Diploma Of Arts Therapy
Where creativity meets compassion…
The Diploma of Arts Therapy is a higher education diploma where you will study the significance of arts marking process and symbolic expression for healing outcomes. Arts therapy is effective in engaging people who may struggle to participate in more traditional ‘talking therapies’ such as children, adolescents, people suffering from trauma, those with disabilities, language difficulties or those from diverse cultural backgrounds.
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualification Framework.
CRICOS Code: 097944E
Australian Qualification Framework: Level 5
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Diploma Of Arts Therapy
Where creativity meets compassion…
The Diploma of Arts Therapy is your pathway to an exciting career as an arts psychotherapist. In this higher education diploma, you will study the significance of symbolic expression for healing outcomes. Arts psychotherapy is particularly effective in engaging people who may struggle to participate in more traditional ‘talking therapies’ such as children, adolescents, people suffering from trauma, those with disabilities, language difficulties or those from other cultural backgrounds.
The Diploma of Arts Therapy will prepare you to be a skilled, and transformative arts psychotherapist.
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualification Framework.
CRICOS Code: 097944E
Australian Qualification Framework: Level 5
Download Course Brochure
Attend Open Day
Ready To Apply?
Key Information
Award
Diploma of Arts Therapy
Duration
1 Year Full Time (or Part Time Equivalent)
Intakes
February, May, September
Study Modes
On Campus, Distance Learning
Locations
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney
Course Fees
Domestic (FEE-HELP available)
International
Is this course right for you?
Here are 5 common myths about arts therapy.
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Course Overview
The Diploma of Arts Therapy is a higher education diploma where you will study the significance of arts marking process and symbolic expression for healing outcomes. Arts therapy is effective in engaging people who may struggle to participate in more traditional ‘talking therapies’ such as children, adolescents, people suffering from trauma, those with disabilities, language difficulties or those from other cultural backgrounds.
Expressing oneself through creative activity has been found to assist in the promotion of physical, emotional, cognitive and social integration and functioning. The consequent insights and personal understandings can be instrumental in facilitating change. The course will introduce to you a range of major arts therapy theoretical perspectives and concepts, including expressive arts, multimodal approaches, and humanistic, cognitive and psychoanalytic approaches.
Through this course, you will develop relational skills and therapeutic presence to help clients explore their inner experience through the creative arts and the art-making process
This qualification is FEE-HELP approved for eligible applicants.
Let healing be your masterpiece.
Course Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of major arts therapy theoretical perspectives and concepts, including expressive arts, multimodal, humanistic, cognitive and psychoanalytic approaches.
- Demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues, cultural and social diversity, and professional responsibility in the context of safe, ethical and reflective practice.
- Establish relational qualities of empathy, mirroring, attunement and therapeutic presence in working with the arts with clients.
- Demonstrate an understanding of a range of 2D and 3D art materials, colour and form, and how materials, colour and form can be used therapeutically to develop relationships and work with moment-to-moment experiencing.
- Describe and apply the theory, philosophy and processes of the phenomenological method of arts therapy.
- Assist the client to precisely verbally describe the inner experience represented in the artwork and the art making process.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is used to understand client presentations of mental health and distress in clinical settings.
- Demonstrate self-awareness, self-motivation and personal responsibility for learning, work and emerging professional skills.
Studying Arts Therapy at Ikon…
A hands-on deeply rewarding career
You’ll get your hands dirty literally in our comprehensive arts therapy courses, which combines cutting-edge psychology courses with a practical and physical arts program. Be prepared to learn just as much about yourself as you break down walls, then build up confidence and resilience in others.
Your fresh start could also be theirs
There has never been a better time to pursue a more meaningful career. As an arts therapist you’ll help all walks of life, from those who have experienced trauma, to those who struggle to open up by talking alone. You’ll guide them to thrive and in turn you’ll be rewarded immeasurably.
Be their turning point
As an arts therapist, you’ll meet people who may have experienced mental, emotional or physical challenges. Through the medium of art, you’ll help them overcome small and sometimes large hurdles and show them just what they’re capable of. You’ll be right there as they enter an exciting new chapter, facilitating a healing of the heart and mind.
Turn your life experience into your life’s work
The obstacles you’ve overcome will only serve to deepen your ability to connect with and help others. Our Diploma of Arts Therapy degree is designed for those who want to bring out the best in people, of all ages and backgrounds.
