This research sought to understand what the art therapists have experienced with the clients, who have
had a traumatic past, and how therapists understand the clients' experiences and emotions with their
artwork. For this study, eight art therapists were interviewed in depth. Their responses were analyzed using
Moustakas’(1994) phenomenological qualitative research methodology. The results were as follows; First, the
participants were under psychological pressure even before meeting with their clients due to the anticipated
involvement of the patients’ own traumatic experiences. Second, the participants had inadequate and
insufficient feelings while treating the clients with trauma due to the lack of proper education on how to
deal with the trauma on a professional level. Third, the participants experienced physiological change from
being exposed to the visual images of the clients’ trauma. Fourth, as the participants continued being
exposed to the clients’ traumatic experiences, they experienced burn-out not only on a professional level,
but also on a personal level. Finally, as the participants continued working with their clients, they learned
that traumatic experiences can make the people further grow make it possible to find meaning in life. The
research result suggest that trauma education for and supervision of art therapists necessary in order for art
therapists provide effective and safe art therapy sessions for the clients with trauma.