MAART4100 Introduction to the Methods and Ethics of Art Therapy Course description

Introduction to the methods and ethics of art therapy focuses on the interdisciplinary premises of art therapy. This includes both art making and reflecting the artistic expression within therapeutic relationship. Course introduces practical therapeutic skills that include the hands-on experience of visual arts and expression, understanding of therapeutic change mechanisms and ethical reflection of the personal and intersubjective aspects of the therapeutic relationship and setting. Students will also familiarize with the art-based research approach in art therapy and in studying art therapeutic change mechanisms.

Methods of art therapy include the use of both traditional and contemporary art media, methods and materials, such as digital art for reaching therapeutic goals. The students receive research-based introduction to developmental, neuro- and psychophysiological aspects of art therapy.

Admission to the program

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence: 

Knowledge

The student:

• has acquired advanced knowledge of the common psychotherapeutic factors and change mechanisms in art therapy
• can describe the therapeutic components in creative art processes based on experiential learning and the theory of expressive therapies continuum

 Skills

The student:  

• can reflect art therapeutic process and its effects through personal experience of making and sharing various forms of art expression
• can utilize different traditional and digital art techniques and materials in the art therapeutic process
• can document and reflect the therapeutic change that takes place during art therapy process

• can critically reflect ethical aspects of the art therapeutic relationship, setting and its boundaries

  Competence

The student has a developed competence to:

• evaluate, value and implement different art therapeutic methods, and participate on reflective and ethical professional discussions
• use art-based research approach on exploring and studying art therapy process
• understand professional ethical principles and ability to reflect, evaluate and value their role in the art therapy relationship

The course is combining seminars at the campus and distant learning. Teaching and learning methods include lectures, workshops and skills training in the form of practical art therapeutic assignments.

Between the seminars, there will be digital lectures and the students will work on the art therapeutic assignment that will later be presented and discussed in group.

Skills training takes place in workshops. In professional experiential workshops, the focus is on simulating art therapeutic interaction to enable learning and reflection from the therapist perspective. In personal experiential workshops, students will explore and reflect art making and their own creative process from the client’s perspective.

Practice

The students will prepare for the beginning of practice by making a plan and finding the practice place for spring term.

The following coursework must have been approved in order for a student to be permitted to take the exam:

• participation in seminars, compulsory attendance of 80 %

• presentation of a group task (2-4 persons) of professional ethics and regulations
• practice plan (1000 +/- 10% words) and contract/agreement of the practice place for the coming spring

The course requirements can be given in English or a Scandinavian language.

Oral exam individually or in group of 2-4 persons. Exam can take place at the campus or distantly and it includes: Oral presentation of the process and result of the art therapeutic project, individually 10 minutes or in group up to 20 min and 15 minutes of discussion.

The exam answer can be given in English or a Scandinavian language.

A new or postponed group exam may be arranged as an individual oral exam.  

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Pass/Fail

All exams are assessed by two examiners. External examiner is used regularly.