Career Opportunities
The Diploma of Arts Therapy prepares graduates with the skills to attend to the needs of clients in a variety of arts-based settings, ranging from mental health organisations, alcohol and drug centres, and other health centre agencies.
Course Structure
Students are required to successfully complete 8 subjects (48 credit points) to be eligible for the award of Diploma Arts Therapy.
Each academic year consists of three study periods called trimesters. Each trimester consists of eleven weeks of teaching plus one exam week.
A full-time study load is typically 8 subjects per year.
A part-time study load is typically 4 subjects per year.
Delivery & Workload
Course delivery is a combination of lectures, tutorials, arts workshops, group discussion, and self-directed study.
You should allow for 3 hours per subject for lectures and tutorials. For each subject, you should then spend approximately 10 hours per week for self-directed study to complete prescribed readings, practice skills, research and assessments.
Interested in studying this course online? Click here to learn more about our distance learning options.
Subjects
Integrative Psychotherapy in Theory
This subject is the first in a developmental sequence of study underpinning knowledge and core skills in counselling and integrative arts therapy practice. The theoretical underpinnings of the subject are sourced in the extensive literature on 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.
Credit Points: 6
Co-Requisites: Integrative Arts Psychotherapy in Practice
Integrative Arts Psychotherapy in Practice
This subject is the second in the developmental sequence of study underpinning knowledge and core skills of arts psychotherapy practice. The central activity of this subject is the students’ experiential practice of therapeutic skills in one-to-one therapeutic interactions with peers where students will share and work with their own ‘lived experience’ in sessions. Students are given the opportunity to apply interventions and processes to build and strengthen the therapeutic relationship, unpack the client’s difficulties and help the client to access and explore inner experience. Students will engage in reflection on their practice of micro-skills in integrative arts therapy.
Credit Points: 6
Co-Requisites: Integrative Psychotherapy in Theory
Models of Arts Therapy Practice
This subject focuses on the knowledge, approaches, and applications of three specific theoretical models and techniques in art therapy: existential-phenomenological approaches, cognitive-behavioural approaches, and motivational interviewing. Building on the theoretical knowledge from each framework, students will become conversant with the techniques that cultivate central themes, issues and constructs of psychological inner conflict in clients. The exploration contributes to the students’ greater thoughtfulness and open-mindedness of healing through creative arts.
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None
Qualities of Art Making and Arts Media
This experiential subject focuses on the subjective lived experience of ‘being with’ art, artmaking, and art media. Through interactive lectures and experiential learning students will investigate a range of 2D and 3D art materials with an emphasis on experiencing their different qualities and the physical and emotional responses they elicit. The experiential subject will emphasise the collaboration between the art-maker and materials (as an active participant) in the creative process. Students will experience how the relationship between art-maker and art materials allows the artwork (image, sculpture, installation) to emerge.
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None
Mental Health and Arts Therapy in Clinical Settings
This subject provides an overview of mental health practice and examines the role of arts therapists in promoting mental health and wellbeing, preventing mental illness and reducing the effects of illness. Students will explore how the conceptions of normal and abnormal psychology have developed over time and examine the historical emergence of systems of diagnosis (DSM-5 and ICD-11), their justifications, and criticisms. Students will learn to identify major categories of the current classification systems in psychopathology in preparation for working in mental health facilities and treatment centres.
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None
Embracing Culture, Diversity and Inclusion
As therapists, there are ethical underpinnings to individual world views which often create prejudices and biases which are socialised and are on the whole, unconscious. This subject will equip students with the knowledge, skills and awareness to engage in ethical and culturally sensitive therapeutic practices. Engaging in a pedagogy centred on culture and diversity, independence, autonomy and philosophy, students will examine the versatility of embedded identities and their influence on beliefs, values and biases, both positive and negative. Students will develop cross-cultural skills important to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities, and how to approach their therapeutic needs and healing.
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None
Ethics and Arts Therapy Practice
This subject is designed to develop the student’s awareness and understanding of ethical and legal issues critical to arts therapy practice. Students will learn about ethical principles and frameworks that can inform behaviour and decision-making, including relevant legislation, professional practice standards and codes of ethics within the Australian professional landscape. Students will examine scenarios to identify ethical and legal issues and propose solutions to dilemmas common in therapeutic practice, including those relating to mandatory reporting, dual relationships, professional boundaries and power dimensions. Students will also explore how their personal values may influence their behaviour, decision-making and developing professional identity.
