Art Psychotherapy

The MSc Art Psychotherapy course is a two-year part-time training programme approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the regulating body for the health and care professions in the UK.

The course combines experiential learning, seminars, arts based reflective practices, clinical placements, and clinical supervision. Art psychotherapists work with children, young people, adults, and older people across a range of health, education, social care, advocacy, and community services.

As a career, art psychotherapy offers an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others. It combines therapeutic expertise, evidence-based research, social engagement, and creative ingenuity.

The course integrates HCPC professional clinical training requirements, along with practice-based learning with a variety of client groups.

Art psychotherapy is life changing. It is a clinical practice that contributes to creative health and wellness and uses art for the communication of emotions, thoughts, and life experiences.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

Year one
Art Psychotherapy: Foundations of Theory and Practice
Year: 1
This module will examine the history nature and parameters of art psychotherapy and effective practice within professional, ethical, legal boundaries and requirements. It aims to develop understanding, skills and attitudes relevant to working within an evidence-based framework, adapting practice to suit client need. Understanding will be developed about relevant theories and art-making/experiential techniques and theoretical learning in groups will explore art processes and theories of group work and the management of group process and diversity in groups.

Art Psychotherapy: Clinical Proficiencies and Theories of Mind
Year: 1
This module will examine the history, nature and parameters of art psychotherapy and effective practice. It aims to develop understanding, skills and attitudes relevant to working within an evidence-based coherent integrative pluralistic framework, adapting practice to suit client needs. Building on this, the art psychotherapist's practice needs to be tailored to the needs of the client and adapted in a culturally competent way. Understanding will be developed about relevant theories and techniques and the relationship between research and practice.

Art Psychotherapy: Practicum 1
Year: 1
This module will introduce the Practicum component of the programme. It will enable students to begin the practice of art psychotherapy under clinical supervision and with the support of the placement and practice educator. It will introduce students to professional practice within professional, ethical, legal boundaries and requirements. This module will run alongside the academic module(s), training groups and studio group module. Students will be in personal therapy and this must run concurrently with placements.

Art Psychotherapy: Diversity and Praxis
Year: 1
This module explores skills and attitudes relevant to working with cultural diversity and fostering art psychotherapy multi-cultural competency. Understanding will be developed in distinguishing between human health and illness. We explore diverse cultural perspectives on areas such as; mental health difficulties, special and additional needs, age and generational influences, developmental and acquired disabilities, religion, ethnicity (and race), social status, sexual orientation, indigenous heritage, national origin, and gender.

Art Psychotherapy: Practicum 2 (Part 1)
Year: 1
This module will continue the Practicum component of the programme. It will enable students to develop and continue the practice of art psychotherapy under clinical supervision and with the support of the placement and Practice Educator. Students will further explore professional practice within professional, ethical, legal boundaries and requirements. It aims to continue to develop understanding, skills and attitudes relevant to practice and to working within an evidence-based coherent integrative pluralistic framework, adapting practice to suit client needs. Students will be in personal therapy and this must run concurrently with placements.

Year two
Art Psychotherapy: Continuing Professional Responsibility
Year: 2
This module will examine reflexive practice, routine systematic evaluation of practice, evaluating practice, collaboration, clinical audit and career-long learning - all within a culture of quality assurance and clinical governance and also within professional, ethical, legal boundaries and requirements. The art psychotherapist must be committed to reflexive practice, and to improve services. Understanding will be developed about relevant theories and techniques, art-making, experiential and theoretical learning in groups.

Art Psychotherapy: Portfolios of Professional Practice
Year: 2
This module will examine art psychotherapy research - within a culture of research governance, clinical governance and quality assurance and also within professional, ethical, legal boundaries and requirements. It aims to further develop understanding, skills and attitudes relevant to research and to working within an evidence-based coherent integrative pluralistic framework, adapting practice to suit client needs.

Art Psychotherapy: Practicum 3
Year: 2
This module will continue and conclude the practicum component of the programme. It will enable students to gain further experience of the practice of art psychotherapy under clinical supervision and with the support of the placement and practice educator. It aims to increase understanding, skills and attitudes relevant to practice and to working within an evidence-based coherent integrative pluralistic framework, adapting practice to suit client needs. This module will run alongside the academic module(s), training groups and studio group module.

Art Psychotherapy: Practicum 2 (Part 2)
Year: 2
This module will continue the practicum component of the programme. It will enable students to develop and continue the practice of art psychotherapy under clinical supervision and with the support of the placement and practice educator. Students will further explore professional practice within professional, ethical, legal boundaries and requirements. It aims to continue to develop understanding, skills and attitudes relevant to practice and to working within an evidence-based coherent integrative pluralistic framework, adapting practice to suit client needs. The module also aims to develop the following programme components—supervision groups and clinical seminars. This module will run alongside the academic module(s), training groups and studio practice. Students will be in personal therapy and this must run concurrently with placements.

Criteria leading to selection for interview:
(a) A 2:2 degree or above in either visual arts, psychology, psychotherapy, social work, nursing, teaching, social care, or an allied profession.

(b) A commitment to reflective arts practices facilitating personal insight and an artistic repertoire of self enquiry. If invited for interview, a portfolio of six artworks demonstrating proficiency in a range of arts media will be requested.

(c) A 1000 hours of work experience in a helping capacity in either mental health, arts and health, social care, social work, special education, or a counselling setting. Paid or voluntary work is acceptable.

(d) Applicants are requested to demonstrate self-awareness, psychological mindedness, emotional resilience, robustness, and the capacity to be empathetic.

(e) All applicants are asked to demonstrate a level of English necessary for the completion of academic assignments. An example of academic writing can support your application and also be submitted prior to interview.
All successful applicants are required to complete an enhanced Access NI security check.

Applicants will be required to submit references from two referees relating to their academic and professional performance.

English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language this course requires
a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 6.0 with no band
score less than 5.5, or equivalent.

Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details.

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Applications for this course will open on 1st January 2023 and close on 1st March 2023.

60

2 years part-time.

GradDip Public Policy (W315) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 5855
nonEU fee per year - € 13270

GradDip Public Policy (W316) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 3775
nonEU fee per year - € 6635

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website.

Next Intake: 2020/2021 September

Career options
"Art Psychotherapy graduates typically combine sessional, part time and full time employment. They work with people of all ages living with a wide range of emotional or physical conditions in the context of mental health, education, arts and health, community, and voluntary settings. Art Psychotherapists need to be flexible and resourceful. Within the current context in health and social care, entrepreneurial skills are also needed, and most art psychotherapists start their career on a self-employed basis and establish art therapy provision in a wide variety of settings. Many Art Psychotherapists work in partnership with allied professionals to develop innovative approaches to practice" (British Association of Art Therapists).