Therapy Decision Guide
Art therapy is generally not covered under OAP core clinical services because art therapists are not regulated health professionals in Ontario. If a regulated psychotherapist uses art-based techniques within their registered scope, those sessions may qualify for OAP funding.
Ask any prospective provider which of these credentials they hold, and confirm the credential with the relevant regulatory college before starting.
Art therapy provides a non-verbal communication channel. Many autistic individuals find verbal expression challenging or exhausting. Visual art offers an alternative pathway for expressing emotions, processing experiences, and communicating internal states. The creative process itself can be regulating and organizing.
Therapists use structured and unstructured art activities tailored to each individual's sensory profile. Some autistic people prefer the predictability of structured projects with clear steps. Others benefit from free exploration of materials. Sensory considerations guide material selection — some may prefer the smoothness of clay while others find it aversive.
Art therapy sessions typically follow a predictable routine. This structure supports autistic individuals who benefit from consistency. Sessions include a warm-up activity, a main creative exploration, and a reflection period. The therapist observes the creative process and product to inform clinical understanding.
Schweizer, Knorth, and Spreen (2017) conducted a systematic review of art therapy for autistic individuals. Published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, the review found emerging evidence for improvements in emotional expression, social skills, and self-concept. However, the authors noted significant methodological limitations in existing studies.
Elkis-Abuhoff et al. (2015) found that clay manipulation reduced anxiety in autistic adults. Martin (2009) documented improvements in social interaction and communication through structured art therapy programs. The evidence base is growing but requires larger randomized controlled trials to establish treatment efficacy definitively.
In Ontario, art therapists are represented by the Ontario Art Therapy Association (OATA) and the Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA). The CATA provides professional registration (RCAT) requiring a master's degree in art therapy, supervised clinical hours, and adherence to ethical standards.
Art therapy is not a regulated health profession in Ontario. Families should verify practitioner credentials through CATA. Some registered psychotherapists with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) integrate art therapy into their practice. Children's treatment centres and community agencies may offer group-based art therapy programs.
Schweizer, Knorth & Spreen (2017)
Art therapy with children with autism spectrum disorders: A review of clinical case descriptions. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 56, 53-68.
Elkis-Abuhoff et al. (2015)
The effect of clay manipulation on somatic dysfunction and emotional distress in a sample of individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Art Therapy, 32(1), 14-19.
Martin (2009)
Art therapy and autism: A research-based approach. In C.A. Malchiodi (Ed.), Art Therapy and Health Care. Guilford Press.
Written by Spencer Carroll
Founder & Autism Advocate
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) delivered to children aged 18–30 months produced significant gains in IQ, adaptive behaviour, and autism severity — some children no longer met diagnostic criteria at follow-up
Cochrane systematic review finds evidence that early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI) may produce positive effects on adaptive behaviour and communication for young children with ASD (low certainty of evidence)
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement
89,799
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
23%
Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements — less than one in four