Art Psychotherapy for Trainees
Supporting your trainingEmbarking on a journey to become a counsellor or psychotherapist is both rewarding and challenging. Many advanced level 7 courses, and for good reasons, require personal therapy for their students. It’s essential for these trainees to not only develop self-awareness and good self-care habits, but also that they have worked on themselves before they can work with others as fully qualified therapists. |
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Training in psychotherapy involves not just learning theories about the mind, human development, and relationships, but also understanding the impacts of trauma, neglect, and abuse. This can be intense and incredibly difficult; we cannot assimilate all this understanding without context.
It is only natural to understand this learning in context. Real learning happens when we integrate the theory with lived experience. Having an experienced therapist to help you navigate how this knowledge may or may not be applicable to yourself or those around you can make a significant difference.
It is only natural to understand this learning in context. Real learning happens when we integrate the theory with lived experience. Having an experienced therapist to help you navigate how this knowledge may or may not be applicable to yourself or those around you can make a significant difference.
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Over the past 12 years, I have worked with students from various universities. With experience in offering therapy for MA Art Therapy, MA Music Therapy, and MA Dance & Movement therapy students, as well as other counselling courses, I understand how personal and academic development need to go hand in hand. Neglecting this link may lead to burnout or the development of complex defence mechanisms that hinder yourself, compromise your training and even your future career. 
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Benefits of Personal Therapy for Trainees
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In therapy, you’ll find a space to integrate the complex theories and concepts you are learning in your training. It’s a place for healing and developing self-reflection, awareness and compassion, which are crucial as you grow into your new identity as a therapist or counsellor. Without these important foundations, you may not be able to complete your training or eventually maintain a professional career in the long run. |
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How I Work with MA Therapy Students
Working with therapy and counselling trainees is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. I love to see and be part of the student development, witnessing the immense growth and transformation as they go through their training.
All master's programmes, at the University of Derby or other universities, require students to engage in between 70 and 80 hours of personal therapy over their course duration. Although personal therapy is an important part of your training, it is also completely independent from university. I only communicate with the course leader to confirm my qualifications and years of practice, the number of therapy hours a trainee has engaged in therapy with me at the end of each year.
Typically, I work with trainees from the beginning of their course until they are fully qualified, and sometimes even after qualification. However, I have also worked with students who, for various reasons, have had to change therapists at different stages of their course.
A deeper and stronger relationship develops over this time, and a stronger therapeutic alliance is important to the success of therapy. The therapeutic work can go deeper, better internalised, and be longer lasting.
Because the students' learning and experiences throughout their courses are so individual and personal, I only work with one student per cohort to ensure confidentiality and individualised work, and also to avoid potential conflict of boundaries and breaching students' privacy.
All master's programmes, at the University of Derby or other universities, require students to engage in between 70 and 80 hours of personal therapy over their course duration. Although personal therapy is an important part of your training, it is also completely independent from university. I only communicate with the course leader to confirm my qualifications and years of practice, the number of therapy hours a trainee has engaged in therapy with me at the end of each year.
Typically, I work with trainees from the beginning of their course until they are fully qualified, and sometimes even after qualification. However, I have also worked with students who, for various reasons, have had to change therapists at different stages of their course.
A deeper and stronger relationship develops over this time, and a stronger therapeutic alliance is important to the success of therapy. The therapeutic work can go deeper, better internalised, and be longer lasting.
Because the students' learning and experiences throughout their courses are so individual and personal, I only work with one student per cohort to ensure confidentiality and individualised work, and also to avoid potential conflict of boundaries and breaching students' privacy.
Have you applied or are you considering a master’s degree in Counselling and/or Psychotherapy?Get in touch to book an Introductory Meeting to discuss how we can work together. Don’t wait too long, especially near the start of the academic year. If you are still considering a career as an art psychotherapist, get in touch. I am always happy to talk about the profession and how I work, giving you a better understanding of what it is like to be an art psychotherapist and how it may be like for you to go through the training. 
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Empowering growth through creativity, nature, and belonging
