Bachelor of
Arts Therapy

This subject, the first in a developmental sequence of study, sets the foundation for your knowledge and skills in counselling and integrative arts therapy practice. You will be introduced to a comprehensive theoretical framework for your practice encompassing person-centred and experiential psychotherapy, Eastern and Indigenous practices and psychodynamic interpersonal therapy originating in the work of Carl Rogers, Eugene Gendlin and significant humanistic-existential and psychodynamic theorists and practitioners.

Key concepts within this framework, such as the actualising tendency, the significance of developing ‘therapeutic relational depth,’ and the differentiation between the ‘real’ self and the externally constructed ‘false’ self, are examined. Additionally, you’ll explore ‘Dadirri’ deep listening, therapeutic presence, and engagement as foundational elements for your work, while also exploringo the differences between the therapeutic relationship with ‘relational depth’ and the ‘therapeutic alliance.’ The ultimate objective is to enable you to integrate experiential relational theory into your practice.

Subject Code: SOC101
Credit Points: 6
Co-Requisite: ART102 Integrative Arts Therapy in Practice

In the second subject in our developmental sequence of studying arts psychotherapy practice, you will have the opportunity to apply theory into practice. Through one-to-one therapeutic interactions with peers, you will share and collaborate on your own ‘lived experience’ in sessions. Using interventions and processes, you will build and strengthen therapeutic relationships and assist clients in exploring inner experiences.

You will be presented with situations that require the use of both foundation and intermediate counselling skills. You will also observe and reflect on the process of counselling within art therapy practice interactions. As part of the subject, you are also guided to reflect on how you apply micro-skills in integrative arts therapy within your practice.

Subject Code: ART102
Credit Points: 6
Co-Requisite: SOC101 Integrative Psychotherapy in Theory

This experiential subject focuses on the theory and art making practice of art therapy methodologies. You will examine the historical and philosophical foundations that have shaped art therapy as a distinct discipline. You will study the four methods of working therapeutically using art making as a process of self-awareness, change, healing, and transformation. These models include the expressive therapies continuum (ETC), person-centred (Rogerian) art therapy, analytical (Jungian) art therapy and mindfulness art therapy. Each model will be thoroughly explored, providing insight into its origins, terminology, and practical application through art making as a tool for change.

Engaging in experiential exercises each week will allow you to integrate the theory within each specific model and you will understand how art-making can be used therapeutically. You will also learn to use art-making as a form of communication and as a pathway to the subconscious. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to fully appreciate the ‘power’ of various art materials, learn how to guide the art-making process therapeutically, and understand when to introduce visual exercises and when to select or avoid certain media.

Subject Code: ART103
Credit Points: 6

This subject invites you to explore the lived experience of the art-maker using a wide variety of art media. Through interactive lectures and experiential learning, you will experiment with a variety of 2D and 3D art materials, discovering how their unique qualities can create physical and emotional responses in the artist.

You will work with both traditional and non-traditional art materials, including ready-made imagery, found objects, natural objects and the human body. Your artistic journey will involve creating art in response to external sensations and internal experiences, as well as creating public art and collaboration in constructing an art installation. You will also use the expressive therapies continuum to understand how artwork emerges from your own art-making process.

Subject Code: ART104
Credit Points: 6

This subject provides a comprehensive overview of mental health practice and the role of arts therapists in promoting mental health and wellbeing in clinical and community mental health settings.

You will explore the evolution of mental health concepts over time. The introduction of the DSM 5 will allow you to recognise important terms and significant categories within this manual, while also evaluating its strengths and limitations. Using the DSM 5, you will gain an understanding of mental health diagnosis and symptomology alongside personal accounts detailing real-life mental health challenges. This approach aims to provide insight into the lived experience of DSM 5 diagnosis and guide you to identify some of the limitations of the classification system in the real world. Additionally, phenomenological arts-based inquiries will extend your understanding of media and modality choices with such presentations. Case studies will also be used for class discussions and group activities and you will be introduced to the dynamic role of arts therapists in addressing clinically diagnosed presentations within a recovery model framework. The subject will also explore arts therapy practice within mental health facilities and community settings.

Subject Code: ART105
Credit Points: 6

In this subject, you’ll explore the ethical foundations of individual worldviews which can unconsciously shape prejudices and biases. You will gain the knowledge, skills and awareness required to engage in ethical and culturally mindful therapeutic practices. Through a curriculum focused on culture and diversity, independence, autonomy and philosophy, you will examine the versatility of embedded identities and their influence on beliefs, values and biases, both positive and negative. Awareness of stereotyping, privilege, poverty, racism, ageism, misogyny, homophobia and other forms of oppression will prepare you for addressing the worldviews and challenges of specific client groups.

