Question 1

What is Art Therapy?

Accepted Answer

Art therapy provides a unique way for people to express their emotions and experiences, fostering healing and personal growth. Art can serve as a non-verbal means of communication, especially for those who struggle to articulate their feelings verbally, and allows both the therapist and client to engage in creative processes, making therapy more accessible and enjoyable.

Art therapy is a unique form of psychotherapy that uses creative processes — painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, and other creative expressions — alongside talking. The aim isn’t to produce ‘good’ art. The creative process is a way to build a safe and supported way to explore experiences, emotions, and ideas. The artwork itself can act as a bridge between therapist and client, offering fresh insights and helping to communicate what might otherwise remain hidden.

Art therapists work with children, young people, adults, and older adults. Clients may be living with mental health conditions, adjusting to physical illness or disability, recovering from trauma, coping with loss, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of themselves. Work settings are varied too, from NHS mental health services, hospices, and schools to prisons, rehabilitation centres, and private practice.

Working in this field can be deeply rewarding, as therapists witness the transformative power of art in their clients' lives.

Question 2

How long does it take to train to be an art therapist?

Accepted Answer

While most training courses look for a degree in a visual arts subject — such as fine art, illustration, or design — that’s not the only route in. People from teaching, social work, nursing, psychology, or other care-focused professions can also apply if they have a strong personal art practice and a portfolio of creative work.

Successful art therapists tend to combine; a commitment to their own creative practice; emotional resilience and self-awareness; empathy and an interest in supporting others; and the ability to work with people from a range of backgrounds and life experiences.

Training to become an art therapist typically involves completing a postgraduate master’s course (art therapy / art psychotherapy) which takes about 2 years full-time or 3 years part-time.  During the course, completing clinical placements (often many days of supervised practical work), personal therapy, art practice, theoretical study etc.

Question 3

Do I need HCPC registration to work as an art therapist / art psychotherapist?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In the UK, the titles Art Therapist, Art Psychotherapist (and other arts therapy professions) are protected titles, and you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to use them. Practising in NHS, educational, regulatory or statutory roles typically requires HCPC registration.

Question 4

What is the main professional body for Art Therapists?

Accepted Answer

British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) is the UK’s main professional membership body for art therapy, providing access to the journal, CPD courses, accredited diplomas, conferences, ethical guidance, and peer support.

BAAT offers introductory and foundation courses that are ideal if you’d like to learn more about the profession, get a taste of art therapy in practice, and decide whether it’s the right path for you.

Question 5

What qualifications do I need to become an art therapist / art psychotherapist in the UK?

Accepted Answer

To become an art therapist or art psychotherapist in the UK, you generally need:

- An undergraduate degree, ideally in art, creative arts, psychology, health or a related subject; sometimes degrees in other fields are accepted provided you have a strong record of art practice and relevant experience.  
- A portfolio of artwork. 
- A postgraduate master’s degree (MSc or MA) in Art Therapy / Art Psychotherapy (2 years full-time or 3 years part-time), from a programme approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). 
- Experience (paid or voluntary) working with vulnerable groups, mental health, education or social services. 
- HCPC registration once you graduate from an approved programme. Only those registered can legally use the titles “art therapist” or “art psychotherapist.”

Question 6

What is the salary for art therapists / art psychotherapists in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Art therapist salary varies depending on employer (NHS, private, charities), location, experience, whether full-time or part-time, seniority etc. 

- Entry to mid-level NHS salaries: typically Band 6 jobs start around £35,000 per year, rising to Band 7 in the £45,000-£55,000 depending on location. 
- More experienced/senior NHS roles (senior/principal art therapist) could reach into Band 8a and above. 
- Outside NHS, in private practice or with freelance work, session fees for individual therapy may range quite widely.

Question 7

What kind of settings / employers hire art therapists in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Art therapists / art psychotherapists work in a variety of settings, including but not limited to:

- NHS mental health services, hospitals, community health services 
- Schools (primary, secondary, special education) and educational settings 
- Charities, social services and non-profit organisations 
- Private practice / freelance work 
- Other specialised settings: prisons, hospices, older people’s services, learning disability services etc.

Question 8

Are there apprenticeships for art therapists?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There are some Level 7 apprenticeships for arts therapists (covering art, music, drama therapy etc.), though opportunities are limited. They tend to follow a similar training route as the master’s degrees and still require HCPC-approved qualifications.

