The rising number of children and young people struggling with their mental health has become an acute source of concern. Growing evidence highlights a need for accessible and effective interventions. Additionally, clinicians must work within an increasingly complex legal framework and ensure that their practice complies with statutory requirements. The course is specifically tailored to enable arts therapists to meet these challenges.

What will I learn?

This diploma is designed to equip art therapists with the knowledge and skills required to provide ethical and effective art therapy for children and young people and to operate effectively as a member of the contemporary children and young people’s workforce.

The training modules will also focus on enabling you to learn about and work confidently within the practical, systemic, legislative and theoretical aspects of practice. This is essential to delivering safe, effective and evidence-based art therapy interventions with children and young people aged between 4–18 years old in a range of settings.

Read the course information pack to learn more about our diploma in art therapy with children and young people.

Download information pack (PDF)

How will I learn?

This course is run online. You can study the course full time or part time:

• Full time – one year
• Part time – two years

Who can apply?

This diploma is open to all UK and international art therapists qualified to MA or equivalent level. Suitably experienced overseas applicants wishing to specialise in this area are also welcome to apply.

Application deadline

The deadline for applications is 6 January 2025. Applications shall be judged on merit while also noting the order in which they are received and early applications will be prioritised.

Please send your completed application form to hello@baat.org.

Download application form (doc)

Interview dates

Interviews will be held on:

• 28 January 2025
• 29 January 2025 
• 11 February 2025
• 12 February 2025

Programme leader

Jacqui McKoy-Lewens

Jacqui is an experienced art psychotherapist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). She has over 18 years of post-qualifying clinical experience, working with children, young people, parents/carers, families, and adults.

Jacqui is an art therapy educator, researcher, trainer and writer. She has been facilitating creative teaching and training for young people and adult learners for more than 35 years, including university education at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, in the UK and abroad. During that time, Jacqui has been nominated for and received commendations and awards for innovative and creative teaching, specifically for increasing opportunities for marginalised groups.

Jacqui was the programme director and course leader for the Art Therapy Northern Programme in Sheffield between 2019–2024.  During this time, she contributed to and taught the university’s recently developed Integrated Care Curriculum. The curriculum teaches arts therapists and other AHP students together as a shared multi-disciplinary team (MDT) about collective client care, enabling combined thinking, as would happen in complex cases.

Jacqui is also actively involved in encouraging life-long learning and equal opportunities to education and employment for all and has supported various adult and children’s organisations as an active board member to inform and support on their equality, diversity and inclusion and organisational policies.