MA Art Psychotherapy

This programme will provide you with a broad understanding of the theories and practices of art psychotherapy necessary for safe and effective clinical work.

• The Masters enables you to practise as an art therapist in the NHS, Social Services, and educational establishments, and to become a practitioner registered with the British Association of Art Therapists.
• Your learning is underpinned by the principles and practices of psychodynamic psychotherapy practised within the context of mental health care, and informed by contemporary art practice.
• Via theoretical studies, clinical work and experiential learning you will integrate cognitive understanding and practical experience with a developing awareness of self and others. The nature of the therapeutic relationship between the client, their artwork, and the art therapist is explored, and you have the opportunity to put your learning into practice through two 60-day placements that are supervised and supported in-depth.
• You are encouraged to develop your own art practice, and to situate your work in relationship to your development as a therapist, to contemporary art practice and to psychoanalytic theories. You're required to be in personal therapy throughout the programme (please note that this is at your own cost).
• Completing this Masters makes you eligible to apply for registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

The programme follows standard university terms:

Term 1 – late September to early December
Term 2 – early January to late March
Term 3 – late April to early July

Contact the department

If you have specific questions about the degree, contact Jenny Gibbons-Morecroft.

You'll need:

• At least one year's full-time, or the equivalent in part-time hours, 1,500 hours relevant work experience. Find out more about the work experience requirements. Please also complete the STaCS work experience form (Word) to indicate the hours you have worked.
• An undergraduate degree of at least second class standard in visual arts/design, or in a related/relevant area, or a professional qualification.
• An enhanced disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service. There is a fee to apply for a disclosure certificate. Further information about payment is sent with the offer of a place.
• To disclose any criminal record, disciplinary record, significant periods of time off work and significant health problems in writing after interview

We recognise that there may be some very able candidates who do not conform to traditional educational patterns, so a small number of 'special-entry' places are allocated each year to non-graduates.

Each special-entry application is assessed on individual merit, so it is essential to give full details of all educational achievements on application forms. Reasons for any interruptions or early terminations to courses of studies must be clearly outlined. If a non-graduate applicant has not undertaken any formal art education, the above-stated commitment to practice in the visual arts is expected and, again, examples of artwork must be sent with applications.

Personal therapy

Some experience of personal therapy can be useful prior to application but it is not a pre-course requirement. However, once you've enrolled you will be required to undertake personal therapy for the duration of your training.

Successful applicants are advised to commence therapy as soon as they receive the offer of a place on the course. In practice, many applicants have some experience of personal therapy before they apply and, whilst not mandatory, this is clearly advantageous.

Information regarding entering personal therapy may be obtained from the department's secretary. Applicants who are already in therapy but are unsure as to whether or not their situation meets course requirements should write in with full details for advice.

International qualifications

We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the qualifications we accept from around the world.

If English isn’t your first language, you will need an IELTS score (or equivalent English language qualification) of 7.0 with a 7.0 in writing and no element lower than 6.5 to study this programme.

Where this degree can take you

Completion of the programme provides eligibility for the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration as an art psychotherapist.

Our graduates are invariably seen as offering a valuable and unique service to their clients and to the multidisciplinary teams in which they work – graduates have gone on to practice as art psychotherapists in the NHS, social services and in the education sector.

We regularly receive positive feedback from organisations that employ art therapists and/or accept trainees on placement.

Skills you'll gain

The MA will develop skills including:

• The ability to work with a range of client populations
• An understanding of psychodynamic concepts
• Development of your own art practice