Art therapist

An art therapist uses creative processes such as drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage as a therapeutic tool to promote emotional expression and psychological well-being. This approach recognises that artistic creation can facilitate access to difficult emotions that are hard to verbalise and contributes to stress and anxiety reduction. Art therapy is used as a complement to other treatments in various settings including psychiatric hospitals, general hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and private practice.

• ✓Anxiety disorders or mild-to-moderate depression as a complement to psychiatric care
• ✓Trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder to facilitate non-verbal expression
• ✓Emotional difficulties in children (behavioural problems, selective mutism)
• ✓Stress management and relaxation for patients with chronic illness
• ✓Cognitive rehabilitation following stroke or traumatic brain injury
• ✓Palliative care support or grief counselling
• ✓Low self-esteem or relational difficulties

In the UK and Europe, verify university-recognised training in art therapy (postgraduate diploma or master's degree) or certification from professional bodies such as ACAT (Art Therapists, Registered). Practitioners should have completed theoretical training in psychology and supervised clinical practice (typically 1,000–1,500+ hours). In Israel, the profession is regulated by the Ministry of Health; verify registration with the Israeli Association of Therapists and at least 1,000–1,500 hours of formal training.