The common question art therapist get “who do you help?” 

The common reply is “I serve everyone that’s stressed out so they can live in the flow.”

Many art therapists fear leaving too much on the table, and I understand that feeling all too well. We both fall into a helper position which is natural for us wanting to be helpful and be there for everyone.

But.

Reality check. You are only one person and have only so much energy to give out to people, or else you will fall into burnout. It is one of the main reasons art therapists feel run down because they work with whoever comes through their door. Even though they are not the best fit for them, so it requires extra energy to help.

It is where I emphasize finding your ideal client.

What is an ideal client?

A person that suits you, your business and the services you provide. The ideal client could be a form of you from the past, present, future or maybe an alternate form of self.

1. Holds a specific need that your service can fulfill
2. Understands and values your services
3. They are willing to pay for the value of your work
4. They share your values
5. Easy to work with them
6. They will help you grow and expand your business with referrals
7. They are loyal to you and will likely work with you again

Now you know who an ideal client is but now what.

Now you must look inwards at yourself because you must know yourself inside and out before trying to identify who your people are. It needs to come from a place of integrity.

It’s how you will gain an idea of who your people are.

How do I figure out who my people are?

Start with the basics of how humans connect emotionally with each other. There are many different ways for a connection to happen. It can be through:

Shared Interests
Whether they are hobbies or interests. They should be something you enjoy and are passionate about internally. You need to match one or two from the ideal client interests. You can draw from those in how you market and build your offers.

Shared Values
You must look deeply into this one because this is how to create culture within your art therapy business. This will differentiate you from the others. You do not need to share all your values with the ideal client; at least one will work.

Shared backgrounds
You can tap into specific cultures, ethnicity or socioeconomic status for another way to connect if you enjoy civilizations.

Shared experiences and stories
Pull from your past experiences, especially in life challenges, transitions, or transformations. They will gravitate to relatable stories. Maybe working in the same industry. This one is the most important because people connect through stories.

Similar personality traits
This is taking time to get to know yourself clearly and identify your aspects. If you are an introvert, you connect best with other introverts. Finding similar traits boosts the compatibility of your ideal client.

Geographic
Maybe you prefer to work with people locally in your region or area.

Actionable steps

Here is a way to start brainstorming ideas for who your people are.

Make a list of your values. Brainstorm types of people in the world that would hold those same values. (Example: I value empathy; so do art therapists!)

Brainstorm and ask yourself:

Who do I get along well with within my network of people?

If you have a client base, do you have a favourite client you love working with in session? If so, describe them in a sentence and identify the main problem, their needs, their desires.