An art therapist's career story

As Head of Art Therapies, I manage a team of arts therapists (Art therapists, Dramatherapists and Music therapists) across inpatient (hospital) and community services.

I had an interest in art from an early age and attended art college in the 1980’s to study fine art. A combination of this, experiences of care work and a growing interest in psychotherapy led me to train as an art therapist.

Once qualified I worked in various posts in day hospitals, acute, rehabilitation and community services. This gave me experience of being a member of a wide range of teams, not all of them easy to work in! (This gave me insights into the dynamics of organisations that I later developed from 2004 to 2006) when I took the Tavistock MA ‘Consultancy and the Organisation’).

It also provided a steep learning curve for my clinical skills and my general understanding of mental health issues. I took the post of head of art therapy for Ealing in 2002 and, as the Trust integrated its borough based services and amalgamated the arts therapies departments into one service in 2012 took my current role.

I have been very active in my profession outside my ‘day job’, notably from 2008 to 2014 as editor of the International Journal of Art Therapy (Taylor Francis) and from 2014 to 2000 as chair of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT). In the latter role I was co-chair of the trailblazer group for arts therapies apprenticeships.

You need to be able to work under pressure, to carry anxiety without getting too frazzled, to achieve a good balance between emotional sensitivity and systematic thinking; between having a strong vision and learning from others.

Good collaborative and leadership skills are essential, as are a a good all round understanding of mental health issues.

An ability to communicate the unique contribution of the arts therapies alongside appreciating areas where we need to develop.

In 2012 there were substantial cuts to the Trust’s arts therapies service as the NHS struggled to absorb the impact of the 2008 financial crash.

These had a traumatic effect on me and on the remaining team. One long-term effect of this was to increase my determination ensure that the arts therapies service is responsive, visible and valued.

Much of my work as chair of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) had the same aim on the national level.

I am very proud to have led the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) working group to develop guidelines on Art Therapy for People with a Psychosis-Related Diagnosis. These have filled a significant gap in the available guidance and present a comprehensive, evidence based overview of up to date art therapy practice with this client group.

I am also thrilled to have been, in my Head of Arts Therapies role, a key part of the development of Gaga Radio, an internet radio station run by people with lived experience, and to be part of the current ‘gaga crew’ of programme makers and presenters .