Professional context of Art Therapy
Art Therapy can be studied in Germany at different institutions and under different labels (Art Therapy/ Art and Creative Therapy/ Creativity Therapies). It is based on different theoretical and methodological foundations (Psychoanalysis, Gestalt Therapy, Anthroposophy, Learning and Behavioural Theories, etc) and on different organisational practices.
Professionalisation
As there is no professional recognition of an art therapeutic service whose costs are covered by health insurances (as is the case with medical care) and as Art Therapists are characterised as “auxiliary healing professionals” and not as “healing professionals”, consequently there is no legally protected and independent status for this profession.
There might be a change of status quo, as far as by the new law for Psychotherapy (1998).
Psychologists and Pedagogics with psychotherapist training (mainly with a psychoanalytic or behavioural orientation) have got a chance to be recognised as independent practitioners. But it will be still the reality that on the whole the attending physician remains solely responsible and the Art Therapist operates under his supervision. This “close guidance system” does not apply to the wider field of therapeutic measures taken within education, counselling, prevention, rehabilitation, integration of marginal or sub-groups etc. For instance, psychologists and teachers specially trained in Art Therapy may be engaged with full responsibility in all relevant fields prescribed in their “basic training”.
The policy of the Art Therapists’ Association still aims at full professional recognition.
Academic education
The training of the Art Therapists is an academic one and takes place either at Universities (e.g. Köln, Münster),
Polytechnics, Fachhochschulen (e.g. Freiburg, Nürtingen, Ottersberg) or at Art academies (e.g. Berlin, Dresden, München), either as an additional qualification
(Münster), as a specialisation (München) or as a foundation course (Nürtingen). Further professional training parallel to one’s own occupation is offered at, for example, the private Fritz-Perls-Academy
(Hückeswagen).
The conditions for admission to studies in Art Therapy at universities and Polytechnics are normally the abitur or the “Fachgebundene Hochschulreife”. The character and duration of the professional education depend on the existing charts of study and examination rules applying to every institution.
Situation of requirements
Clinics, rehabilitation institutions and counselling authorities register a growing demand for non-medical therapies using artistic-creative media, while often the ideas for possible foundations (“schools”), types of training and graduation have not been precisely developed. Frequently, clinics employ an Art Therapist to signal open mindedness and up-to-dateness and/or to complete their attendance teams (comprising physicians, psychologists, social workers).
Occasionally, Art Therapists find themselves next to Music and Dance Therapists with whom they have to “share” their clients. Art Therapists are expected to work artistically with individuals and groups, as a result, being an artist is often thought of as being an Art Therapist. This causes a lack of more concrete and substantial ideas about the subject, the extent and the chances of success which can be proved with facts and data, so that those concerned could adequately define their own tasks and describe their area of work. This insecurity also applies to issues of classification and salary.
Consequences
So far we have referred specifically to the fine arts and their productive and reproductive application. No one practising a specific Arts Therapy can talk any longer about “the arts” as a whole. For that reason the pars pro toto principle must be abandoned for the sake of the necessary future understanding in the discussion between the different forms of artistic expression relevant to therapy. A social and health policy is envisaged which will offer friendly conditions to the interested persons on a differentiated but to a great extent common basis.
UNIVERSITY OF MÜNSTER
Haus Vortlage Lengerich
Dr. Phil. Educational Science plus Eu DOC Art Therapy/Gestaltete Interaktion
The Dr. Phil. degree is an internationally recognized qualification for a professional career and usually a prerequisite for a university teaching position.
Art therapy is not yet established as an autonomous discipline at European universities. Therefore, the umbrella for a Ph.D. with an art therapeutic topic usually has to be accommodated within the traditional disciplines in the philosophical or natural science faculties.
Our project is offering on the one hand the Dr. Phil. graduation with the major in educational sciences (combined with the minor in Psychology, Sociology or any other subject) and on the other hand research oriented workshops and distant learning in art therapy with the special methods of the Gestaltete Interaktion approach.
Entry Requirements
Completion of a 4 year university study and a working practice as arts therapist
Duration of Studies
2 years full time or 4 years part time that depends very much on previous studied subjects, research experiences, time for writing of the doctoral thesis (besides the practical work load)
Course Content
Stresses the professional selfawareness and field research interests for the development of art therapy
Doctoral thesis
Finding and formulation of the theme will be worked on in close contact to the PhD supervising person.
