Exploring Art Therapy: How Mental Health Therapists Can Utilize Art

Creative pursuits can provide individuals with an outlet for feelings and ideas and the opportunity to express themselves and process difficult emotions. Because of this potential for catharsis, the arts have long been used to help people manage various emotional and mental health challenges. Art therapy is a discipline in which professionals help clients express themselves through art while addressing life challenges or mental health concerns. Below, we’ll discuss the potential benefits of art therapy as well as the coursework required to become an art therapist in the UK.

Online therapy can help you express yourself

Learn how by connecting with a therapist

What is art therapy?

Art therapy—also called creative arts therapy or expressive therapy—employs various creativity-based techniques to help participants address mental health challenges. An art psychotherapist may utilize music, dance, painting, sculpture, and a variety of other mediums to help clients express themselves. While it’s frequently used to treat children, people of all ages may benefit from art therapy techniques.  

Benefits of expressive arts psychotherapy

Art therapy can also help people living with cognitive impairment, which is a common symptom of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Studies indicate that there is likely a connection between creativity and cognition. 

Creative psychotherapy modalities

Art therapy can take a variety of forms depending on the therapist, the client, and the mental health challenges being addressed. The following are some of the most common art therapy modalities utilized by mental health professionals today. 

Art 

The visual arts can allow clients to express their emotions through drawing, painting, and similar mediums. Participants do not have to be experienced, trained, or “proficient” in the art form to receive benefits. There is evidence to suggest that this form of creative arts therapy may help boost self-esteem, promote positivity, and reduce stress. 

Music

This form of therapy can involve either listening to music (receptive music therapy) or making music (active music therapy). Music therapy may help improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance communication skills.  

Drama 

Drama therapists employ theatrical techniques to help clients express themselves or address interpersonal conflicts. Dramatizations in drama therapy can also allow people to role-play situations that may trigger anxiety. For example, someone living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may work on scenarios that typically lead to feelings of fear, which may help them to learn more effective methods of managing their symptoms. Drama therapy may also be used to help children communicate better and develop problem-solving skills. 

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

Dance 

Movement is often used to help alleviate stress, boost mood, and manage physical health concerns. Dance therapy may also help participants express their emotions more fully. This modality takes advantage of the mind-body connection: the powerful link between our mental and physical health. 

Which mental health concerns can creative therapy help treat?

There is evidence that art therapy may be effective for treating a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and psychotic disorders. For example, researchers in one study suggest that art therapy can reduce anxiety by improving emotional regulation. The study’s participants, who were living with various anxiety disorders, engaged in therapeutic clay modeling, drawing, and painting in sessions over the course of three months. According to the researchers, the treatment helped participants accept their emotions, leading to significant reductions in anxiety symptoms and improvements in quality of life. 

Research also indicates that art therapy may help limit the severity of some psychotic disorders. In one study on the effectiveness of art therapy for people with first-episode psychosis, for example, researchers suggest that the modality helped improve mentalizing capacity and social functioning in participants.

There is also evidence to suggest that mood disorders, such as depressive disorders and bipolar disorder, can be treated through creative arts therapy. In one study, for instance, individuals with depressive disorders showed improvements in symptoms after 20 art therapy sessions that involved weaving, collage, and other mediums. 

Where therapists work

There are numerous contexts and roles in which art therapists can conduct therapy. Many art psychotherapists work in schools, helping children navigate academic or mental health challenges. Or, art therapists can work primarily with adults, helping clients address psychiatric disorders or navigate interpersonal conflicts. 

Alternatively, some art therapy professionals work as researchers who help develop and test new techniques and modalities or study the psychological or biological underpinnings of expressive therapies. Art therapists may also be part of multidisciplinary teams, providing care alongside other types of mental health professionals. 

Finally, art therapists can also be employed in dementia departments at hospitals, helping patients manage cognitive challenges through art therapies. Or, they may work in art therapy clinics or have their own practices. 

Other common specialities 

The above are not the only places art therapists may work. The following are some other potential settings in which you might find these professionals:

• Nonprofit organizations
• Shelters for unhoused individuals
• Correctional institutions
• Social services agencies

How to become an art therapist: education and courses

Many art therapists first receive trainings through courses in the arts before becoming mental health professionals. While a degree in art, graphic design, or a similar artistic field may make it easier to get into an art therapy program, other forms of artistic experience can also help improve the odds of admission to these programs. You can typically find each pre-course requirement on an art therapy program’s admissions site. 

Educational requirement

Typically, aspiring art therapists in the UK are required to complete a master’s program with courses in art therapy that is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council. Such courses give both UK and international students a broad understanding of the field, preparing them to embark on their career paths. 

Graduate-level art therapy programs typically combine practical experience with theory. Students may split their time between class, a clinical placement, and other learning environments. Some programs also require students to participate in personal counseling. Students at such institutions can expect attendance to be a mandatory aspect of the entire year except the usual holiday breaks. 

Doctoral-level courses

Some art therapy professionals may be interested in taking courses for becoming researchers or working in administration or teaching. A doctorate in art therapy can provide a more specialized education in such cases. A PhD course in art therapy is available in the UK at Goldsmiths, which is part of the University of London. Aspiring art therapists can also obtain creative arts PhDs from various courses, which can help provide art practice and bolster their credentials.   

Practicing 

After obtaining a postgraduate degree, aspiring art therapists must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). There may also be special certifications or courses available for people who want to practice a subspecialty (e.g., providing care to the elderly). Art therapists can then join organizations, such as the British Association of Art Therapists, in order to grow their professional network and find new opportunities. 

How to find therapy

There are several courses for learning about art therapy that may involve fewer costs (e.g., tuition fees, other expenses). While these courses alone may not allow you to practice art therapy, they can help you explore the field and determine whether a postgraduate art therapy degree might be right for you. 

Introductory courses

For people who are interested in learning more about art therapy, there are art therapy courses that provide an overview of the field as well as the typical path of an art therapist. While such courses may not count toward coursework requirements at master’s programs, they can be a helpful place to start for those considering a career in expressive arts therapy. 

Continuing education courses

Art therapy is a discipline that must evolve alongside the broader field of mental health. To stay up to date with techniques, regulations, and best practices, art therapists can participate in continuing education courses. Often, employers and professional associations will require providers to regularly obtain a specific number of continuing education credits. An example of one way to receive such credits is through the Continuing Professional Development course available through the British Association of Art Therapists. 

Connecting with a mental health professional online

Art therapy is just one of hundreds of approaches to mental health care available today. If you are living with symptoms of a mental health condition or facing other emotional or life challenges, you may benefit from art therapy or any number of more traditional counseling approaches. Those who are looking to speak to someone for support may be able to find art therapy treatment online or in person.

The advantages of online counseling

Some people turn to online counseling instead of in-office care because of its convenience. Certain regions may have few therapists nearby, or clients may have busy schedules that make commuting to and from in-person appointments difficult or stressful.

With an online counseling platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched and then meet with a professional therapist virtually from anywhere you have internet. That means more flexible scheduling and no commuting required. Plus, BetterHelp partners with thousands of providers in the UK and allows you to switch therapists at any time for no additional charge, which can make it easier to find a professional who feels like a good match for your needs. 

The efficacy of mental health care through online therapy 

Research suggests that many forms of mental health counseling can often be effectively delivered online. For instance, in one study examining the effectiveness of online expressive psychotherapy for veterans, researchers suggest that art therapy may be “effectively delivered” through online platforms. The study focused on the ability of online counseling to bridge the gap that exists in the availability of mental health care.