What led you to become an art therapist yourself?
I’d been interested in it since I was a teenager. I remember receiving a psychology book from my dad when I was about sixteen and I was already into art. I’m not sure where the idea came from really. It developed through my own personal issues and my own therapy. And then, when I’d done my first art degree and masters, I realised that I didn’t want a career as an independent artist. I wanted to help people and so I went on to work as a support worker at a residential home for the elderly. I also did some volunteering with young offenders, doing art groups, and eventually I just felt like it was the right time to tie the two strands together.
What was your experience of training on the MA Art Psychotherapy course at Roehampton University?
Very enriching I’d say, it was really good. What I particularly liked about it was the space they allow for your own personal development and growth. I forged really good friendships whilst I was on the course as well. It was a very intense and very exhausting time in my life.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering training to become an art therapist?
I would really question why you want to do the training. Is it for your own personal development or is it because you want to find a job. The job market is really tough at the moment, as everybody I’m sure realises. I would also encourage you to think about at which institution you want to study art therapy and the differing theoretical approaches. There were seven to choose from when I did my masters training.
Can you say a little bit about your experience of trying to find work in this field upon becoming fully qualified? Has it been difficult?
You don’t quite realise how competitive the market is out there and so when one of your circle of friends gets a job and others don’t, there are feelings of envy and jealousy. While of course you want to support one another, you can feel also like competitors which can be tough.
What about others from the course?
It’s taken a lot of time to find work. Like myself, some people have created an art therapy niche within another role, and some have managed to get jobs with the NHS. For a lot of NHS jobs you’re required to have two-three years post-qualifying experience and getting that experience is hard.
Would you advocate taking on voluntary positions at first, if work is not readily available, or do you feel that this devalues the profession?
I think it does devalue it. Unfortunately it’s a really tricky, catch-22 situation. A lot of people are offered honorary placements in the wake of their university placements. . Had I not have found my present job I probably would’ve taken a voluntary role I was offered because at least it keeps you current and your skills active.
What advice would you give to someone else currently in this position?
‘Keeping your hand in’ is really important, not allowing too much of a gap after you’ve finished the course. To be honest, there weren’t a lot of jobs coming up when I graduated so I was going further afield and that’s where I found the clinical health worker post. I also looked into doing work abroad. You just have to cast your net really wide.
How do your qualifications translate if you decide to work abroad?
It depends on where you go. In Australia for instance, we’re qualified to work there. But if you were to work in America you’d have to do a one year conversion course because their model for art therapy is different to ours.
