The discipline of art psychotherapy draws upon the visual arts, psychotherapy and psychology and is applied within psychiatry, special education, social services and the voluntary sector. Art psychotherapists work with individuals, groups and communities. Art psychotherapists enable clients to access their own image-making abilities. The therapist and their client jointly explore the meaning of the process and image/art object in the light of personal experiences and/or interpersonal relationships that may sometimes be distressing or troubling. The aim is to facilitate the intra-personal and interpersonal communication of experiences that the client may initially find difficulty in discussing verbally. The art psychotherapist’s task is to support processes of emotional integration by providing a safe, reliable and containing therapeutic environment within which the client can create and use art making to develop insight and promote change.
This course is designed for people who usually have at least one year’s experience of, or are currently, working in a caring capacity such as psychiatry, special education, social services and the voluntary sector.
Teaching, learning and assessment
You will attend classes, work in groups and carry out independent learning. Assessment methods include reports, essays, and presentations. Each year group contains 25-30 students. However, most classes take the form of supervision, seminar, lectures and interpersonal leaning groups with a maximum of 15 students. You will undertake 110 days supervised practice placement over the training period; placements are allocated by QMU. All students are required to be in personal psychotherapy throughout the duration of the course. Students will attend supervision on site at the practice placement setting and at QMU throughout the training. Full-time students attend practice placement two days per week and part-time students attend one day per week over two semesters.
Teaching hours and attendance
Year One classes for full-time students take place usually from 9-5pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Year Two classes take place from 9-5pm on Thursdays only. Part-time students attend classes on Tuesdays, 9-5 pm and Wednesdays, 9-1pm for Year One and in Year Two on Tuesdays, 9-1pm and Thursday only for Year Three and/or Four of the part-time route. You will also be required to carry out independent learning. Full-time students attend practice placement two days per week and part-time students attend one day per week over two semesters. Part-time students wishing to complete their Clinical Project in Year Four will attend personal academic tutorials by appointment. All students will be required to carry out independent learning throughout the training programme. The Art Studio will be open for art practice on Mondays and Fridays, 9am- 8pm.
Links with industry/professional bodies
Graduates are eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as Registered Arts Therapists (Art) and are eligible for full membership of BAAT (British Association of Art Therapists).
Modules
Level 1 (f/t -year 1; p/t-years 1 & 2): Art Psychotherapy Practice Placement 1/ Art Psychotherapy Therapeutic Skills & Inter- Personal Learning Groups 1/ Interdisciplinary Studies/Pre-registration Research Methods
Level 2 (f/t- year 2; p/t- years 3&4): Art Psychotherapy Practice Placement 2/ Interdisciplinary Studies 2 & IPL Groups 2 All modules above are worth 30 credits.
60 credits: Clinical Project
Careers
Art psychotherapists work with a wide range of clients and communities, individually or with groups, within the public and private sectors throughout the world. The course meets the requirements of the Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency for Art Therapists. This degree carries 240 credits/120 European Credits which are transferable across Europe and attracts students from all over the world. Graduates work in a wide variety of different settings across the globe including health, education and the voluntary sector.
Quick Facts
- Graduates are eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council UK. - The course has an international perspective and welcomes students from across the world. - It is the only MSc Art Psychotherapy in the UK based in a school of health sciences and includes a strong research component.
- UK Honours degree (eg psychology, social work, nursing, education) or equivalent in the visual arts, plus a portfolio of artwork. - Normally one year’s full-time work experience in a caring capacity.- Experience of personal art psychotherapy/ psychodynamic psychotherapy/ experiential workshops is desirable.- Without a degree, work experience of 8-10 years in one position will be considered.- For degrees not studied in English, an IELTS test will be required, receiving an overall score of 7.0 and no individual component below 6.5.- Interview: Home applicants at QMU & International via Skype. Art portfolios should be submitted electronically.
Last Updated
13 September 2016
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Recipient: Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
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