Creation of the First Joint Study Programme of Art Therapy in Lithuania

Abstract

Application of arts therapy started in the USA, Australia and European countries in the middle of the 20th century. Specific professions were developed, musical therapy, art therapy, drama therapy and dance and movement therapy were formed. At present, there are about 1500 art therapists in the United Kingdom. Art therapists work in health care institutions, educational programmes for children with developmental disorders or special needs. An arts therapist is competent in arts and therapy, aware of the potential of this psychotherapeutic method, is able to apply different arts means as the main communication approach and to use the creative process of art for therapeutic purposes. The needs analysis for art therapy specialists in Lithuania started a few years ago; data from 110 health care and social service institutions were obtained, some 230 persons were interviewed. In most of the surveyed institutions, art therapy is applied or is planned to be applied in the future. This is done by social workers, nurses, psychologists or arts teachers who have been trained abroad. Lithuania has not had programmes for training art therapeutists. So far, the requirements for professional qualification and competence have not been regulated yet, although there is a prepared project. To fill in the gap, the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences and Vilnius Art Academy have signed an agreement of cooperation. After consultations with the Ministry of Health Care, a joint Master’s degree programme “Art Therapy” has been developed, which will train Masters in medicine and health care able to apply art therapy in practice. The programme has been accredited for three years by the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education. An art therapeutist, even though he/she is a specialist in health care, must have artistic skills. The applicants have to present their visual art collection. They may be Bachelors of Arts or have a Bachelor’s degree in certain fields of he