If you’re a creative person who’s committed to supporting the mental health of others and would like to take your career further, then training as an Art Psychotherapist is a great option. Having the skills and professional qualifications to transform the lives of others can be personally very rewarding.
You get to work therapeutically with people from all walks of life, from toddlers to prisoners to the elderly, and everybody in between. Having the skills and professional qualifications to transform the lives of others can be personally very rewarding. Art Therapy jobs can be found in various settings, including the NHS, schools, charities, prisons, hospices, etc. Many Art Therapists work in private practice from home, or in the community.
In order to legally practice as an Art Psychotherapist in the UK, you need to hold a Master’s Degree in Art Psychotherapy, be registered with HCPC (Health Care Professions Council), have suitable insurance, regular Clinical Supervision and undertake regular CPD (Continuous Professional Development). If you’re working with vulnerable people, enhanced DBS is essential too. It’s a good idea to have a look at the BAAT (British Association of Art Therapists) website for more information.
N.B. In the UK, the titles art therapist and art psychotherapist are interchangeable and protected by law.
In general, you will need a first degree in art, social work, teaching or nursing and be a practising artist. Most courses will expect you to have 2 years recent experience in a caring role, or related to your first degree.
The course will have study and experiential/clinical placement aspects, and you will also be required to be in (art) psychotherapy for the duration of your course. If you have had therapy or counselling before applying, that gives you the advantage of understanding some of what the therapeutic relationship entails.
The traditional route for Art Therapy training is attending an MA Art Therapy course in person. The course usually takes 2 years full-time or 3-4 years part-time. Several universities offer Art Therapy courses at Masters-level including Goldsmiths, Hertfordshire, South Wales, Teesside, Brunel, Chester, Derby, IATE, Edinburgh, Belfast, Roehampton, Sheffield.
An alternative route is to do an Art Psychotherapy Apprenticeship. This is a full-time 2-year course, with most of your learning done online. You work full-time with an employment provider and are paid, usually at the minimum wage rate.
Please note that Untapped Art Therapy is a registered training provider, but we are NOT currently advertising any vacancies.
Untapped is committed to reducing youth suicide and self-harm in the Bournemouth area. We specialise in supporting children/young people who are neurodivergent and who have experienced trauma. Your donation will make a huge difference, Thank-you!
