Southwestern College - Art Therapy Department

This letter is being sent to undergraduate Art Therapy programs...I thought some of our Friends here might be interested...

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

My name is Jim Nolan and I am the President of Southwestern College in Santa Fe. Southwestern College is an accredited (HLC/NCA, AATA) graduate school offering an MA in Art Therapy/Counseling. We are located in Santa Fe, a great vortex of art, culture and spirituality.

(Travel and Leisure Magazine has called it the 3rd best travel destination in North America, behind New York and San Francisco…)

Our emphasis is holistic, with a strong emphasis on developing/exploring self, meaning, spirit and service. Unlike some sister schools whose foundations are specifically Buddhist, or Hindu or Transpersonal, we are pan-spiritual and encourage students (and faculty) to develop personally and professionally along whatever spiritual or meaning paths or traditions that resonate with them. This brings incredible diversity and richness to the learning experiences of our adult learners. From Lakota pipe ceremonies to Peruvian despachos to earth-based Druidic ceremony to prayer and meditation, the students of Southwestern College can be exposed to a great range of connections to a bigger picture, depending on her or his interests.



A note on our degree title: Art Therapy/Counseling. At Southwestern College, Art Therapy students take the same curriculum as our MA in Counseling students, the exceptions being those special sections or courses required by our AATA accreditation. Thus we convinced NCA to allow us to augment the degree title so that our graduates are license eligible both as Art Therapists, or, in states that do not license Art Therapists, as Counselors. It is truly a win-win for all involved.



I am a veteran of a dozen universities, online and on the ground. I have never seen anything like Southwestern College’s philosophy (someone recently used the phrase “soul in action” and I loved that) or approach to clinical training. My own Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (APA approved) had nowhere near the depth of Southwestern College’s clinical training. Indeed, I am a student in our own Transformational Ecopsychology Certificate Program and completed a ten day vision quest last summer in the mountains of Central New Mexico.



I would consider it a great favor and service if you would share our information with your faculty and students. Santa Fe is the second largest art market in the U.S. and the incredible light has been a draw for artists, photographers and those with aesthetic sensibilities forever. What with Georgia O’Keefe’s Ghost Ranch and museum, the hundreds of art galleries (literally), Spanish Market Days, Indian Market Days, and the cultural heritage of nineteen Indian Pueblos in Northern New Mexico, this is an incredible place to pursue Art Therapy as a career and meaning path.



We also run our own Counseling Center (well appointed, I might add), where students do practicum and sometimes their internship as well. It services low income clients on a true sliding scale, and students typically have an opportunity to work with the great diversity that makes up Northern New Mexico. It is a tremendous resource for the city and has been recognized as such by the mayor and city council.



Thanks for reading, and I look forward to fielding any inquiries from you, your faculty or your students.



From the Heart,
Jim Nolan, Ph.D.


President
Southwestern College
3690 ABC San Felipe
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502
jnolanswc@yahoo.com
505.471.

5756