How to become an Arts Therapist

Uses the creative process to facilitate the exploration of feelings, improve self-awareness and self-expression, and reduce anxiety for clients.

Main tasks

• Works with clients to identify problems or conditions they wish to overcome, and uses the creative process to help clients explore their feelings
• Assists clients to resolve conflicts, develop interpersonal skills, manage behaviour, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and achieve insight
• Develops arts therapy programs based on clients' emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual wellbeing needs, objectives and preferred forms of artistic expression
• Conducts arts therapy sessions with individuals or groups using a range of creative modalities, such as visual art, drama, dance and movement

Ways in

• University: Arts & Humanities degrees, Offered by 38 universities in Australia
• TAFE and VET: Diploma of Arts and Health (CUA51320)
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing may be required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• About 9,500 people work in this job group now, and about 12,700 are projected by 2035. (+34%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Related jobs

• Behaviour Support Practitioner
• Music Therapist
• Counsellor (General)
• Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor
• Family and Relationship Counsellor
• Psychotherapist

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Arts Therapist?

Ways in include: Arts & Humanities degrees; Diploma of Arts and Health.

Is an Arts Therapist a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 34% by 2035, from about 9,500 to about 12,700 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become an Arts Therapist?

Usually. 69% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Arts Therapist?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04