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Art Therapist Job Description

Our Art Therapist job description includes the Art Therapist responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Art Therapist Example


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If you need an example job description for an Art Therapist download the one below, alternatively we have many other Personal Care job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does an Art Therapist do?

Art therapists use art therapy to assist patients in exploring underlying feelings and emotional conflicts that impair their physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing. They teach patients how to use artwork as a means of releasing or expressing their feelings and use counselling techniques to help patients develop coping skills.

Art Therapist Role

Art Therapists use art therapy to assist patients in exploring underlying feelings and emotional conflicts that impair their physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing. They teach patients how to use artwork as a means of releasing or expressing their feelings and use counselling techniques to help patients develop coping skills.

We are hiring an Art Therapist to utilise art and psychotherapeutic techniques to help patients improve their physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing. As Art Therapist your responsibilities will include evaluating patients’ reactions and behaviours during art therapy sessions, attending multi-disciplinary treatment team meetings, as well as ensuring that art supplies and equipment are adequately stocked. You should also be able to encourage patients to reflect on the artwork produced during art therapy sessions.

To succeed as an Art Therapist, you should keep abreast of the latest developments in art therapy to ensure that patients receive the best treatment possible. Ultimately, an exceptional Art Therapist should have a strong understanding of visual art as well as demonstrate excellent communication, analytical, and counselling skills.

Art Therapist Duties

  • Sound knowledge of visual art.
  • Excellent observational and counselling skills.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Effective communication skills.
  • Patient, empathetic, and creative.
  • A passion for art.
  • Master’s degree in Art Therapy or Counselling with additional coursework in Art Therapy.
  • Certified by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB).

Art Therapist Requirements

  • Consult with patients to discuss their medical histories and identify the problems or conditions they wish to overcome.
  • Conduct art therapy sessions with patients using various types of visual art, including drawing, sculpting, painting, ceramics, and clay modelling.
  • Discuss patients’ artworks with them to evaluate the meaning and emotions behind the artworks.
  • Collaborate with other healthcare practitioners to develop or integrate personalised treatment plans.
  • Develop suitable art therapy programmes for patients based on their needs, objectives, and preferred forms of artistic expression.
  • Teach patients coping skills and strategies to enable them to deal with challenging and traumatic experiences.
  • Conduct group or family art therapy sessions as required.
  • Supervise art therapy students and internes.
  • Maintain detailed records of patients’ progress as well as observations made during art therapy sessions.
  • Sound knowledge of visual art.
  • Excellent observational and counselling skills.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Effective communication skills.
  • Patient, empathetic, and creative.
  • A passion for art.
  • Master’s degree in Art Therapy or Counselling with additional coursework in Art Therapy.
  • Certified by the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB).

How to write an Art Therapist Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write an Art Therapist Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise an Art Therapist Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting an Art Therapist Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire an Art Therapist

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