Contact address
Prof. Dr. Line Kossolapow
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
Haus Vortlage
49525 Lengerich
Germany
Tel.: 0049 5481 6356
Fax: 0049 5481 84311
e-mail: kossola@uni-muenster.de
UNIVERSITY OF MUNSTER
Postgraduate Study of Music Therapy (Diploma)
Entry Requirements
First state examination either for a secondary school (SekI/SekII) with the subject music or an elementary school (Primarstufe) with the main subject music.
Duration of Studies
2 years (4 semesters including diploma exams).
The study includes 845 hours in total, with:
Music Therapy - 312 hours
Medicine - 182 hours
Practice - 351 hours
Course Content
The aim of the study is the supplemental offer of scientific, music and professional qualification as a Music Therapist through the expansion and deepening of the practical and theoretical knowledge and competence of the former study. The Music Therapist will be qualified in several areas such as practice, teaching and research.
The study includes the following course contents:
Contact address
Theoretical Music Therapy
Practical Music Therapy
Music psychology.
Sense and Neurophysiology
Medical psychology and Psycho-somatic Medicine
Psychiatry Psycho-somatic and Psychiatry of Children and Adolescents
Selected aspects of neurology cases
Auditory, voice and speech disorders.
Course Philosophy
Music therapeutic orientation:
psychoanalytic and morphological. Accent on the self-reliant development of suitable concepts in the different practice
placements.
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universtät
Department of Musiceducation
Dr. Rosemarie Tupker
Pr. Dr. Maria Luise Schulten
Philippistr. 2
D - 48149 Münster
GERMANY
Tel: 0049 251 83 4224 or 4226
Fax: 0049 251 83 4242 or 8389
E-mail: musiktherapie@uni-muenster.de
Website: http://www.uni-uenster.de/musiktherapie
NURTINGEN
Diploma in Art Therapy
Fachhochschule für Kunsttherapie Nürtingen
FHKT
Staatlich anerkannte Fachhochschule
(University of applied Sciences)
Entry Requirements
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higher education or higher professional education certificate
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or master craftsman’s diploma or a state-validated training in social, curative, educational, nursing fields or arts, according to the decrees of the competent ministry in Stuttgart/Baden-Württemberg
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or particular exam for above-average talented appliants according to the respective regulations of the State of Baden-Württemberg
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a 6 months social practical experience
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for immigrant Students: knowledge of the German language
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a three-day admission-workshop incl. admission interview (Presentation of a portfolio with 20 examples of artistic works and a scetchbook)
Beginning of Studies
October
Duration of Studies
8 semesters (4 years)
Course content
1. Basic Studies (3 semesters)
- self-experience groups with extern professionals
- practice in social institutions
2. Main Studies I (2 semesters)
3. Clinical placement (1 semester)
- in a freely choosen institution, approved by the university
- supervision
4. Main Studies II (2 semesters)
5. Final Thesis
Personal art work
- Basic Studies (selection)
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basic seminars in art therapy, introduction into theory and practice of different art therapeutic approaches
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artistic basic training, art history
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development- and perception-psychology, theory of sciences
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approaches of psychotherapy
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basics of psychodynamics and clinical psychotherapy
Main Studies (selection)
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Main seminars: pedagogical orientated Art-therapy, depth psychology orientated Art-therapy, process orientated Art-therapy
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Varied specific methological seminars in Art-therapy
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target group orientated seminars: clinical Art-therapy, work with children and adolescents, mentally retarded, geriatrics, coaching and team development.
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Individual artistic training:
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Painting/ sculpturing/ installation/ media/ concept/ graphics/ textile/ ceramics/ positions of contemporary Art
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intensification of supporting sciences: conflict centered and trauma centered clinical psychotherapy/ social psychology/ psychotherapy and spirituality
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theories of Art therapy and research approaches
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supervision
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science of profession, art therapeutic practice and institution, professional regulations
Course philosophy
Art-Therapy, as we know it, uses the action, knowledge and impulse of fine arts to accompany healing and development processes. Consequently the profile of our curriculum is mainly focused on the artistic point of view, which is closely interlinked with practical and science-based art-therapeutic concepts. Particularly important for us is the link of perception and design with a possible sensual and mental discovery: in this way the creative process of personal artistic examination is experienced and is specifically reflected from the point of view of contemporary Art.
