Art Therapists
What is a career in art therapy in health and social care?
A career in art therapy in health and social care focuses on using creative expression to support emotional well-being and mental health. Art therapists use art as a form of psychotherapy to help clients explore and address a variety of issues, including emotional, behavioural, or mental health problems, learning or physical disabilities, life-limiting conditions, neurological conditions, or physical illnesses. By creating a safe and supportive environment, art therapists enable individuals to process emotions, build self-confidence, and discover new ways of coping.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading individual or group therapy sessions.
- Assessing patient/service users emotional and psychological needs.
- Designing personalised treatment plans.
Art therapists often collaborate with healthcare teams, educators, or social workers to provide holistic care, while documenting progress to track the impact of therapy.
Entry routes and pay
To become a professionally registered art therapist, you would need to complete a postgraduate qualification approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Full-time postgraduate courses typically take two years to complete, while part-time courses are usually completed over three years.
To enrol in a postgraduate course, you should have a degree in art or creative therapies. However, you may still be eligible to apply if you have a degree in a related subject, such as psychology, nursing, or social work. This pathway equips you with the skills and qualifications needed to register with the HCPC and practice as a professional art therapist.
You may be able to do an arts therapist degree apprenticeship. For this, you would usually need a qualification or experience in art, drama or music to apply. For more information on apprenticeships click here.
A starting salary is typically £37,338 with the ability to progress to up to £53,000 in senior roles.
Where can you work?
Working as an art therapist offers a range of environments you can work in. These could include:
Community
Care Home
Hospice
Hospital
Mental Health
