Launching masterclasses in art therapy
We are pleased to announce we are launching a new course format in 2025 – our masterclasses! These will be special events taught by people who are highly experienced in art therapy-related subjects. We are excited to share more details about this type of training and the topics that our all-new masterclasses will cover.
What is a masterclass and who can attend?
Attendees may include anyone with a genuine interest in the subject, but ideally, you will already know the basics so you can learn from listening to interesting discussions and questions from 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).
Illustration showing entry level through to enhanced, advanced and consultant level across the four pillars of practice.
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 the discussions between advanced practitioners, teacher and practice related Q&A, but most importantly for everyone to leave feeling inspired to progress their practice in the specific area.
What is the difference between our standard courses and our masterclasses?
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 illustrate specific topics they would like to explore further. The teacher will then review the topics and select a practice example to illustrate the 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.
What topics will the masterclasses cover?
Our masterclasses will cover a ranges of topics, launching in February 2025 with a Masterclass in trauma-informed art therapy practice. Led by Cornelia Elbrecht, the class will teach art therapy exercises to explore a trauma-informed approach informed by body-based neurobiological insights.
For art therapists who want to explore and/or re-ignite their creativity, our Masterclass in maintaining your creative practice as an art therapist will look at ways to maintain a regular creative practice that fits around the challenges of daily life. Led by Jacqui McKoy-Lewens, delegates will explore what creative practice means to them and design a ‘creative toolkit and schedule’ that is individual to their own personal circumstances.
To allow a creative space to safely discuss and explore what is meant by the term ‘hard to reach’ when working with children and young people, we have developed a Masterclass in art therapy with ‘hard to reach’ children & young people. This masterclass, led by Jacqui McKoy-Lewens, aims to enhance practitioners’ understanding of the factors that might contribute to this classification and explore examples of ways to encourage engagement in art therapy.