Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts Therapies

Artists have been using art to express themselves for centuries – Vincent Van Gogh famously used his art to cope with mental illness throughout his life, and Edvard Munch is widely regarded to have inspired a whole movement of expressionism in art connecting to mood and internal emotional life.

Modern science and psychology has helped to uncover the benefits of creative arts in promoting positive mental health outcomes. There is growing evidence about the power the artistic process has to help us connect with emotions and experiences, and by doing so face life’s dilemmas.

Learn how expression through the arts can be used to enhance the therapeutic process by using a person-centred framework. You’ll learn the newly-emerging theory in this area of counselling, combined with hands-on experience that will build your counselling skills.

While this course has proven beneficial for counsellors to work with clients to express themselves, if you’re a teacher, social worker, chaplain, psychologist, or youth worker, you’ll also be able to apply the skills you learn in your current role. Students who complete the Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts Therapies may apply for admission to the Masters of Counselling and will be exempt from the units already completed which are common to both degrees.

This course offers valuable benefits for counsellors in helping their clients express themselves. Teachers, social workers, chaplains, psychologists, or youth workers, can also apply the skills acquired in this course to their current role. Students who complete the Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts can also pursue admission to the Master of Counselling program, with the advantage of exemption from the units already completed that are shared between both degrees.

3 reasons to study a Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts Therapies at Murdoch

1. Learn in a highly experiential environment at our purpose-built creative arts therapies spaces.
2. Study the only university Creative Arts Therapies course in Western Australia.
3. Study on your own terms – we offer flexible study arrangements allowing you to study full-time or part-time.

What you'll learn

Build essential skills and knowledge to meet your career or study goals. Topics you’ll cover include:

• Creative arts therapies practices in therapeutic work
• How to engage creatively with children and adolescents seeking mental health support
• Engaging in creative arts therapy interventions experientially through small group work
• Reading and talking about contemporary research, theory and professional practice of Creative Arts Therapists internationally

Your career

Creative arts therapies are a form of psychotherapy currently growing in acceptance and popularity in Australia and globally. Counsellors and therapists using artistic modalities such as visual arts, music, dance/movement and drama may work with children, adolescents, adults, older adults, groups and families to promote expression, self-awareness and insight. Work settings include schools, hospitals, aged care, crisis centres, wellness centres, detention facilities, remand facilities and addiction treatment. Experienced professionals may also utilise art therapy in private practice.

Combined with your existing experience and qualifications, your career as a Creative Arts Therapist can begin anywhere and be used in any role where building relationships is a key component. Your skills can be applied in roles such as:

• Counsellor/Advocate in a crisis centre
• Children’s Therapist in a family bereavement service
• Group Worker in a correctional facility
• Addictions Specialist in an alcohol and drug rehabilitation service.

You may already be in your dream job and this qualification will provide a stepping-stone to enhancing your skills and increasing your potential.

Professional accreditation

This course is accredited by the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and is approved by the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA).

Professional recognition

Students of this course can apply for student membership with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Creative Arts Therapies Association (ANZACATA).

Graduates are eligible to apply for Tier membership ANZACATA.

Graduates are eligible to apply for a Level 1 membership with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).

IELTS: Score: 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

TOEFL: Score: 79+, with writing 21; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13.

PEARSON: Score: 64+, with no communicative skill below 60.

CAMBRIDGE: Score: 176+, with no skill less than 169.