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None
Arts Therapy in Group Practice
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: Integrative Psychotherapy in Theory, Integrative Arts Psychotherapy in Practice
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognition of Prior Learning is an assessment process used to determine the extent to which a student has achieved the learning outcomes of a subject from earlier learning, experience or achievements. Where equivalence of prior learning can be established, the student may be exempt from attending that particular subject in order to complete their course.
You may apply for course credit towards the Diploma of Arts Therapy in recognition of prior learning which may result in course credit and exemption from that subject. If you would like to apply for Credit Transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning please contact us admissions@ikon.edu.au (domestic students), or international@eduholdings.com.au (international students).
Credit Pathways
Graduates of the higher education Diploma of Arts Therapy through Ikon Institute of Australia may gain entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Arts Therapy. Eligible applicants will receive course credit via the grade of Advanced Standing.
Admission Criteria
Ikon has a range of admission pathways available to students of all circumstances and academic backgrounds. You should choose the admission pathway most relevant to your academic background.
Domestic Students
Our admission pathway options include:
- Applicants with Recent Senior Secondary Education (within the past two years) must have completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (Year 12) or equivalent. For guaranteed entry applicants must have achieved an ATAR of 65.
- Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study must have completed a vocational qualification at Diploma level or higher.
- Applicants with Work/Life experience who left senior secondary education more than two years prior to their application, and have not undertaken VET or HE study since, may gain entry based on professional or work experience and/or any non- formal courses undertaken in preparation for tertiary study or that are relevant to the subject area. Work/Life experience applicants must submit a written admission statement outlining their reasons for undertaking the intended course of study. For more information about writing your admissions statement click here.
All applicants must complete the Learner Questionnaire within the Application Form and demonstrate they have the inherent qualities and motivations to be successful in the course. Applicants may be required to participate in an informal interview with an Ikon representative.
To discuss the best pathway for your circumstances, please contact us at 1300 000 933 or admissions@ikon.edu.au
For more information see:
Application Process
Domestic Student Admission Policy
Inherent Requirements
Student Profile Table
International Students
International applicants must have an English Language Proficiency Score of IELTS 6.5 (Academic) with Speaking no less than 6.5; Listening, Writing and Reading no less than 6.0, or equivalent.
Our admission pathway options include:
- Applicants with Recent Senior Secondary Education (within the past two years) must have completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (Year 12). For guaranteed entry applicants must have achieved an ATAR of 65 (or equivalent).
- Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study must have completed a vocational qualification at Diploma level or higher.
- Applicants with Work/Life experience who left senior secondary education more than two years prior to their application, and have not undertaken VET or HE study since, may gain entry based on professional or work experience and/or any non- formal courses undertaken in preparation for tertiary study or that are relevant to the subject area. Work/Life experience applicants must submit a written admission statement outlining their reasons for undertaking the intended course of study. For more information about writing your admissions statement click here.
All applicants must complete the Learner Questionnaire within the Application Form and demonstrate they have the inherent qualities and motivations to be successful in the course. Applicants may be required to participate in an informal interview with an Ikon representative.
To discuss the best pathway for your circumstances, please contact us at international@eduholdings.com.au
For more information see:
Application Process
International Student Admissions Policy
Inherent Requirements
Student Profile Table
Admission Criteria
Ikon has a range of admission pathways available to students of all circumstances and academic backgrounds. You should choose the admission pathway most relevant to your academic background. Our admissions pathways include:
- Australian Year 12 Secondary School Certificate with a minimum ATAR 65
- Completion of a VET qualification at Diploma level or higher
- Completion (or partial completion) of a higher education qualification
- Applicants may also gain entry in recognition of their work and life experience. Work/Life experience applicants must submit a written admission statement outlining their reasons for undertaking the intended course of study. For more information about writing your admissions statement click here.
International applicants, and any applicants who did not complete their previous study in English, must evidence a minimum IELTS Overall Score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5.
All applicants must complete the Learner Questionnaire within the Application Form and demonstrate they have the inherent qualities and motivations to be successful in the course, and may be required to participate in an informal interview with an Ikon representative.
To discuss the best pathway for your circumstances, please contact us at:
admissions@ikon.edu.au (for domestic students) international@eduholdings.com.au (for international students).
For more information see:
Application Process
Domestic Student Admission Policy
International Student Admissions Policy
Student Profile Table