Art Therapy and Music Therapy
Art Therapy
The Good Universities Guide states that Art therapists work with a client or a group of clients to help them address emotional and psychological issues through creative activities such as drawing, painting, sculpting and collage. *
Art therapists may perform the following tasks:
- conduct therapeutic interviews and provide psychotherapy and counselling
- provide assessments to identify the source of problems and determine appropriate treatment
- provide follow-up services to groups and individuals for support and evaluation purposes
- build relationships with clients to support them in understanding their emotions and behaviours
- assess individuals and groups in order to identify their abilities and needs
- develop activities that may use painting, sculpting, printing and/or drawing to address a patient's needs and concerns in a safe, nurturing environment
- maintain appropriate records of patient progress
- provide consultation and information about patient progress
- assess, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of artistic and therapeutic interactions.
Art therapists work in any area where people require assistance with achieving a better quality of mental health. This includes psychiatric wards, prisons, rehabilitation centres, and drug and alcohol units.
Personal requirements of successful art therapists include:
- interested in people and human behaviour
- good problem-solving skills
- an inquisitive mind
- able to maintain confidentiality
- patient and perceptive
- good oral and written communication skills.
Find out more at The Good Universities Guide - Art Therapist *
Music Therapy
The Good Universities Guide defines a Music Therapist as someone who provides therapeutic programmes through the planned and controlled use of music to help people of all ages, including those with special needs because of social, emotional, psychiatric, physical or intellectual impairments.
They perform tasks such as:
- assess individuals and groups to identify abilities and needs, and develop objectives that address client's needs
- plan and carry out specific music-making activities to address the client's needs and concerns, such as singing, moving to music, reflective music listening, playing music, music and drama, improvisation, song writing and other creative activities
- assess, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of the musical and therapeutic interactions.
Find out more at Music Therapist - Good Universities Guide
Students often study a Bachelor of Music at university, and then do post-graduate studies that specialise in music therapy skills. Music is taught through a number of university courses, but two Victorian universities offer a dedicated Bachelor of Music and these are Music at Monash and Music at Melbourne. Either of these two degrees can offer an opportunity for students to go on and study specialised post-graduate courses in music therapy. These could be –