What is the difference between doing Art Therapy with an Art Therapist and an artist?

In one Word SAFETY!

An Art Therapist is qualified to ensure that therapeutic boundaries are upheld at all times during an art therapy session: ensuring that Ethical issues such as confidentially are adhered to. Art Therapy training like psychotherapy training involves a huge theoretical education ranging from symbolisim and archetypes to personality development, the effects of trauma, multi [...]

What should I look for in an art therapist?

 
•          Qualifications: Post graduate- 2/3 years; U.K trained, Crawford, Cork and Queen’s Belfast.
•          Registration- ensures ethical and legal compliance. Registration is reviewed every 2 years and CPD Continued professional development (continual training and updating of skills) is mandatory. At present there is no registration system for art therapists  in the South of Ireland.
•          Supervision (i.e. [...]

What is Art Therapy?

 
· Art Therapy is a form of Psychotherapy where the client uses art as a medium to express and communicate with a qualified Art Therapist.
· The overall aim of Art Therapy is to effect change and growth on a personal level through the use of art materials in a safe, confidential and facilitating environment.
· No previous experience with [...]

My Background

I completed an Advanced Diploma in Fine Art in 1998 in the Dublin Institute of Technology. I began working in the area of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in 1999, teaching art. Overall I have worked for eight years in this area with my role gradually changing from art Instructor into a community care worker. I did an [...]

Training in Art Therapy

I trained in Queen’s Belfast but this course has now moved to The Centre for Psychotherapy, Knockbracken in Belfast. (The same tutors are still integral to this excellent course. The contacts for this course are:
Dr Caryl Sibbett
Programme Leader, MSc Art Psychotherapy
Centre for Psychotherapy
Shimna House
Knockbracken Healthcare Park
Saintfield Road
Belfast, BT8 8BH    Tel.: +44 (0)28 9056 5768
Email: christine.williamson@belfasttrust.hscni.net
Websites: [...]