Art therapist

Clients can include children and adults with:

• emotional and behavioural difficulties
• learning or physical disabilities
• long-term or life-limiting conditions
• mental ill health
• neurological conditions
• physical illnesses
• speech and language difficulties.

You don't need to have experience of, or be any good at, art to be referred to an art therapist.

Therapy may be conducted in group or one-to-one settings. Work will typically take place in an art room or meeting room, somewhere private where your session won't be interrupted. You may also provide art therapy online via Zoom, for example.

Art therapists are also known as art psychotherapists and both job titles are legally protected by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

What does an art therapist do?

As an art therapist, you'll need to:

• assess clients' needs and suitability for art therapy, develop appropriate interventions and review progress over time
• establish a safe, supportive therapeutic environment for individuals or groups
• use art-based techniques to help clients express their thoughts, emotions and experiences
• encourage your clients to experiment with a range of art materials such as clay, paint, ink, pastels and paper
• support clients in exploring and reflecting on their artwork and the process they used to create it
• interpret visual and behavioural cues to understand clients' emotional and psychological needs
• use the therapeutic relationship and the shared art experience to support clients and facilitate positive changes in their behaviour, communication and wellbeing
• constructively challenge the behaviour and attitude of your clients to support insight and development
• liaise with multidisciplinary teams, which may include psychologists, speech and language therapists, social workers and occupational therapists, and contribute to meetings and case conferences
• maintain accurate records and produce reports, letters and reviews on assessment, treatment and progress.

Art therapist salaries

• Jobs in the NHS are usually covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Rates. As a newly qualified art therapist, you'll typically start on £39,959 (Band 6), rising to £48,117 as you gain experience.
• Experienced NHS art therapists can earn between £49,387 and £56,515 (Band 7), with salaries for senior and principal roles ranging from £57,528 to £64,750 (Band 8a).
• Session prices for private practitioners typically start from £45 to £80 for individual therapy depending on experience, location and session length. Fees for group sessions vary depending on numbers and the length and complexity of the session.

If you're providing art therapy for organisations such as schools, social services, probation, prison or inpatient settings, fees are usually negotiated based on factors such as complexity, risk, venue and travel costs. Additional charges may apply for activities such as report writing or attending meetings if they're not included in the initial fee negotiations.

Salary levels vary depending on your employer, sector, location, experience and whether you're self-employed or working part time. Self-employed therapists should also consider costs such as room hire and professional indemnity insurance.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

How many hours does an art therapist work?

Working hours within the NHS are typically 9am to 5pm. Flexible and part-time work may be available.

If you work in private practice, your hours may be more varied to fit around clients and may include weekends and evenings. Sessions typically last between 50 minutes and one hour. Part-time and portfolio work is common, and many art therapists are self-employed.

How do I become an art therapist?

To practise as an art therapist in the UK you must complete a postgraduate qualification in art therapy or art psychotherapy approved by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). All UK approved courses lead to a professional qualification and eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC and for membership of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT).

You'll usually need a first degree in fine art, visual arts, or art and design to get a place on a postgraduate course. However, graduates with experience in health, education or social care, or with a related professional qualification, may be accepted if they have a commitment to the practice of the visual arts and personal involvement in art making. Relevant degree subjects include education, nursing, occupational therapy, psychology and social work.

Courses usually take two years full time or three years part time. As part of the training, you'll undertake personal therapy as part of your professional development and complete a supervised clinical placement.

Applicants without a degree may be accepted by some course providers if they have alternative qualifications and significant professional experience in a related field. Entry requirements vary, so check with providers individually. You'll also need evidence of artistic practice and will usually be asked to present a portfolio of recent artwork. All students are subject to a criminal records check.

For an up-to-date list of course providers, search the list of HCPC-approved education and training programmes. The BAAT offers a range of introductory and foundation courses for those considering a career in art therapy.

Key skills to be an art therapist

You'll need to have:

• art-based therapeutic skills to use creative processes and materials to support emotional expression and communication
• client assessment skills to evaluate emotional, psychological and behavioural needs and suitability for art therapy
• observational and interpretative skills to understand meaning in clients' artwork and creative processes
• therapeutic communication skills to build trust and engage individuals or groups who may struggle to express themselves verbally
• emotional resilience and self-awareness to work with distressing experiences and maintain professional boundaries
• caseload management and organisational skills to plan, deliver and review therapy sessions and maintain accurate records.

How much work experience do I need?

You'll usually need at least a year of relevant paid or voluntary work experience (or the equivalent in part-time hours) for entry on to a postgraduate training course.

This experience doesn't have to be art-related but should involve working in a professional capacity with vulnerable people such as children with learning or behavioural challenges, older adults, people experiencing homelessness or adults with mental ill health. Relevant settings include health, social services, special needs education, charities and community or youth centres.

Roles where you can build up this experience include care work, nursing, mental health support roles, social work and special needs teaching or support roles. Consider approaching the art therapy departments of NHS trusts, prisons and secure hospitals, special needs schools and hospices to ask about work experience or opportunities to observe practising art therapists, although these may be limited due to client confidentiality.

Experience of working on community arts projects is also useful and can help demonstrate your creative skills and support your portfolio.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Who employs art therapists?

Employers include:

• charities and voluntary sector organisations
• local authority children's and adult services, including social services
• community and mental health services, including CAMHS
• drug and alcohol services
• education settings, including schools and specialist support centres
• forensic settings, including secure hospitals and the prison and probation service
• hospices and other therapeutic centres
• museums and galleries
• NHS and private hospitals.

The availability of jobs may depend on organisations securing funding, and you may work for more than one employer. Some art therapists divide their time between the NHS, private practice and teaching, and many combine art therapy with other related work.

Many start their careers as self-employed or sessional workers to develop their experience and professional portfolio. Although not essential, BAAT recommends that you gain two years' post-qualification clinical experience (or equivalent part time) before moving into private practice. Find out more about self-employment.

Look for job vacancies at:

• BAAT - available to members only.
• Local Government Jobs and local authority websites.
• NHS Jobs (England and Wales).
• NHSScotland Jobs

Full members of BAAT can also apply to be listed on the Find an Art Therapist directory.

Where can a career as an art therapist lead?

Careers in art therapy don't follow a fixed path and often develop in a flexible or portfolio-based way. Progression is usually shaped by experience, additional training and developing expertise in areas such as autism, learning difficulties, forensic settings, palliative care or neurological conditions. In some cases, geographical mobility or the availability of funded roles can also have an impact.

With experience, you may move into senior or management roles, such as leading a team of therapists or managing a service. Opportunities may also arise to contribute to research, work in higher education (for which you'll typically need a PhD), or take on training roles. Many art therapists combine roles, for example working across the NHS, private practice, education or consultancy. If you move into private practice, you'll need to develop skills in business management, marketing and networking to build a client base.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential to maintain registration with the HCPC and improve your career prospects. You'll need to keep your practice up to date through activities such as training courses, workshops, research and reflective practice, and you must undertake regular clinical supervision with a recognised supervisor. You'll also be expected to follow the BAAT Code of Ethics throughout your career.

Professional membership of BAAT supports career development through access to training, networking and CPD opportunities. These include psychotherapeutic training, courses on areas such as private practice and online therapy, and the Level 6 Art Therapy Supervision Diploma for experienced practitioners. For more information, see BAAT - Training and CPD.