students who are already working in a professional capacity in the mental health field and are well-placed to expand their career to include art therapy. Online hybrid students are most successful in the program when they set up placements in their home communities. It is recommended that students remain in a single community during their studies so that the student’s clinical placement clients can benefit from the resulting stability.

For online hybrid students, there is an emphasis in the training on learning how to increase the awareness of art therapy in their community. For communities that are unfamiliar with art therapy, the creation of clinical placements can help demonstrate the benefits of art therapy without any (or very little) initial cost to the clients or agencies and can lead to job opportunties for graduates.

In contrast, campus hybrid students benefit from the well-established nature of KATI in the community of Nelson. Campus hybrid students have a diverse range of pre-established clinical placements to choose from. Because of this, it is often easier for campus hybrid students to complete the 300 hours of direct client contact needed for graduation.

Transformational learning involves moments of discomfort and therefore it’s important that students have a robust support network while training at KATI. Some of the benefits of being on campus include in person access to faculty for support, peer support and friendships, opportunities to participate in community building. Students need to consider whether an online learning environment and their own community is the right setting to support them while training to be an art therapist.

Please feel free to call KATI about making your choice, 250-352-2264.

We also offer Online Information Sessions where you can meet and ask questions with KATI faculty and staff.