Art therapists help patients overcome psychological and emotional difficulties through an artistic process which reflects emotions and feelings, focusing on patients who suffer a variety of problems such as mental, psychological, and behavioural disorders in order to facilitate self-understanding and awareness.
The direct experience of the therapeutic utility and psychological influence of art processes and materials, and the therapeutic effect of art making, leading to the establishment of therapeutic goals and intervention strategies.
The characteristics and foundations of behavioural therapy, which focuses on changing patients` unwanted or negative behaviour. It involves studying the present behaviour and the means by which this can be un-learned.
The human psychological development across the lifespan, theories of personality development, cultural and environmental influences, human behavior, including developmental crises, disability, exceptional behavior, and addictive behavior.
The criteria of psychiatric diagnoses, the use of the disease classification system, and the theories of psychopathology. The indicators of functional and organic disorders and the types of psychopharmacological medications.
The art therapy history and theory, events, and practitioners, and the development of art therapy as a distinct therapeutic practice, the overview of psychotherapy theories relevant to art therapy, theories of creativity, and theoretical foundations of art therapy.
The human mental processes such as attention, memory, language use, perception, problem solving, creativity and thinking.
The theory and techniques required to compose, produce and perform works of visual arts as drawing, painting, sculpture and other art forms.
The patients` rights and responsibilities of health practitioners and the possible repercussions and prosecutions in relation to medical treatment negligence or malpractice.
The historical development of counselling and psychological theories, as well as the perspectives, applications, and interviewing and counselling strategies.
The group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
Constructively challenge the behaviour, attitude and mind-set of patients through art therapy sessions.
Develop educational materials to educate patients, families, staff, and public about art therapy.
Enable patients to discover and explore works of art and the artistic production process.
Plan, design and facilitate a schedule of artistic activities for individuals and groups.
Accept accountability for one`s own professional activities and recognise the limits of one`s own scope of practice and competencies.
Ensure patients/clients are fully informed about the risks and benefits of proposed treatments so they can give informed consent, engaging patients/clients in the process of their care and treatment.
Treat individuals or groups in inpatient, outpatient, partial treatment programs, and aftercare with art therapy interventions, to explore verbal, behavioural, and artistic communication, treatment planning, treatment approaches and relationship dynamics.
Apply professional and evidence based assessment, goal setting, delivery of intervention and evaluation of clients, taking into account the developmental and contextual history of the clients, within one`s own scope of practice.
Evaluate the effectiveness of art therapy sessions to aid the planning of subsequent sessions.
Observe and assess the patient`s behaviour, attitudes and emotions in order to understand if and how their therapeutic needs can be met with a specific kind of therapy, collecting and analysing information on how the client makes, responds to, and relates to artistic stimulae. Relate this information to other aspects of the patient`s life.
Apply quality standards related to risk management, safety procedures, patients feedback, screening and medical devices in daily practice, as they are recognized by the national professional associations and authorities.
Contribute to the delivery of coordinated and continuous healthcare.
Encourage the healthcare user to engage in self-monitoring by conducting situational and developmental analyses on him- or herself. Assist the healthcare user to develop a degree of self-critique and self-analysis in regards to his behaviour, actions, relationships and self-awareness.
Make sure that healthcare users are being treated professionally, effectively and safe from harm, adapting techniques and procedures according to the person's needs, abilities or the prevailing conditions.
Compose an individualised treatment plan in collaboration with the individual, striving to match his or her needs, situation, and treatment goals to maximise the probability of therapeutic gain and considering any possible personal, social, and systemic barriers that might undermine treatment.
Comply with and maintain the confidentiality of healthcare users` illness and treatment information.
Help the patient or client identify and anticipate high risk situations or external and internal triggers. Support them in developing better coping strategies and back-up plans in case of future difficulties.
Make a treatment plan outlining possible art therapy strategies such as drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage with patients ranging from young children to the elderly, looking for forms of art therapy that might be helpful in meeting the patient`s needs.
