The Scottish Arts Therapies Forum

[Julie]

Hi all

My name is Julie and I have very recently graduated with a Masters by Supervision in Creative Arts therapy from the Melbourne Institute for Experiential and Creative Arts therapy. I qualified in Australia, where I have resided for the past 5 years but am wishing to return early next year to live in the UK. I am aware that I need to become a member of the HPC in order to work as an arts therapist in the UK and that it is a very expensive and involved process if you have qualified abroad. If anyone been through this process and could share their experiences with me I would be really grateful. The shortest sentence or longest paragraph would be much appreciated!!! I have been researching the job sites for art therapy positions and noticed there was only a few around, is this the norm or more due to the recession? And one final question ( if you don't mind ) is 2 days a week the norm to work as an art therapist in one place of employment or can one do more?

Looking forward to connecting with you all, nice to meet like minded people back overseas too.

Thanks.

Julie
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Julie Thomson

[simon willoughby-booth]

HI Julie

Agree it is a very involved process to become registered with HPC. Haven't been through it myself but am aware of the amount of information they require. However their role is to protect the public from rogue practitioners and it has to be applied rigorously.

As for working practices in the UK, jobs are hard to find at present. You will find people working in all varieties of full and part time work, sometimes as art therapists or sometimes in a related field. One source of vacancies is through the British Association of Art Therapists. You get their regular electronic newsletter when you become a member. Also, once in the UK, you can link up with local groups of arts therapists and find out what's happening in that area and what opportunities are available.

Good luck with getting through the HPC process and finding work.
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Simon Willoughby-Booth

[benny]

thanks Julie for this information and i hope that you will more that type in future as i am also newbie here

thanks
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