What skills does a art therapist need?

A art therapist needs 48 essential skills including health care legislation, fine arts, cognitive psychology, theory of art therapy, sociology. Core competencies include .

Will AI replace art therapist jobs?

The AI disruption score for art therapist is 12/100 (very low risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

HealthcareHealth professionalsISCO 2269

art therapist

Art therapists help patients overcome psychological and emotional difficulties through an artistic process which reflects emotions and feelings, focusing on patients who suffer a variety of problems such as mental, psychological, and behavioural disorders in order to facilitate self-understanding and awareness.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (48)

health care legislationhealth care legislationThe patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.fine artsfine artsThe theory and techniques required to compose, produce and perform works of visual arts as drawing, painting, sculpture and other art forms.cognitive psychologycognitive psychologyThe human mental processes such as attention, memory, language use, perception, problem solving, creativity and thinking.theory of art therapytheory of art therapyThe art therapy history and theory, events, and practitioners, and the development of art therapy as a distinct therapeutic practice, the overview of psychotherapy theories relevant to art therapy, th...sociologysociologyThe group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.human psychological developmenthuman psychological developmentThe human psychological development across the lifespan, theories of personality development, cultural and environmental influences, human behavior, including developmental crises, disability, excepti...behavioural therapybehavioural therapyThe characteristics and foundations of behavioural therapy, which focuses on changing patients` unwanted or negative behaviour. It involves studying the present behaviour and the means by which this c...psychopathologypsychopathologyThe criteria of psychiatric diagnoses, the use of the disease classification system, and the theories of psychopathology. The indicators of functional and organic disorders and the types of psychophar...techniques of practice in art therapytechniques of practice in art therapyThe direct experience of the therapeutic utility and psychological influence of art processes and materials, and the therapeutic effect of art making, leading to the establishment of therapeutic goals...psychological theoriespsychological theoriesThe historical development of counselling and psychological theories, as well as the perspectives, applications, and interviewing and counselling strategies.respond to changing situations in health carerespond to changing situations in health careCope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.educate on the prevention of illnesseducate on the prevention of illnessOffer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and healt...inform policy makers on health-related challengesinform policy makers on health-related challengesProvide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.use e-health and mobile health technologiesuse e-health and mobile health technologiesUse mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.enable patients to explore artworksenable patients to explore artworksEnable patients to discover and explore works of art and the artistic production process.prepare treatment plan for art therapyprepare treatment plan for art therapyMake a treatment plan outlining possible art therapy strategies such as drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage with patients ranging from young children to the elderly, looking for forms of art the...use art in a therapeutic settinguse art in a therapeutic settingWork creatively with various groups of patients in a therapeutic setting.develop educational materials on art therapydevelop educational materials on art therapyDevelop educational materials to educate patients, families, staff, and public about art therapy.formulate a case conceptualisation model for therapyformulate a case conceptualisation model for therapyCompose an individualised treatment plan in collaboration with the individual, striving to match his or her needs, situation, and treatment goals to maximise the probability of therapeutic gain and co...manage healthcare users' datamanage healthcare users' dataKeep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, wr...deal with emergency care situationsdeal with emergency care situationsAssess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.maintain healthcare user data confidentialitymaintain healthcare user data confidentialityComply with and maintain the confidentiality of healthcare users` illness and treatment information.provide health educationprovide health educationProvide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.communicate in healthcarecommunicate in healthcareCommunicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.encourage healthcare user's self-monitoringencourage healthcare user's self-monitoringEncourage the healthcare user to engage in self-monitoring by conducting situational and developmental analyses on him- or herself. Assist the healthcare user to develop a degree of self-critique and ...advise on healthcare users' informed consentadvise on healthcare users' informed consentEnsure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.apply art therapy interventionsapply art therapy interventionsTreat individuals or groups in inpatient, outpatient, partial treatment programs, and aftercare with art therapy interventions, to explore verbal, behavioural, and artistic communication, treatment pl...comply with quality standards related to healthcare practicecomply with quality standards related to healthcare practiceApply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associati...comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.listen activelylisten activelyGive attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of cus...adhere to organisational guidelinesadhere to organisational guidelinesAdhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.assess the patient's therapeutic needsassess the patient's therapeutic needsObserve and assess the patient`s behaviour, attitudes and emotions in order to understand if and how their therapeutic needs can be met with a specific kind of therapy, collecting and analysing inform...work in a multicultural environment in health carework in a multicultural environment in health careInteract, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.challenge patient behaviour by means of artchallenge patient behaviour by means of artConstructively challenge the behaviour, attitude and mind-set of patients through art therapy sessions.promote inclusionpromote inclusionPromote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive envi...assess art therapy sessionsassess art therapy sessionsEvaluate the effectiveness of art therapy sessions to aid the planning of subsequent sessions.interact with healthcare usersinteract with healthcare usersCommunicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.organise relapse preventionorganise relapse preventionHelp the patient or client identify and anticipate high risk situations or external and internal triggers. Support them in developing better coping strategies and back-up plans in case of future diffi...ensure safety of healthcare usersensure safety of healthcare usersMake sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing condit...apply organisational techniquesapply organisational techniquesEmploy a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and s...develop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipdevelop a collaborative therapeutic relationshipDevelop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.apply context specific clinical competencesapply context specific clinical competencesApply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within ...use techniques to increase patients' motivationuse techniques to increase patients' motivationEncourage the patient`s motivation to change and promote the belief that therapy can help, using techniques and treatment engagement procedures for this purpose.refer healthcare usersrefer healthcare usersMake referrals to other professionals, based on the healthcare user's requirements and needs, especially when recognising that additional healthcare diagnostics or interventions are required.work in multidisciplinary health teamswork in multidisciplinary health teamsParticipate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.take referred patientstake referred patientsTake referred patients, including self-referred ones and referrals from other professionals such as teachers, psychologists, therapists and psychiatrists.schedule artistic activitiesschedule artistic activitiesPlan, design and facilitate a schedule of artistic activities for individuals and groups.accept own accountabilityaccept own accountabilityAccept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.

