Art therapy was not always a career goal to begin with, and felt more like a calling. It was something later discovered in life for me that became very close to my values and way of living. Discovering how the arts has helped me, how it can help others and training in it has influenced me massively. I hope this article will encourage readers to explore art therapy for their own wellbeing, to encourage potential students into studying the field and to share my practice in a new and fresh way.
Photo: Barry Joyce (Me), 2023, first month of training as an art psychotherapist
Art has always been a big passion in my life from a very young age, I always enjoyed painting, drawing and creative projects like sewing. I had space to be creative and explore and loved to show off my work in schools and express myself. From my young age, I would imagine being an artist for a career and many other things, but with no plan. I had no idea where my artistic side would take me.
Many people assume that art therapy begins with training, but for me, it began much earlier. Realising that art has been like a second language and expressive habit for me growing up made me think about how much it has changed my worldview. I found myself looking for inspiration around me, feeling more present in nature and environments, and having a positive appreciation for things I see that others may not notice. It was a grounding presence in my life that allowed me to process more of the world. Creativity wasn’t about making something “good” but it was about expression, safety, and bringing out the ideas I had into reality.
As I grew older, I realised how powerful this process was. I studied Art and Photography in sixth form before going into my foundation year of Art and Design at a local university without a plan to where this would lead me, until I was talking to my tutor at this university who taught me about Art therapy. Her insight into my work was encouraging and she told me I would make a good art therapist and should consider that as a pathway. I was still new to this idea and took my time to process the thought of a career in mental health but throughout my undergraduate degree, the idea stuck and the passion grew. Studying during the pandemic and experiencing the world in a new way and a difficult way encouraged my interest more as art became a place of expression for processing the feelings of isolation, stress and intensity of the situation.
The education system for art psychotherapy felt limited to begin with, at the time of my undergraduate course, there were only 10 approved universities that taught art psychotherapy as an accredited degree. No apprenticeships could be found for a work pathway and I had decided to take a break and work whilst I form a plan into this career. So when the 11th university got approved for teaching Art psychotherapy and started applications, it felt like a sign. It was local to me, and was a university I had looked up to as a child as encouragement to go into university education.
This breakthrough and new course became the foundation of my path into art psychotherapy.
Today, I am an HCPC-registered Art Psychotherapist, and I support individuals who want to reconnect with themselves through creativity. Many of the people I work with will be experiencing a wealth of emotions and struggles, unique to their lives. Art therapy provides a different kind of space, one that is slow, compassionate, non-judgemental and deeply supportive. I strive to promote freedom of expression, freedom from judgement and positive changes through my practice. My practice is greatly influenced by my art therapy training and personal interests.
In my practice, therapy is:
• Trauma-informed: I prioritise safety, containment, pacing and empowerment.
• Neuroaffirming: I honour individual ways of thinking, sensing and expressing.
• Collaborative: we work together; you lead the pace and direction.
• Creative: materials, imagery and colour become tools for exploration and grounding.
I believe healing doesn’t always require words. Sometimes, it begins with a single mark on a page, the texture of clay, or the gentle layering of colour.
If you’re considering art therapy or are curious about whether it might support you, I would love to welcome you into the space when you’re ready. You deserve a place to be heard, held, and supported, in whatever way feels right for you.
If you are interested in becoming an art therapist, I would recommend searching on the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) webpage for universities and institutions that will be able to take you on this journey. The education of art therapy is ever-changing and evolving, with one degree apprenticeship running in the UK and the Curriculum guidance recently being updated by BAAT and collaborating with experienced art psychotherapists to ensure safety in practice and inform the pre-registration and the training of future art therapists. My advice would be to read this guidance alongside the entry requirements and modules of your intended institution to prepare. Art psychotherapy is a rewarding career, and one that should be explored thoroughly to prepare. Good luck to any prospective students reading this! I wish you the best of luck!
Resources:
Curriculum Guidance (BAAT): https://baat.org/download/11676/baat-curriculum-guidance-2025.pdf
How to become an art therapist (BAAT): https://baat.org/art-therapy/how-to-become-an-art-therapist/