Make referrals to other professionals, based on the healthcare user's requirements and needs, especially when recognising that additional healthcare diagnostics or interventions are required.
Work creatively with various groups of patients in a therapeutic setting.
Use mobile health technologies and e-health (online applications and services) in order to enhance the provided healthcare.
Encourage the patient`s motivation to change and promote the belief that therapy can help, using techniques and treatment engagement procedures for this purpose.
Participate in the delivery of multidisciplinary health care, and understand the rules and competences of other healthcare related professions.
Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
Employ a set of organisational techniques and procedures which facilitate the achievement of the set goals set such as detailed planning of personnel's schedules. Use these resources efficiently and sustainably, and show flexibility when required.
Communicate effectively with patients, families and other caregivers, health care professionals, and community partners.
Comply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.
Assess the signs and be well-prepared for a situation that poses an immediate threat to a person's health, security, property or environment.
Develop a mutually collaborative therapeutic relationship during treatment, fostering and gaining healthcare users' trust and cooperation.
Offer evidence-based advice on how to avoid ill health, educate and advise individuals and their carers on how to prevent ill health and/or be able to advise how to improve their environment and health conditions. Provide advice on the identification of risks leading to ill health and help to increase the patients' resilience by targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.
Follow agreed protocols and guidelines in support of healthcare practice which are provided by healthcare institutions, professional associations, or authorities and also scientific organisations.
Provide useful information related to health care professions to ensure policy decisions are made in the benefit of communities.
Communicate with clients and their carer’s, with the patient’s permission, to keep them informed about the clients’ and patients’ progress and safeguarding confidentiality.
Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.
Keep accurate client records which also satisfy legal and professional standards and ethical obligations in order to facilitate client management, ensuring that all clients' data (including verbal, written and electronic) are treated confidentially.
Promote and respect diversity, and advocate for equal treatment of genders, ethnicities and minority groups in organisations in order to prevent discrimination and ensure inclusion and a positive environment.
Provide evidence based strategies to promote healthy living, disease prevention and management.
Cope with pressure and respond appropriately and in time to unexpected and rapidly changing situations in healthcare.
Take referred patients, including self-referred ones and referrals from other professionals such as teachers, psychologists, therapists and psychiatrists.
Interact, relate and communicate with individuals from a variety of different cultures, when working in a healthcare environment.
The manifestations, symptoms and causes of illnesses and how they can be treated through music therapy.
The solution-focused approach to treating mental disorders oriented towards solving problems by teaching new information-processing skills and coping mechanisms.
The types of psychoanalytic theories and techniques that relate to the unconscious mental processes
The implications related to how an individual is behaving, depending on the group to which the individual belongs to and how this influences him/her.
The medical specialty which is concerned with the study of the nervous system functionalities.
The discipline that concerns the theory and practice of education including the various instructional methods for educating individuals or groups.
The different philosophical systems, their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices and their impact on human culture.
The various methods and techniques used to alleviate stress and bring peace and relaxation to the body and mind. This includes activities such as yoga, qigong or t`ai chi.
The characteristics and evolution of human sexual activity, sexual orientation and the sexual relationship for various group types such as teenagers, elderly or disabled people.
The relationships between victims and perpetrators, the frequency of victimization and the psychological effects it has on the victim.
No competences in this bucket.
Conduct psychoanalysis on patients, focusing on unconscious forces that can have a negative effect on their psychological well-being.
Identify sources of inspiration and strong points. Identify the subject of the art production. Identify the content. Identify creative factors such as performers and music.
Assess the competences, needs, and limitations of people affected by trauma, referring the patients to specialised trauma services where appropriate.
Use gestalt therapy techniques such as the empty chair technique and the exaggeration exercise in individual or group settings in the shape of creative exercises and experiments, aiming to make the individual understand different aspects of a conflict, experience, or mental health issue.
Use foreign languages for conducting and collaborating in health-related research.
Communicate in foreign languages with healthcare users, their carers, or services providers. Use foreign languages to faciliate patient care according to the needs of the patient.