Modes of study
The MA in Art Psychotherapy is a course that leads to successful applicants becoming eligible to apply for registration as an Arts Therapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the body which regulates and monitors standards of practice in the public sector. The programme can be studied in two modes - full-time for 2 years or part-time for 3 years. A clear indication of the mode chosen should be stated on application forms.
Full-time study
Year 1: all day Monday and Tuesday in college. Clinical placement days are usually Thursday and Friday. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible
Years 2: all day Tuesday in college plus two days clinical placement to be arranged on other days – usually two consecutive days and these are negotiated with your placement. There are also three two day blocks of time for experiential groups (Mondays and Tuesdays). One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.
Part-time study
Year 1: all day Monday and Tuesday in college. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.
Year 2: all day Tuesday in college plus two days clinical placement to be arranged on other days – usually two consecutive days. There are also three two day blocks of time for experiential groups. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.
Year 3: Half a day in college on Tuesdays with some full-time Tuesdays (the yearly timetable will have details of which Tuesdays are half day or full day), plus, two days clinical placement to be arranged on other days – usually two consecutive days. One day should be set aside for on-going studio practice where possible.
Most Mondays will run from 9.00am to 4.00pm; Tuesdays in year one vary but can be from 9.00am to 7.00pm. Times at placement are arranged with the particular organisation. 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.
The part-time programme allows trainees to continue with some paid work. However, the environment where such paid work is carried out cannot be used as a training placement, because of the inherent differences in role, expectations and responsibilities. Placements are arranged by art psychotherapy staff and placement allocation for both part-time students is made after discussion with staff.
Enquiries have sometimes been made about module-based study and correspondence study or distance learning. Because a large proportion of the course is based upon experiential learning in groups, these options are not possible. However, for students living outside London, it may be possible to arrange the clinical placement part of the course in other areas, if local supervision is available.
Personal therapy
It's a mandatory aspect of the course that all students must be in personal therapy for the duration of their training. It is usual for therapists to expect attendance throughout the calendar year except for usual holiday breaks; this may entail attendance outside term time.
Therapy may be on a group or individual basis and can be art therapy or verbal psychotherapy. Attendance must be at least once weekly. It must be stressed that it is not acceptable for a student to be in therapy with a trainee; all personal therapists should be qualified and registered with a relevant professional organisation. Students’ therapists will also be expected to register their professional details with the college. Contact is made with students' therapists at various points in the training to ensure that consistent attendance is being maintained.
Modules
| Module title |
Credits |
| Theory and Practice of Art Psychotherapy 1 |
Experiential Learning 1
Experiential Learning 1
30 credits
This module will develop your understanding of art psychotherapy through various experiential learning forums which include small art psychotherapy training groups and a large art psychotherapy group where the entire student and staff group meet. It also includes your own art practice and personal therapy.
These experiences teach about:
- art therapy processes
- the dynamics of action and speech
- engagement with art materials
- psychodynamic processes
- the relation between the individual, the family, the institution, and society
- power relations
- ecological challenge
- the politics of difference
The classes include an introduction to Dance Movement Therapy given by the MA team who work in that area.
|
30 credits |
| Clinical Placement 1 (Art Psychotherapy) |
| Theory and Practice of Art Psychotherapy 2 |
| Experiential Learning 2 (Art Psychotherapy) |
Clinical Placement 2
Clinical Placement 2
45 credits
This module extends the development of safe and professional practice as an art psychotherapist within a placement setting developed during previous modules to a more sophisticated level. It includes a clinical placement (2 days per week) for 60 days within a particular setting and participation in supervision groups at college throughout the academic year.
As you prepare for life after graduation in a very practical manner, a graduate panel of alumni will share their own journeys with you.
|
45 credits |
Assessment
Assessed by assignment, portfolio, case study, presentation, dissertation, reports and logs.
Download the programme specification. If you would like an earlier version of the programme specification, please contact the Quality Office.
Please note that due to staff research commitments not all of these modules may be available every year.
For 2021-22 and 2020–21, we have made some changes to how the teaching and assessment of certain programmes are delivered. To check what changes affect this programme, please visit the programme changes page.
