Arts therapists

An art, music or drama therapist encourages people to express their feelings and emotions through art, such as painting and drawing, music or drama.

Protected titles:
- art psychotherapist
- art therapist
- dramatherapist
- music therapist


What standards do arts therapists have to meet?
Download the Standards of Proficiency
Download the Standards of conduct, performance and ethics

Want to become an arts therapist?
See the approved course list

Is your arts therapist registered?
See the online register

Professional Bodies and/or Associations
Each of the professions regulated by us has at least one professional body and/or association. These organisations do work which may include promoting the profession, representing members, curriculum frameworks, post registration education and training and continuing professional development. Whilst these organisations are separate from the HPC, their role may be complementary to ours, which is why we have provided their contact details below:

British Association of Art Therapists
24-27 White Lion Street
London, N1 9PD
Tel: 020 7686 4216
Website: www.baat.org
Email: info@baat.org

British Association of Dramatherapists
41 Broomhouse Lane
London, SW6 3DP
Tel: 020 7731 0160
Web: www.badth.org.uk
Email: Gillian@badth.demon.co.uk

Association of Professional Music Therapists
61 Church Hill Road
East Barnet, Hertfordshire
EN4 8SY
Tel: 0208 440 4153
Web: www.apmt.org
Email: APMToffice@aol.com

Supervision
When we refer to ‘supervision’, it refers to the process of an accountable, autonomous practitioner overseeing the work of someone who is normally either an assistant practitioner, a student, or a health professional who is learning new skills.

However, within art therapy, the term ‘supervision’ is used in a different context, to mean a process where the art therapy process and the relationship with the client is supervised by another practitioner. Within art therapy, the term ‘supervision’ does not infer that the person being supervised is not autonomous, or that they are learning, but is instead viewed by the professional body as a regular part of art therapists' practice.