Additionally, you will explore how minority stress can contribute to trauma, shame, interpersonal difficulties, self-criticism, lack of personal agency, anxiety and depression and how these experiences may influence the therapeutic relationship. You will also develop cross-cultural skills essential for working with diverse populations such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities, learning how to approach their therapeutic needs and healing.

Ultimately the subject aims to foster an understanding that ethical behaviour and cultural competence extend beyond having an awareness of individual and cultural differences, embracing a commitment to eliminate unconscious bias and discrimination in therapeutic practice.

Subject Code: SOC106
Credit Points: 6

This subject is designed to develop your understanding of ethical and legal issues critical to arts therapy practice. You will learn about ethical principles and frameworks guiding behaviour and decision-making, including relevant legislation, professional practice standards and codes of ethics within the Australian professional landscape. By analysing real-world scenarios, you’ll learn to identify ethical and legal issues and propose solutions to dilemmas common in therapeutic practice, including those relating to professional responsibilities, professional boundaries, dual relationships, artworks, and e-art therapy. You will also explore how your personal values may influence your behaviour, decision-making and the development of your professional identity. Ultimately, this subject integrates personal art practice, philosophy, and art therapy in a practical and comprehensive manner.

Subject Code: ART107
Credit Points: 6

Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: Integrative Psychotherapy in Theory, Integrative Arts Psychotherapy in Practice

This subject explores key issues, theories, and methods in developmental psychology and life span development. An interdisciplinary approach is taken to examine life development from both evolutionary and cultural perspectives. By studying themes of evolution, embryology, attachment, and cultural history, you will gain a deeper awareness of life development in relation to nature and nurture. The subject also provides an overview of abnormal development and important human developmental stages.

Subject Code: SOC201
Credit Points: 6

In this subject, you will explore a diverse range of expressive art modalities including storytelling, movement, dance, voice, music, drama, and sand tray. By combining these modalities, you will be able to express your thoughts and feelings, communicate non-verbally, gain insight and discover the healing potential of the expressive process. You will also learn to apply the eight core processes common to expressive arts therapies, as outlined by Jones (2005), using expressive modalities to convey inner experiences. Additionally, you will gain first-hand experience in the multimodal use of expressive arts for processing implicit and explicit psychological content. We will also highlight the importance of creating a ‘state of play’ to facilitate expressive arts.

Subject Code: ART202
Credit Points: 6

In this subject, you will learn about the foundational theory, philosophy, and practice of an intermodal arts therapy approach. A phenomenological view of the self will be explored through philosophy and relevant psychological theories. Through practical engagement with intermodal arts therapy, you’ll integrate your understanding of self and the principles of intermodal arts therapy into practice. Additionally, you’ll learn and apply an arts therapy case formulation model.

Subject Code: ART203
Credit Points: 6

This subject explores the integration of movement into multimodal arts practice. You will explore the historical and philosophical foundations of societal perceptions of the body and their current implications. Fundamental concepts of body-psychotherapy and movement-based therapies will be part of your learning. You will gain hands-on experience with movement-based interventions, integrate them into psychotherapeutic and arts-therapeutic settings, and examine the ethical considerations involved with these interventions.

You will also explore the phenomenological, neurobiological, and developmental aspects of movement and the developing body, and engage in experiential explorations into your phenomenology with a focus on memory, intersubjectivity, aesthetics, embodiment and agency. Furthermore, you will explore ideas such as embodied affectivity and inter-bodily resonance as it relates to the embodied therapeutic relationship.

Subject Code: ART204
Credit Points: 6

Arts therapy practice relies on understanding how creativity and healing work together. In this subject, you’ll explore the historical and mythical roots of arts therapy, gaining deep insights. By studying the artistic expressions of ancient cultures, including their symbols, ceremonies, and rituals, you’ll connect personal and collective experiences. A key part of this exploration involves looking at the hero’s journey, commonly known as monomyth, as a guide for healing. You’ll also examine how this applies to universal human experiences like loss, isolation, and the search for meaning.

Additionally, you’ll consider how existential philosophy and theory intersect with arts therapy. You’ll also learn about the connection between neuroscience and art therapy research, which offers insights into the relationship between creativity, healing, and the important role of art therapists as catalysts for change. To facilitate learning, we’ll use engaging case studies for class discussions and collaborative exercises. Hands-on visual art activities will also be part of the learning experience.

The goal of this subject is to help you see personal struggles and challenges, both in your life and in the lives of potential clients, as opportunities for reflection, growth, and finding meaning. This new perspective aims to empower you to embrace optimism and purpose in your journey and to guide your clients toward a brighter path.

