Mental Health

How to become a licensed creative arts therapist

February 17, 2023

Many people make a conscious decision to pursue a career in mental health.

This may be as a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist or as a mental health nurse. There is certainly no shortage of professional pathways for mental health workers.

If you’re looking for a different avenue in the mental health field, becoming a licensed creative arts therapist is another career option. While people are familiar with the path to becoming a licensed creative arts therapist, they may not be aware of its connection to mental health work.

To address this, we will explore the following common questions around how to become a licensed creative arts therapist, including:

What does an art therapist do?
Are art therapists in demand?
How much do art therapists make in Australia?
How to become an art therapist in Australia?

What is an art therapist?

The premise behind creative art therapy is that creativity enhances the wellbeing of ourselves and those around us. It is a holistic approach that fosters emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual wellbeing. Art can help address emotional issues that people find difficult to verbalise, allowing them to express themselves through movement and play.

Daily tasks and responsibilities may include:

preparing art therapy sessions that meet your client’s needs, either in a group therapy setting or a one-on-one session
helping your client set goals and objectives for their art therapy
exploring different art mediums, like paint, pencil, dance, clay or yarn
teaching your clients to express themselves using art
administering and interpreting diagnostic tests, which can help you work out the most appropriate treatment for your client
designing individual treatment plans that use a combination of different therapies, which may involve consulting other mental health professionals involved in your client’s care

How to become an art therapist in Australia

Are art therapists in demand?

The impact of COVID-19 on people’s mental health has been significant. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare partnered with the federal government’s Department of Health to report on the impacts.

Here are some of their findings:

Almost 11.5 million Medicare-subsidised mental health-related services were provided between 16 March 2020 and 24 January 2021.
Mental health-related prescriptions peaked in March 2020, with the introduction of restrictions.
During the four weeks prior to 24 January 2021, Beyond Blue had over 22,000 people contact them and Lifeline received more than 85,000 telephone calls.

The American Art Therapy Association reports that art therapists have worked hard during the pandemic. They adapted to the lockdowns by providing art therapy online to clients who were locked down at home.

During the pandemic, the American Art Therapy Association conducted a survey of art therapists. The majority of art therapists reported that their clients experienced anxiety during lockdowns.

This anxiety was due to a variety of factors, including:

isolation
financial pressures
homeschooling
wanting family members to remain healthy

Despite these struggles, COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of looking after one’s wellbeing. Many people turned to art and craft during the pandemic as an escape and to help with their mental health.

There have been various studies on the benefits of art therapy. Some studies have shown:

an 86 per cent reduction of physical and behavioural symptoms among chronically ill children
that people found crocheting to help them be calm and happy
that people also highlighted the calming effect of drawing

According to Seek, the projected job growth for art therapists is 15.2 per cent for the five years to 2027.

What is an art therapist

How much do art therapists make in Australia?

The average salary for an art therapist in Australia is $82,446.

Creative art therapists work in a variety of settings, such as:

private practice
community health
schools
mental health facilities
rehabilitation centres
the disability sector
the aged care sector
palliative care

Some creative art therapists work in a solo practice while others are members of a multidisciplinary team.

How to become an art therapist in Australia

What qualifications do I need to become an art therapist?

In Australia, creative arts therapy is self-regulated. This means that there’s no restriction on who can call themselves an art therapist or creative arts therapist.

However, employers and clients are likely to prefer a creative arts therapist who is qualified. This helps you build trust with both your potential employer and potential clients. What this means is that your employability will increase substantially if you graduate with suitable qualifications, such as a relevant undergraduate degree or masters degree.

Obtaining a masters degree like SCU Online's Master of Mental Health can give you advanced skills that will make you stand out to potential employers across a range of mental health careers.

You will also need to gain professional membership with the Australian, New Zealand and Asian Art Therapies Association (ANZACATA). ANZACATA provides accreditation to members with approved qualifications and through supervised training. When you meet those requirements, you become eligible to use the title "registered art therapist".