Career Advice for an Art Therapist

Art therapists use creative activities to help people work through difficult feelings or issues. They work with patients to explore emotional problems using artwork to improve their emotional and cognitive wellbeing. Art therapists can use painting, drawing and other mediums to help people understand how they are feeling and cope with difficulties.

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How to Become an Art Therapist

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Art Therapist

Should you wish to work as an Art Therapist you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Art Therapist

  • Degree in Psychology or Social Work
  • Degree in Creative Therapy or Art Therapy
  • Arts therapist degree apprenticeship

Key Responsibilities for an Art Therapist

  • Meeting with patients to establish a medical history and identify issues they wish to work on
  • Creating treatment plans to suit identified goals
  • Conducting art therapy sessions using various methods
  • Using drawing, painting, and clay modelling as part of the visual art therapy
  • Discussing patient artwork with them to identify the emotions and meanings
  • Working with other healthcare professionals to create a comprehensive treatment plan
  • Developing programs for patients that suit their needs and objectives
  • Establishing outlets and management techniques for patients to deal with difficult situations
  • Conducting group or family sessions
  • Updating patient records and providing referrals when needed

What to expect as an Art Therapist

Art therapists work with patients to help them explore their emotional conflicts and underlying emotions that impact their wellbeing. You will use various creative activities to help patients work through emotional issues and trauma. To be successful in this career, you will need to stay up to date with the latest therapy practices and have excellent communication and counselling skills.

Recommended Art Therapist Jobs

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How to get Art Therapist Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Art Therapist job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Art Therapist application. If you have not held an Art Therapist position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Art Therapist role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Art Therapist CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Art Therapist application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Art Therapist in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Art Therapist 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Art Therapist and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Art Therapist experience.

How to get Art Therapist Experience

What does it take to be an Art Therapist? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Art Therapist jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Art Therapist through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Art Therapist Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Art Therapist part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Art Therapist or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Art Therapist freelance work

If you have impressive Art Therapist qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.