We refer to the actual results of psychology, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, as they have been further developed in the humanistic and depth-psychological approaches. The Analytical Psychology of C.G. Jung in its modern aspects is the general background of most of our therapeutical approaches as it emphasizes the creative processes in psychotherapy. The therapeutic relationship in their varied facets is seen as the point of integration of the different art-therapeutic stages.
In the methodical seminars practical approach to specific applications on pedagogical, socialpedagogical and clinical fields takes place. As well as the dialogical strategies, working with clay (Ton-Feld) and other materials and drama therapy are used to find answers to practical requests. In this way Art-Therapy can support people in developing their creative potential and in mobilizing self-healing powers and help individuals coping with crisis and illness.
This is how Art-Therapy relates itself to healthy aspects of people and their resources, as they become apparent in the creative and therapeutic processes.
The personal atmosphere at our university with only 200 students guarantees an intensive support during the eight semesters. During the whole course each student has access to a personal area in the studio and is supported in the development of his or her artistic and therapeutic identity.
We are a joint project of teaching staff and students and offer our students several possibilities of participation in the development of the
University.
Contact address
Prof. Dr. Ralf Bolle
Fachhochschule für Kunsttherapie
Sigmaringerstrasse 15
72622 Nürtingen, GERMANY
Tel: 0049 7022 933 360
Fax: 0049 7022 933 3623
e-mail:
R.Bolle@fhkt.de
ACADEMY FOR VISUAL ART DRESDEN
Postgraduate Study of Art Therapy
Entry Requirements
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Graduate degree of studies in the fields of art or art pedagogics, or other academic degree with proved artistical competences (demonstrated as a portfolio).
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Practical training in a clinical or social institution.
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Admission interview.
Duration of Studies
4 semesters full-time, study load 2400 hrs.
Course Content
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Basic specialised knowledge: Art Therapy Theories; Historical, ethical and philosophical backgrounds of Art Therapy
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Methodology and practice of Art Therapy: General methodology (processes, techniques, factors of effects); Special methodology (Art Therapy, in several disorder areas and Art Therapy in different application areas); Basic therapeutic behaviour (training of basic skills)
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Art Therapy in its relation to art and therapy (art theoretic, medical, social-scientific entries into an integrative profession profile)
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Art Therapy in the supply network: Forms of organisations and legal basics, project management
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Quality assurance/ practice evaluation: Documentation, supervision
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Traineeship/ project work: traineeship accompanying the studies; six weeks project work; six weeks full-time practice in a social or clinical institution
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Personal artistic work
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Final examinations
Course Philosophy
In the focus of Art Therapy stands the creative act of working with forming and formable materials. The therapeutic dimension of the creative work lies in the stimulation of various sensible perceptions, imagination and pleasure in being creative and in the appropriate verbal treatment of this process.
Painful experiences can then be expressed and handled. During the process of creating, patients and clients gain the experience of finding out about their own opportunities and limits.
The therapeutical concept of the training is an integrating, system-theoretical one. In the centre of attention stand the parallels and the common grounds of artistical and therapeutical work.
Content of the therapy is the process as well as the product of the artistical creation; starting points are the concrete, current living situations of the patients and clients, and the aim is the support of the creative potential everybody owns. In that way, even under difficult conditions, like in the case if being ill or being handicapped, a higher rate of autonomy in the own life-organisation can be reached.
I n the centre of therapeutical work, therefore, stands the gaining of self-availability, which becomes obvious in the gaining of extended competences in handling situations and consequently also in extended activity scopes. Furthermore, Art Therapy wants to help people to perceive themselves more again, to live more conscious, to find their own way and to enjoy life with all its contradictions and ambivalences.
To influence and to be aware of the process of digesting problems of the patients and clients, professional skills as well as social skills are required by the therapist.
The main emphasis of the study lies on a permanent relation between the theory and practice. Apart form lectures, the curriculum also provides practical, relation-orientated workshops (group and project work, self-experience and supervision).
