Arts therapies students scores in profession-related variables: Quantitative results of a longitudinal study

This longitudinal study investigated arts therapies students (N=51) scores in the following variables: career commitment, professional identity, need for occupational and training information, and perceived environmental and personal barriers to career decision-making. Key results suggest that students professional identity and career commitment significantly increased during training. Scores of dance movement therapy students, followed by art therapy students, were overall significantly higher than scores of drama therapy students. Students need for occupational and training information as well as perceived environmental and personal barriers to career decision-making decreased. Policy and practice implications are suggested and recommendations for further research on this topic are offered.