Optional (16)

sexologysexologyThe characteristics and evolution of human sexual activity, sexual orientation and the sexual relationship for various group types such as teenagers, elderly or disabled people.neurophysiologyneurophysiologyThe medical specialty which is concerned with the study of the nervous system functionalities.applied music therapyapplied music therapyThe manifestations, symptoms and causes of illnesses and how they can be treated through music therapy.cognitive behavioural therapycognitive behavioural therapyThe solution-focused approach to treating mental disorders oriented towards solving problems by teaching new information-processing skills and coping mechanisms.victimologyvictimologyThe relationships between victims and perpetrators, the frequency of victimization and the psychological effects it has on the victim.philosophyphilosophyThe different philosophical systems, their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices and their impact on human culture.pedagogypedagogyThe discipline that concerns the theory and practice of education including the various instructional methods for educating individuals or groups.psychosociologypsychosociologyThe implications related to how an individual is behaving, depending on the group to which the individual belongs to and how this influences him/her.relaxation techniquesrelaxation techniquesThe various methods and techniques used to alleviate stress and bring peace and relaxation to the body and mind. This includes activities such as yoga, qigong or t`ai chi.psychoanalysispsychoanalysisThe types of psychoanalytic theories and techniques that relate to the unconscious mental processes.practice gestalt therapypractice gestalt therapyUse gestalt therapy techniques such as the empty chair technique and the exaggeration exercise in individual or group settings in the shape of creative exercises and experiments, aiming to make the in...handle patient traumahandle patient traumaAssess the competences, needs, and limitations of people affected by trauma, referring the patients to specialised trauma services where appropriate.define creative componentsdefine creative componentsIdentify sources of inspiration and strong points. Identify the subject of the art production. Identify the content. Identify creative factors such as performers and music.use foreign languages for health-related researchuse foreign languages for health-related researchUse foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.use foreign languages in patient careuse foreign languages in patient careCommunicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.apply psychoanalysisapply psychoanalysisConduct psychoanalysis on patients, focusing on unconscious forces that can have a negative effect on their psychological well-being.