Did hour friend by any chance tell you what the heck “art therapy” is?
“Art therapy” is using painting, music, or other arts to help the mentally screwed up. The therapist needs to be an artist, but the whole thing is really about guiding the mentally screwed up patient in using art (painting, particularly) to express his problems and deal with them. It’s supposed to be particularly helpful with abused children.
There aren’t many jobs in the field, and they don’t pay well.
Taking out student loans to pursue an Art Therapy degree is terribly risky.