What is a masterclass and who can attend?

Our masterclasses are special classes taught by people who are highly experienced in the subject. Attendees may include UK and international art therapists. All qualified and trainee art therapists interested in the specialist area of art therapy are welcome, but ideally, you will already have some entry or enhanced level clinical experience so you can learn from listening to discussions and questions from the advanced practitioners.

For some practitioners, masterclasses can be part of a pathway from entry level (as set out by HCPC) to becoming an enhanced or advanced level practitioner (as set out by NHS England).

The aims of our masterclasses are for all attendees to learn from the knowledge and practice of the teacher, for less experienced practitioners to learn from discussions between advanced practitioners, the teacher, and practice-related Q&A, but most importantly for everyone to leave feeling inspired to progress their practice in the specific area.

Art therapy with people who experience psychosis

What do people need to know when they experience hearing voices? They need to know that others with similar experiences have found ways to live. Although many services are stretched, and clients with experience of psychosis are often vulnerable to societal stresses, art therapy has the potential to work collaboratively with them.

As art therapists, we can educate ourselves about knowledge that comes from service user experience and research. This knowledge can inform how we formulate individual and group art therapy sessions. Our use of relationship and artmaking may add a helpful dimension, contributing to a person’s sense of agency and ability to compose themselves.

What you will learn

You will have the opportunity for in-depth consideration of how to continue developing effective art therapy practice with people who experience psychosis. On completion of this masterclass, you will have:

• Explored effective applications of service-user-informed frameworks such as acceptance, compassion-focused, stabilisation, and Open Dialogue models.
• Considered the implications of evidence-based guidance for your practice.
• Gained further knowledge of relevant research.
• Identified any gaps in knowledge or skill to help you further develop your practice.

How you learn

The difference between our standard courses and our masterclasses is the setup. In a masterclass, everyone will have the opportunity to listen to the teacher’s feedback on examples of practice from advanced practitioners. The value of the masterclass setup is that all attendees can benefit from the teacher’s detailed feedback on examples of advanced practice.

After booking onto one of our masterclasses, advanced practitioners will be able to complete a form within the memberzone to submit brief examples of practice which illustrates specific topics they would like to explore further. The teacher will then review the topics and select practice examples to illustrate emerging themes. Please note the form will close two months before the masterclass, therefore we highly recommend early booking so you can have your input. After the form closes, bookings will remain open until one week before the masterclass.

Learning will also be through:

• Recommendations for preparatory reading.
• Presentations
• Video of other practitioners and people with lived experience.
• An opportunity to submit examples of your practice for discussion and feedback during the masterclass.
• Art-based learning and reflective practice workshops.
• Small and large group discussions.
• Feedback and Q&A sessions.
• An opportunity to experience a variety of creative resources.
• Small and large group discussions.
• Feedback and Q&A sessions.
• Less experienced practitioners will also learn from listening to interesting discussions and questions from advanced practitioners.

Also of interest

You may also be interested to read our evidence page on art therapy and psychosis and tutor Dr Chris Wood’s article on Working as an art therapist in the NHS alongside people who experience psychosis in the spring issue of InSight magazine.

Evidence page  InSight article

Tutor

Dr Chris Wood