This Art Therapy Awareness course is designed for health and social care workers who may support people accessing art therapy or taking part in creative activities. It explains what regulated art therapy involves, how it differs from general art-based activities and why clear professional boundaries matter.
This free course covers the role of qualified art therapists, HCPC registration, appropriate referral routes, confidentiality, trauma-informed support and safe responses to distress. Learners will also consider the current evidence base, common settings for art therapy and practical ways to support access without entering the therapeutic role.
Why Take This eLearning Course?
Art therapy may form part of a person’s wider psychological, emotional, care or education support. Workers need to understand the purpose of the therapy, describe services accurately and recognise when specialist advice is required.
This course will help you to:
- Understand how art-making and therapeutic reflection are used within art therapy
- Explain that artistic experience or drawing ability is not required
- Distinguish regulated art therapy from recreational and wellbeing activities
- Use accurate language when describing creative sessions
- Recognise the responsibilities of qualified art therapists and art psychotherapists
- Maintain clear boundaries within an awareness-trained role
- Support people to access appropriate referral pathways
- Respond safely when art-making brings up distress or difficult experiences
- Handle confidentiality and information sharing appropriately
- Discuss potential benefits and research evidence without making unsupported claims
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Define art therapy as a regulated psychological therapy
- Describe how art therapy may support emotional expression and communication
- Identify settings in which art therapy may be provided across the UK
- Explain the difference between art therapy and general creative activities
- Describe the role and professional responsibilities of an art therapist
- Explain the purpose of HCPC registration and BAAT professional standards
- Recognise when advice, escalation or referral is required
- Outline how people may access and participate in art therapy
- Apply safe approaches to confidentiality, distress and trauma-informed support
- Maintain appropriate role boundaries when supporting creative activities
Art Therapy Awareness Course Outline
Module 1: Understanding Art Therapy
Learners will explore art therapy as a regulated psychological therapy involving art-making, image-making and reflection within a professional therapeutic relationship. The module explains how images, materials, symbols and spoken communication may support expression and emotional understanding. It also covers the health, education, social care and community settings where art therapy may take place and confirms that no previous artistic skill, training or confidence is needed to participate.
Module 2: Art Therapy and General Creative Activities
Learners will examine the differences between art therapy and activities offered for enjoyment, education, relaxation, social contact or general wellbeing. Examples include colouring, craft groups, school art lessons, community projects and mindful drawing. The module explains why these activities must not be presented as art therapy unless they meet the professional requirements for regulated psychological therapy, and it introduces accurate terms such as creative activity, craft group and art-based wellbeing session.
Module 3: Professional Roles, Registration and Referral
Learners will understand the responsibilities of art therapists and art psychotherapists, including assessment, therapeutic boundaries, clinical judgement, material selection, risk management, review and liaison. The module distinguishes HCPC regulation from BAAT professional membership and explains that awareness training does not qualify a worker to provide, assess or supervise therapy. Learners will also identify situations involving distress, disclosure, risk, deterioration or uncertainty that require advice, safeguarding action or referral to a qualified professional.
Module 4: Suitability, Communication and Service Settings
Learners will consider the varied groups who may be offered art therapy, including children, adults, people with learning disabilities, neurodivergent people and those receiving specialist hospital, hospice, rehabilitation or community support. The module explains how images and materials may offer another form of communication when spoken expression is difficult. It also covers the use of art therapy within mental health services, education and wider care planning, while emphasising that suitability must be assessed individually through a qualified therapist and the relevant service pathway.
Module 5: Evidence and Responsible Claims
Learners will review the developing evidence base for art therapy across mental health, education, trauma-related services, rehabilitation, cancer care and palliative care. The module introduces NICE guidance on arts therapies for psychosis and schizophrenia and considers emerging research in school and child wellbeing contexts. Learners will examine study quality, population differences and individual variation so that evidence can be discussed accurately without promising guaranteed outcomes or applying findings from regulated therapy to general creative activities.
Module 6: Access, Participation and Practical Support
Learners will explore how people may access art therapy through NHS services, education settings, community organisations, charities, hospices or independent practitioners. The module explains what a person may expect when beginning therapy, including assessment, consent, confidentiality, choice of materials, regular sessions and review. It also identifies practical ways workers can support engagement through clear information, accessible communication, appointment arrangements and respectful liaison, while preserving the privacy of the therapeutic relationship.
Module 7: Confidentiality, Trauma-Informed Support and Boundaries
Learners will examine how confidentiality and appropriate information sharing apply when supporting someone who accesses art therapy. The module highlights the risks of interpreting artwork without professional training, making assumptions about symbols or recording personal opinions as facts. It introduces trauma-informed approaches based on safety, choice, respect and proportionate support, and explains how workers can maintain boundaries through role clarity, accurate language, factual recording, supervision and appropriate referral.
Target Audience
This course is suitable for:
- Health and social care workers supporting adults, children or young people
- Care workers, support workers and personal assistants
- Team leaders, supervisors and service managers
- Education, community and voluntary-sector staff
- Workers who organise or support creative wellbeing activities
- Staff who may work alongside art therapists or support referrals
No previous specialist knowledge is required.
FAQ
Who is this course suitable for?
The course is suitable for health, social care, education, community and voluntary-sector workers who need an awareness of art therapy. It is particularly relevant to staff who support people attending therapy or who organise general creative activities. This course does not qualify you to deliver art therapy.
Do I need any previous experience?
No previous knowledge of art therapy or artistic experience is required. The course introduces the topic at awareness level and explains the main professional, practical and ethical considerations.
What will I learn on this art therapy awareness course?
You will learn what art therapy is, how it may support communication and emotional reflection, where it may be provided and how it differs from recreational art activities. You will also explore professional registration, referral routes, confidentiality and role boundaries.
Will this course help with day-to-day practice?
Yes. The course provides practical guidance on describing creative activities accurately, supporting access to therapy, respecting privacy, recognising concerns and seeking professional advice when a person’s needs are beyond your role.
Does the course cover practical skills?
The course focuses on practical awareness rather than teaching you to deliver art therapy. It covers appropriate communication, referral support, responses to distress, factual reporting and ways to support engagement without interpreting artwork or taking on a therapeutic role.
Does it cover relevant responsibilities and good practice?
Yes. The course covers consent, confidentiality, information sharing, safeguarding, professional boundaries, trauma-informed support, HCPC registration and the importance of following local referral and escalation procedures.
Does completing the course qualify me to provide art therapy?
No. Art therapy must be delivered by a suitably qualified and HCPC-registered art therapist or art psychotherapist. Completing this course supports awareness and appropriate practice but does not provide a professional therapy qualification.
How long does the course take?
The course is self-paced and usually takes around 1 hour to complete.
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes. A certificate is issued after successful completion.
This course provides a clear introduction to regulated art therapy and the responsibilities of workers who may support people before, during or alongside therapeutic services. It will help learners communicate accurately, respect professional boundaries and respond appropriately when concerns arise.
Enrol now to build your understanding of art therapy awareness.
