[2] Rubin completed her bachelor's in art from Wellesley College in 1957[3] and pursued a Master's degree in education from Harvard University.
While attending graduate school, Rubin recalled a seminar in Human Development where she presented on "The Psychology of Children's Art."
Rubin's teaching methods included singing in the classroom, re-arranging furniture, declining to use paddles for discipline, failing to write detailed lesson plans, and showing slides of artwork that were not in the curriculum.
Rubin believed the children benefited from making art, but found teaching to be less satisfying than she had hoped.
Although Rubin had no clinical background, McFarland invited her to facilitate art therapy with children diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Much to her surprise, Erikson opposed any further clinical training in psychology and suggested it might ruin her intuitive approach.
[3] Rubin has contributed to the field of art therapy by serving in a number of professional positions as well as writing numerous articles, books, lectures and films.
Her first film in 1972, We'll Show You What We're Gonna Do, documented a therapeutic art program with blind children.