Subject Code: ART205
Credit Points: 6

See the ‘Electives’ tab for current elective options available.

This subject will introduce you to the use of theatre art in psychotherapy. You will learn about the history and development of drama therapies, from ancient rituals to modern theatre, through performance theory. By examining your own dramatic history using role theory, you will gain insight into how psychodrama and social roles influence your everyday identity. You will also develop therapeutic skills by practicing various psychodramatic action methods, mask work, and puppetry, and studying an integrative drama therapy process. Throughout the subject, you will have the chance to reflect on your experiences and consider how theatre arts can be used to explore and achieve therapeutic goals.

Subject Code: ART207
Credit Points: 6

This subject introduces evidence-based art therapy assessment and hypothesis development, focusing on case conceptualisation within case management. You will learn to effectively formulate a case, create a meaningful narrative, and understand the client’s presenting concerns in the context of their phenomenology and current life situation. Using case formulation frameworks, you will hypothesise and identify client concerns, understand the origins of these difficulties, and recognise the client’s strengths. Additionally, you will be introduced to art therapy assessments and supplementary tools to gather relevant data, which will prepare you to plan interventions, carry out treatment plans, and assess the overall effectiveness of your case analysis as an art therapist. Overall, this subject provides insight into allied health practices and terminology while maintaining the core principles of art therapy.

Subject Code: ART208
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: SOC201 Life Span Development, ART203 Intermodal Philosophy and Theory

This subject builds on content in previous subjects, bringing together integrative understandings of trauma and its effects, and providing both theoretical and practical knowledge of trauma-informed approaches in arts therapy. You will learn about the historical role of arts in symbolising and integrating traumatic experiences, gain a deeper understanding of integrative processes, and study the polyvagal theory of autonomic nervous system functioning and co-regulation for creating therapeutic safety. You will also consider constructivist and sensorimotor approaches in art therapy practice and strategies for working with children, addressing cultural considerations in trauma treatment, and ensuring therapist safety when working with trauma.

Subject Code: ART301
Credit Points: 6

This subject examines the pain, distress and post-traumatic challenges experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples due to systemic racism, colonisation and de-colonisation, loss of country and community in kinship systems, assimilation policies, intergenerational trauma, and the enduring impact of historical hardships.

You will learn to identify and develop skills in Indigenous healing practices that aim to address and heal this trauma through interconnected relationships and self reflection to address unconscious biases. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of identity, resilience a sense of belonging within the family, country and community, and the implementation of a holistic community healing model. Key elements of Indigenous healing practice such as song lines, ceremonies, rites of passage, dreaming and storytelling will also be explored. Furthermore, creative arts such as music, dance, drama and visual arts will be used to connect song lines, ceremonies, rites of passage, kinship, dreaming and storytelling as fundamental elements of Indigenous healing practice.

Subject Code: SOC302
Credit Points: 6

See the ‘Electives’ tab for current elective options available.

In this subject, you will learn how to use expressive arts therapy to build relationships and attachments with children. Building on child development theories from Life Span Development, we will explore the experiences of children facing challenges in infancy, early childhood, and middle childhood such as adversity, trauma, grief, social, emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties, as well as neurodivergence. You will learn practical techniques to help children express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences using visual arts, drama, play, sand tray, music and movement.

Subject Code: ART304
Credit Points: 6
Pre-requisite: SOC201 Life Span Development

This experiential subject brings together key learnings across the course, with a strong emphasis on conducting art therapy sessions. It focuses on the necessary skills, attributes and competencies for art-based therapeutic practice, including addressing ethical requirements. Your ability to conduct an art therapy session effectively, coherently, and safely will be evaluated through a clinical skills presentation. The assessment emphasises your adaptability and spontaneity, especially in intermodal and multimodal practice. Your clinical effectiveness in interpreting implicit cues, non-verbal communication, metaphor, and imagery will also be evaluated. The subject also highlights the importance of reflecting on your practice and its connection to therapeutic presence and interpersonal neurobiology.

Subject Code: ART305
Credit Points: 6
Co-Requisite: ART306 Supervised Arts Therapy Practice A

This subject is the first of two professional experience subjects that use an integrated approach to art therapy. It aims to bring together theory, knowledge and skills from coursework in a safe, supported and supervised work-based environment. Under supervision, you will have your first opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge and reflective skills to arts therapy during a 120-hour placement at an approved host organisation. You will manage an entry-level client caseload, conducting creative arts sessions with a focus on establishing therapeutic relationships, maintaining ethical standards and cultural sensitivity, and collaborating within a multidisciplinary team. Participation in group supervision, engaging in reflective discussions, and creating art will be essential for developing your clinical reasoning, improving the client experience, nurturing therapeutic relationships, and shaping your identity as a graduate arts therapist.

