Art therapy is an allied mental health profession. Art therapists use art media and creative interventions to encourage self-expression and reflection within a therapeutic relationship. The aim is to improve mental health and maintain emotional well-being.
Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos on the Web
- Art Therapist- from: Youtube Search
- Art Therapist- from: YouTube Video
Working Life
Art therapists use art to help people who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally or who have lost touch with their feelings. The art therapist aims to ease their clients' emotional distress and improve their quality of life. Some clients may not be able to speak, so artwork provides a valuable means of communication.
Art therapists work with a wide variety of clients including children, the elderly, those with physical needs, psychiatric patients and offenders. They work with individual clients on a one-to-one basis and also with groups of clients.
Therapists work in rooms set aside for artwork. They offer support to their clients and encourage them to use different sorts of materials such as clay, paper, paint and collage. They believe that creating any kind of art is a therapeutic act. They may get their clients to work on their own projects or on group projects.
Art therapists do not judge a client's work, though they liaise with doctors and psychotherapists who may try to interpret a client's work, to help with diagnosis and treatment. The creative process, and the interaction between the therapist and the client, may help the client to take responsibility for their actions, share with other people and do more things for themselves.
However, improvements of this kind may take a long time and not all clients respond positively to therapy.
Further Information
- Art Therapist- from: N.C.S. [UK]
- Art Therapist- from: GradIreland
Qualities - Art Therapist
You need a warm, friendly and supportive personality. Clients may progress very slowly therefore you should be understanding and patient.
You will also need to be a competent artist.
Interests - Art Therapist
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Entry / Progression - Art Therapist
Entry to this career is highly competitive. It is essential that you have some relevant work or voluntary experience before applying including experience in the caring professions or working with people in a helping capacity.
To qualify as an art therapist, you will need to take a postgraduate qualification in art therapy (usually a diploma). Potential students must have various prerequisites in Art and some undergraduate psychology, as well as related experience. To become a registered Art therapist with IACAT (Irish Assoc for Creative Arts Therapist Ireland), you will require a primary degree in Art followed by a postgraduate qualification in Art Therapy.
If your first degree is in a subject other than Art, you may be considered for an Art therapy course if you can demonstrate a high standard of Art ability, based on interview and demonstration.
Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research.
Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.
Example search terms include: animation, digital media design, training, development, youthwork facilitation.
Search for FET Courses
PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.
Example search terms include: art, design, portfolio, mixed media, craft, design, fine art, art practice, animation, complementary therapies, psychology, occupational therapy assistant, occupational therapy studies.
Search for PLC Courses
Apprenticeships:
Apprenticeships are structured work-based training programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction. They run from 2 – 4 years and are open to individuals of all ages, including school leavers, those seeking a career change, and existing employees who wish to upskill.
Examples: Animation.
Search for Apprenticeships
Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate)
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.
Example search terms include: fine art, education, design, counselling and psychotherapy, occupational therapy, mental health nursing.
Search for CAO Courses
Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).
Example search terms include: art therapy, occupational therapy and research.
Search for Postgraduate Courses
Professional Development
Professional development (CPD) courses are specialised training, formal education, or advanced professional learning that improves skills, professional knowledge, competency, and overall effectiveness in the professional world.
Irish Association for Creative Art Therapists (IACAT): People looking to branch from traditional talk or occupational therapy into Art Therapy may contact IACAT for Recognition of Prior Learning, professional accreditation for practice.
CORU Registrar for professionals in healthcare settings.
Check the Useful Contacts tab on this page to see if there are any professional bodies listed who may provide training related to this career.
Pay & Salary - Art Therapist
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €25k - €65k
Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.
Data Source(s):
HSE/ Salary expert/ Glassdoor/ Payscale
Last Updated: July, 2024
Labour Market Updates - Art Therapist
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Physiotherapists; Occupational therapists; Speech and language therapists; Therapy professionals n.e.c (not elsewhere classified).
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Employment growth was below average for therapy professionals, with levels in 2022 remaining below that of 2020. Although LFS data does not allow for a detailed breakdown of employment in this group, Census data for 2016 and 2022 shows detailed employment as follows.
Despite the lack of overall employment growth in recent years, issues with recruitment resulted in a number of therapist roles (occupational, physiotherapists and speech and language) being added to the Critical Skills Employment Permit List in June 2022. A total of 53 new permits were issued in 2022, primarily for physiotherapists with a small number for occupational and speech & language therapists.
The delivery of the Sláintecare report, particularly in terms of community care and mental health services, will require additional staffing in these occupations and, while a combined total of 100 additional training places are planned for occupational, physio, and speech/language therapists in Ireland and Northern Ireland’s education system, given the duration of training programmes, recruitment difficulties for these posts are unlikely to ease in the short-to-medium term. However, as employment levels are not increasing and the data does not allow for detailed analysis, it is not possible to determine if shortages exist for this occupation at present.
Useful Contacts - Art Therapist
-
Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists
-
Association of Registered Complimentary Health Therapists of Ireland (ARCHTI)
- Ballydaniel, Camolin, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
- 087 316 8381
- [email protected]
- Click Here
-
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP)
