新加坡拉萨尔艺术学院

Practice as a culturally sensitive, competent and ethical art therapist.

As the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, the MA Art Therapy programme augments the range of mental health options available in Singapore and the region. This programme is distinctive in defining the professional discipline in contemporary ways that are culturally relevant and meaningful within Asian and global contexts.

This is a practice-based, intensive training programme that emphasises experiential learning through art making, reflection and research. The MA in Art Therapy at LASALLE is an ANZACATA approved training programme, preparing graduates to become professionally credentialed as Registered Art Therapists (AThR).

Art therapists develop the necessary skills and training to effectively work with a variety of populations throughout the life cycle. They work within various medical, institutional, educational, and rehabilitative settings that may include learning, development, medical conditions, social work, marginalised groups, crisis and trauma within communities, ageing and eldercare, to name a few. The practice of art therapy ranges from studio-based to clinical approaches, depending on the art therapist's level of expertise, practice and working environment. Art therapists remain sensitive to cultural awareness, difference and diversity and adhere to international ethics and best practices.

The MA Art Therapy programme spans a range of psychotherapeutic concepts, theories and practices. The experiential model of the programme places an emphasis on acquiring critical knowledge and understanding of the philosophy of the modality itself. You will undergo a substantial period of clinical practice through supervised clinical placements. Clinical work is further explored and discussed through structured group and individual supervision at the College.

You will be encouraged to attain an autonomous and reflective stance in your learning, development and assessment in collaboration with tutors. This is a vital process in developing an approach to your professional practice as a confident, competent and ethical art therapist that will be based upon your ability to be analytical, critical, objective and self-reflective about your work.

The programme is groundbreaking in relation to the varied and distinctive social, cultural and spiritual frameworks within which it is being nurtured. Adopting a blend of Eastern and Western approaches, you will be encouraged to develop a reflective and contemporary philosophical and practical stance, as well as research and work in a range of settings both local and, if appropriate, international.

Self-reflexivity, mindfulness and a contemplative approach are practices you may draw upon to further embrace and/or expand your understanding of an Asian context. It is acknowledged that cultural difference and diversity are at the heart of current art therapy debate and discourse both locally and around the globe.

Programme structure

The MA Art Therapy is a two-year full-time programme divided into four semesters of 13 teaching weeks. You must successfully complete the modules offered in sequence before you can progress to the next semester. You learn progressively, each module building upon the knowledge and skill base of the previous semester. The incremental learning structure of the programme ensures that you will acquire the essential knowledge and practical experience to become professional art therapists.

Graduate career paths: Art Therapist, Counsellor, Educator, Social Worker, Artist, Researcher, Writer