Subject Code: ART306
Credit Points: 6
Hours: 120
Co-Requisite: ART305 Integrating the Arts and Practice

This capstone subject builds on your clinical knowledge and skills development learnt in coursework. It involves managing a small client caseload under supervision as part of a 240-hour placement. You will design and implement ethical, culturally sensitive arts-based programs for individuals and groups, with the goal of facilitating positive change tailored to client needs and goals. This experience will strengthen your ethical thinking, decision-making, and clinical skills. Your primary focus will be on building therapeutic relationships, participating in case discussions, maintaining records and collaborating within interdisciplinary teams to integrate arts-based methods and frameworks across various practice contexts. Through supervision and reflective practices, you will analyse case materials to improve your understanding of evidence-based arts therapy and use this knowledge to express your philosophy of practice as a graduate arts therapist.

Subject Code: ART307
Credit Points: 12
Hours: 240
Pre-Requisites: All Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 core subjects

This subject explores the historical development of using various sand and miniatures for expressive purposes, providing insight into symbolic thinking and meaning making, mythology, archetypes and complexes, and the therapeutic progression of Jungian psychology. In preparation for working with children in a Jungian way, you will become familiar with Erich Neumann’s child developmental stages and examine case material of child sandplay to observe and analyse Neumann’s stages in the sand. You will learn how to facilitate an adult sand and symbol process by experientially engaging with the sand, water, and figurines, examining the case material of adult sandplay, and exploring the archetypal meaning of symbols. Creating four sand trays in a ‘safe and protected space,’ you will have the opportunity to connect with emotional experiences and life narratives through the sand pictures. You will also learn to engage with six levels of reflection from empathic to transcendent (Carroll & Gilbert, 2011, p.115) as a structure for evaluating your clinical work.

Subject Code: ARTE202
Credit Points: 6

This subject equips you with the skills to integrate ecopsychotherapy into your practice by linking human psychological wellness to the ecological system. Through an experiential retreat in a natural setting, you will receive training in ecopsychotherapy techniques and theoretical frameworks, including mindfulness practices, Indigenous wisdom, and depth psychology. This retreat focuses on reconnecting with nature and addresses fundamental issues such as safety, confidentiality, and the need to acknowledge the traditional peoples of the lands where the retreats are held.

Ecopsychotherapy acts as a means to dissolve the perceived separation between individuals and nature, offering exercises to facilitate reconnection to the natural world. The subject also highlights the post-colonial need to acknowledge the traditional peoples of the retreat lands and engage in reciprocal relationships with Aboriginal Australians, including the importance of respecting Elders and Traditional Owners past, present and emerging. Your success in this subject will be determined by your motivation to engage with the core concepts of ecopsychotherapy practice.

Please note: Due to the delivery style for this subject, extra costs may be incurred to cover travel, accommodation and food.

Subject Code: COUE203
Credit Points: 6

This subject will enable students to develop both a sound understanding and familiarity with the techniques of case management concerning central issues around grief, loss and bereavement in the psychotherapeutic process. This will involve acquisition of skills, knowledge and an understanding of appropriate interventions for different grief and loss contexts and presentations. The subject will also focus on the cultural, sociological, and ethical aspects of working with these themes.

Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None

This subject examines child and adolescent development, common concerns and issues young people may bring to therapy and best practice engagement strategies when working with young people in a therapeutic context. Students will learn how different engagement activities can be used to effectively build rapport and positive therapeutic relationships with young people, and engage their families, parents and caregivers in the therapeutic process. Subject content also includes how to work within relevant legislation including, confidentiality, informed consent and duty of care with children and young people under the age of 18.

Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None

This subject aims to deepen your understanding of the science and research behind dream work and the resources of the human psyche that produces dreams. It looks at how the dreaming function can use internal resources to address problem-solving, stress management, knowledge and understanding, change management and psychological development. The subject explores experiences in dreaming, liminal, conscious imaging, and metaphoric states of consciousness You will also learn to use various methods, including Jungian and archetypal processes, in both individual and group settings, to tap into these states of consciousness. These methods are developed as part of your integrative symbol and dreamwork skillset.

Subject Code: SOCE302
Credit Points: 6

This subject explores the themes of personal growth and awakening. It follows an intensive format with a structured program involving personal reflection, practice and lectures, exploring themes related to the organisation of the mind. You will begin learning about early developmental factors in mind formation, and progress towards transpersonal psychology and Eastern philosophies and practices.

Subject Code: COUE303
Credit Points: 6