Myth Buster: The Truth About Art Therapy Qualifications

Is a Master’s Degree Essential for Practice?

Across the globe, including Australia, there’s a prevailing notion that a master’s degree is a must-have for anyone aspiring to practice art therapy. But wait—this is actually a myth!

The Legal Landscape of Art Therapy

In reality, art therapy, much like counselling, is not regulated by the government in most countries around the world. This means that you can enter the field as a professional art therapist even without a master’s degree (Southern Cross University).

So, why do many professional associations and educational institutions insist that a master’s degree is necessary? A similar situation is occurring in psychology in Australia.

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) only accepts individuals as full professional members at the master’s level. However, it is important to note that the vast majority of Australian psychologists do not actually hold this qualification.

Who’s Benefiting from this Myth?

This myth appears to offer significant advantages to certain groups, encouraging them to hold onto this belief without questioning it. It may provide them with political influence, power, and prestige while also protecting their academic interests.

Let’s Get Real About Credentials

While earning a master’s degree in art therapy or psychology can be beneficial, it is not a prerequisite for practice. Let’s be honest!

So, if a master’s degree isn’t essential, what does it take to practice art therapy? The answer lies in its unregulated nature: the responsibility falls squarely on you! You must be confident and knowledgeable to ensure the safety and well-being of your clients – at the very least. Ideally, your goal should be to help your clients see real improvements in their presenting issues and, if you are truly skilled, to transform their lives in meaningful ways.

The Path to Effectiveness

How can you achieve that? First and foremost, a solid education is essential. If you opt for a cheap online course, I seriously doubt your readiness to handle real clients with significant issues! This not only demonstrates a lack of foresight but also puts your clients’ well-being at risk.

Fortunately, many reputable courses are available in Australia and worldwide, and they don’t have to be master’s programs. A diploma course, like those that counselling students typically enrol in, can easily suffice for many individuals wishing to practice art therapy and make a genuine positive impact.

For example, completing the diploma program at the College for Educational and Clinical Art Therapy (CECAT) in Australia enables you to practice art therapy professionally and register as a full member of one of our counselling associations. This automatically designates you as both a professional art therapist and a counsellor.

Key Qualities of an Effective Art Therapist

What other qualities should you consider if you aspire to become an art therapist? I’ve learned that having a mindset that fosters growth, even in unexpected ways, a high level of emotional intelligence, a love for art and creative expression, and a big heart are essential for success in this field. Less obvious to most, but equally important in my opinion, the better you understand yourself and the less you project your own issues onto your clients unconsciously, the more effective you will be.

Let’s break the myth and embrace a more nuanced understanding of what it takes to practice art therapy!