Contact address
Prof. Doris Titze
Hochschule für Bildende Künste
Aufbaustudiengang
KunstTherapy
Besucheranschrift:Guntzstr. 34
01307 Dresden, Germany
Postanschrift: 01288 Dresden
Tel: 0049 351 4402 272
Fax: 0049 351 4402 206
E-Mail: titze@serv1.hfbk-dresden.de
Website: www.hfbk-dresden.de
UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE
Diploma in Pedagogics / Doctorate (Dr. päd. or Dr. Phil.) Specialisation “Art Therapy & Psychanalysis”
Entry Requirements
Completion of a two year (4 semesters) study, with pedagogics as the main subject. In addition art works have to be presented.
Duration of Studies
The training programme of Art Therapy within the study of pedagogics takes two years (4 semesters), with an additional term for the Diploma Examination in Pedagogics.
Course philosophy
To wish to become an art therapist depends on several decisions concerning the symptomatology of one’s life history. That is why art therapy can only be studied after a successful intermediate examination in Pedagogics.
Course content
The pedagogic training programme of the Institute of Art and Art Theory follows two directions, these are: “methods of art” and “art therapy”. If the student chooses art therapy she/he has to enrol for the following projects which take place on a regular basis:
- Tavistock working conference Art Therapy 100 hrs
- “Basic experiences within religion, art and therapy”, 100 hrs
- “Alternative cultural scenes”, 50 hrs
- “Art therapeutic art (painting and pictural learning)”, 100 hrs
- Seminar “psychoanalysis and art”, 50 hrs
Every project respectively seminar has to be completed by a solo or a group performance. Art studies within the possibilities of the institute (main course for painting / main course for transclassical methods / main course for felt and other cross-over techniques (within the department of textiles), at least 600 hrs).
Additional Studies
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Practical periods in clinical institutions 900 hrs
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Self-experience within a psycho-therapeutic group licensed by the German Society of Arts Therapies (normally within the Cologne School of Art Therapy, Plankgasse 42, D-50668 Köln/Cologne), 600 hrs.
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Participation in the cologne group of the New Lacanian School (every 14 days) and in the conferences of this group (twice a year either in Cologne or in Paris).
The enrolement for the training programme is possible at any time. The training programme will be completed by a diploma thesis. It is recommended that the diploma thesis will be supervised by lecturers of the Institute of Psychology if the student wants to complete her/his studies with an empirical-critical work. If the student wants to write a hermeneutically orientated thesis, the supervision will take place within the Institute of Art and Art Theory.
The diploma studies can be completed additionally by a doctorate. This means two years of postgraduate studies (with a personal supervision, 600 hrs). The doctoral thesis must deal with a specific theoretical problem of art
therapy.
A doctoral art therapy thesis can also be written by candidates of the teacher training process if they have studied art education and have replaced the didactic modules by art therapy modules.
Contact address
Prof. Dr. Peter Rech - Universität zu Köln
Erziehungswissenschaftliche Fakultät
Institut für Kunst und Kunsttheorie
Gronewaldstr. 2 /50931 Köln
Tel.: 0049 221 470 4707/Fax: 0049 221 470 4716
E-mail: n.bock@uni-koeln.de
UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES OTTERSBERG
Diploma in Drama Therapy
Entry Requirements
Higher education or higher professional education certificate (or)Master craftsman’s diploma or a state-validated training in creative fields according to the respective regulations of the State of Lower Saxony (or)Particular exam for above-average talented applicants according to the respective regulations of the State of Lower Saxony
Artistic abilities.
For immigrant students: Knowledge of the German language
Course Content
Basic Studies
Artistic subjects: elementary theatre, narration/communication, making masks/play with masks, Drama projects with personally conceived figures, dance and movement, speech and voice, eurhythmics, acrobatics, choir, creative and scientifical writing
basic practical work experience.
Scientific studies (selection): Medicine, pedagogy/ social-pedagogy, philosophy/ anthroposophy Grade: “Vordiplom“
Main studies (6 trimesters)
Artistic subjects: Dialogue, dance and contact improvisation, self-developed role work/individual performing approach, scenes: creating, guiding, directing, therapeutical and pedagogical concepts and methods, drama in social work fields, dance theatre / eurhythmics / performance, art of speaking, voice training, singing.
practical training period
Scientific subjects (selection): social pedagogy /therapeutic pedagogy, medicine/psychiatry, psychology, anthropology of drama, theatre history, poetry/creative writing, theory of speech and communication, anthroposophy.
