Art therapist
Help people use art as a way to express themselves and come to terms with upsetting experiences and problems.
About the job
What it's like
You would help people use art and creative activities as a way to express themselves and come to terms with upsetting experiences and problems.
You'd guide people as they do creative activities which will help them become more self-aware and understand their emotions.
You'd also help them to just enjoy the process of making a piece of art which is significant to them.
You'd work with a person on a one-to-one basis or with groups of people. Your clients could include children or adults who:
Have learning disabilities
Have emotional, behaviour or mental health problems
Have speech and language difficulties
Are recovering from addiction, injury or illness
With your patient and non-judgemental approach you'd encourage clients to experiment with art techniques and materials like paint, paper and clay to help them:
Get greater awareness of their feelings
Express themselves
Work through their emotions
Come to terms with difficult times in their lives
Move on in a positive way
You would work closely with other healthcare professionals, such as psychologists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and psychiatrists.
If you work for the National Health Service (NHS) the salary for this role is covered by the Agenda for Change pay rates. You can see information about the pay and conditions on the Art therapist page on the NHS Careers website.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) – Careers and training information
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- coaching
- developing a plan
- social conscience
- empathising
- researching
- evaluating
- creative
- verbal communication
- listening
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Art and Design
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Care
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Childcare and Development
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Creative Arts
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Psychology
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services Children and Young People
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You need a degree (SCQF Level 9/10) in Art Therapy or a related subject area and a postgraduate qualification in Art Therapy approved by the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) (SCQF Level 11).
Your undergraduate degree could be in fine art, design or similar, or a degree in psychology, social work, nursing or teaching.
To enter a degree (SCQF Level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and four to five Highers (SCQF Level 6). To enter postgraduate qualifications (SCQF Level 11) you usually require a relevant degree.
Voluntary or paid experience working in a healthcare, community or youth work setting will be important.
Membership of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) and UK state registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to work in the National Health Service (NHS) or with a local authority. You gain this after completing the postgraduate course in Art Therapy.
A portfolio of artwork.
To pass a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Disclosure check
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