Question 9

What skills or personal qualities are important for being an art therapist?

Accepted Answer

The role requires a combination of clinical, interpersonal, and artistic/creative skills, including:

- Creativity and sensitivity in working with clients and materials. 
- Emotional resilience, ability to handle strong emotions, and maintain boundaries. 
- Good listening, empathy, non-judgemental attitude, ability to build therapeutic relationships. 
- Flexibility, adaptability (different client groups, settings, group and individual work)

Question 10

How in demand are art therapy / art psychotherapy jobs in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Demand exists, but the number of vacancies can vary by region, funding, employer, and the specific setting.

Many NHS trusts, charities and educational institutions employ art therapists: in mental health, special education, and community health.  Because of qualification requirements and limited number of approved training programmes, supply of fully qualified art therapists is not huge, which can mean fewer roles in some local areas.

When searching for roles, you may see common job titles such as:

- Art Therapist
- Art Psychotherapist
- Arts Therapist (Art/Music/Drama)
- Creative Arts Therapist 
- Clinical Art Psychotherapist
- HCPC-Registered Art Therapist
- Senior Art Therapist / Senior Art Psychotherapist
- Principal Art Psychotherapist
- Lead Art Therapist
- Head of Art Therapy 
- Specialist Art Therapist
Art Therapist – CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services)

Art Psychotherapist – Adult Mental Health

Art Therapist – Learning Disabilities Service

Art Psychotherapist – Inpatient Unit

Art Therapist – Community Mental Health Team

Art Therapist – Eating Disorders Service

Arts Psychotherapist – Secure / Forensic Services

Senior Arts Therapist – Psychological Therapies

Clinical Arts Psychotherapist – Neurorehabilitation

Creative Arts Therapist – Older Adults / Dementia Care
School Art Therapist

School-Based Art Psychotherapist

Art Therapist – Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Therapeutic Art Practitioner (Education)

Art Psychotherapist – Children & Young People’s Services

Art Therapist – Pupil Referral Unit (PRU)

Art Therapist – Early Years Intervention

Art Therapist – Youth Counselling Service

Question 11

Can art therapists apply for play therapy jobs?

Accepted Answer

Art therapists and play therapists both use creative, non-verbal, experiential approaches to help children and young people express and process emotions. So, there’s definite overlap — both fields:

- use symbolic and imaginative play to aid emotional expression,
- require strong therapeutic relationship skills,
- often work in schools, CAMHS, and social care settings.

Because of this, some employers (especially schools, charities, and local authorities) advertise jobs that say things like “We welcome applications from qualified play therapists, art therapists, or other creative arts psychotherapists.”
In those cases, yes, a qualified art therapist (HCPC-registered) could apply and be considered.

If the post specifically requires a registered Play Therapist — typically this means someone trained on a BAPT (British Association of Play Therapists)-accredited course and you would normally need a BAPT-recognised postgraduate diploma or MA in Play Therapy, and BAPT registration.

Those roles tend to emphasise play therapy techniques (sand trays, puppets, small world play, etc.) and require supervision with a BAPT-registered supervisor. In those cases, being an art therapist wouldn’t automatically qualify you — though your skills might still be relevant if you were willing to retrain or do a conversion course.

Art Therapy Jobs UK

106 Art Therapist Jobs

Frequently asked questions

Harmonia Careers

Are you looking for Art Therapy Jobs?

Number of total available Art Therapy jobs: 106.

Want to train as a qualified and registered Art Therapist?

Art Therapy Jobs UK

106 Art Therapist Jobs

Frequently asked questions

What is Art Therapy?down

How long does it take to train to be an art therapist?down

Do I need HCPC registration to work as an art therapist / art psychotherapist?down

What is the main professional body for Art Therapists?down

What qualifications do I need to become an art therapist / art psychotherapist in the UK?down

What is the salary for art therapists / art psychotherapists in the UK?down

What kind of settings / employers hire art therapists in the UK?down

Are there apprenticeships for art therapists?down

What skills or personal qualities are important for being an art therapist?down

How in demand are art therapy / art psychotherapy jobs in the UK?down

Can art therapists apply for play therapy jobs?down

Harmonia Careers

Are you looking for Art Therapy Jobs?

Number of total available Art Therapy jobs: 106.

Want to train as a qualified and registered Art Therapist?