Final studies (2 trimesters),
Thesis & Personal art work
Course Philosophy
Working with theatre in social contexts is confronted with multiple working fields and tasks which makes a particular variety of competence necessary. This includes e.g. the ability to adjust to other people and respond to given situations flexibly. Of course one should be able to deal with conflicts, too...The education is not focussed on one single method, neither in an artistic, pedagogical or therapeutical way. Performing and expressing other people requires intensive thoughts about their individual characters and about conditions and possibilities of human behaviour. For theatre work this also requires not only perspectives in acting but also for those which are important for social and spiritual life and the dignity of man. Above all this “practising or rehearsing“ means – in many senses of the words: trying out, testing one’s abilities and eventually passing a challenge. At the end of each trimester students present their work where they are consequently given the opportunity to gain a public echo. Practice periods and final studies open the doors for later professional activities – they are important experiences to be reflected and discussed during the studies.
Contact address
Prof. Peer de Smit
Albrecht Lampe, Kurator - Am Wiestebruch 68
28870 Ottersberg GERMANY
Tel/Fax: 0049 4205 3949 18 / 0049 4205 3949 79
e-mail: kurator@fh-ottersberg.de
UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES OTTERSBERG
Diploma in Art Therapy/ rt Pedagogy,
(Fine Arts)
Entry Requirements
Higher education or higher professional education certificate (or) Master craftsman’s diploma or a state-validated training in creative fields according to the respective regulations of the State of Lower Saxony (or) Particular exam for above-average talented applicants according to the respective regulations of the State of Lower Saxony.
A six month social practical experience
Artistic abilities (presentation of a portfolio with 20 examples of artistic works)
For immigrant students: knowledge of the German language
Duration of Studies
12 trimesters (4 years), beginning of Studies in winter, summer, and autumn
Course Content
Basic Studies (3 trimesters)
Artistic Subjects:
graphic – painting –sculpturing, art therapy in social-pedagogical fields.
Scientific Subjects (selection):
medicine–pedagogy–philosophy/anthroposophy, aesthetics/history of art, attendant subject: eurythmy
4-weeks-practice
Grade: “Vordiplom“
Main Studies (7 trimesters)
Artistic Subjects:
art-pedagogical concepts and methods, free artistic work, painting, print-graphic, drawing, sculpturing, installation, photography, video etc., art-therapeutical concepts and methods of painting and sculpturing, art-therapy in social-pedagogical fields
Scientifical subjects (selection):
art-therapy, pedagogy / social-pedagogy / therapeutic pedagogy, anthroposophical subjects, psychology / psychiatry – medicine – history of art – aesthetics, philosophy – anthroposophy
Finals (2 trimesters): A 4-month-practice; Thesis; Personal art work
Course Philosophy
Above all we place our main efforts on educating our students to become good artists because we trust in the therapeutic effects of the creative process – so about 75 % of our curricular contents have practical artistic subjects. It is a matter of course that we have to introduce them to scientific issues and methodology too, these lectures are partially based on anthroposophic theories. Another very important aspect is to integrate as early as possible art therapeutical and pedagogical experience into the curricula.
The students start with drawing exercises in black and white , in the following two trimesters they are confronted with the basics of colour and figure. For the latter the most used materials are clay, wood and plaster. For the next trimester our students apply artistic aspects to pedagogical purposes based on Waldorf pedagogy.
For the following 4 Trimesters the students should be on their way to find out an own artistic point of view. In the beginning of that period the students have to decide between painting or sculpturing as their main subject for the near future. Of course alterations of the students plans are possible.
The different technics of printing and a studio for New Media are available. In this period of the course we have placed a very practical introduction into social sciences art.
During the ninth and tenth trimester self experiential art therapy based on anthroposohic theories with clay and water colours are the main topics. According to experience these methods are often used in the health sector. The whole program is accompanied by scientific lectures as medicine, psychology, psychiatry, pedagogy, Anthroposophic theories, philosophy, aesthetics, supervision etc. The final period consists of two trimesters: a 12 weeks practical course in an institution close to the future professional field, a thesis of a self chosen subject and the final presentation of the students artistic work.
Contact address
Prof. Peer de Smit
Albrecht Lampe, Kurator
Am Wiestebruch 68
28870 Ottesberg
GERMANY
Tel/Fax: 0049 4205 3949 18 / 0049 4205 3949 79
e-mail: kurator@fh-ottersberg.de