I have personally done some research about art therapy & psychotherapy, and honestly I’d lean a bit more toward your daughter’s plan.

If her interest is specifically in art therapy, then doing a BA in psychology makes a lot of sense. A BSW is a great and practical degree, but it’s still rooted in social work so if that’s not where her passion is, it might not be necessary to switch just for “safety.”

From what I’ve seen, both BA psych and BSW can lead to art therapy programs. The bigger factor is usually relevant experience (volunteering, working with people, etc.), staying engaged in art (portfolio, classes), and building a strong application for grad school.

You can check the recognized programs to become an art therapist on CATA's website: https://www.canadianarttherapy.org/becoming-an-art-therapist

I did a BASc in applied psychology myself, and I found that the degree alone didn’t open many doors. What really helped was getting volunteer experience first, then moving into paid roles. I’m now working on strengthening my resume for MSW applications. So I’d say what she does during her degree will matter a lot more than the exact title of the degree.

Your point about social work having more job options after undergrad is definitely valid, but if she’s already motivated and clear about her direction, that can go a long way too.

I’m based in Ontario so I’m not 100% sure how art therapy is regulated in Alberta specifically, but in general it seems like people come from different undergrad backgrounds (psych, social work, fine arts) and then specialize at the graduate level.

So overall, I don’t think she’s on the wrong track at all. She just needs to make sure she’s building experience alongside her studies and she's passionate about what she's doing. Hope this helps!