Professional context of Art Therapy

   There is currently no such a profession as art therapy in Russian Federation. According to the Law on Psychotherapy art therapy is considered as one of psychotherapy methods, which may be legally practiced by certified psychotherapists, who completed a specialized course in art therapy. However while requirements to practice psychotherapy are clearly defined, there are no such requirements with regard to art therapy in Russian Federation. Other professionals, such as psychologists and pedagogues-psychologists are also allowed to use art therapy as an instrument for counseling especially as far as children are concerned.
   Neither certified psychotherapists, nor psychologists have extended art therapy training though most of them graduated from brief art therapy courses currently available in Russian Federation. Unlike in some Western European countries and North America most of those, who complete such courses have no degrees in fine arts, but have psychological and clinical training. This seems to be natural since artists have never been allowed to legally work in national health services in this country, where psychiatry is highly centralized and controlled by the state.
   Art therapy is not something clearly defined, but still a new approach supported and developed by various interest groups in Russian Federation. This is especially true in the current social, political and cultural context, when profound changes take place in many sectors of life in this country including social work, mental health practices, communities and culture in general.

Art Therapy Association was established in St. Petersburg in 1997. Some of its goals include:

- Promoting art therapy within national health services, educational establishments and social sectors;
- Establishing art therapy education on a post-graduate level;
- Carrying forward scientific research in art therapy;
- Developing principles of good art therapy practice and some others.

   Since 1998 Association publishes a quarterly Journal called “The Healing Art”.

   The first post-graduate diploma course in art therapy (in part-time format) comprising 2000 hours was established in St. Petersburg in 2002 at State Academy of Postgraduate Pedagogical Training. The first group of students graduated from this course in Autumn, 2003. The second group of post-graduates should start their studies in October, 2004.


ST PETERSBURG ACADEMY OF POST-GRADUATE PEDAGOGICAL TRAINING

Post-Graduate Diploma Course in Art Therapy

Entry Requirements

1. Candidates must normally fulfill the following:
   possession of a diploma of high education (psychology, medicine, pedagogy, etc.), which normally requires 5 or 6 years of study;

2. demonstration of personal maturity, commitment and suitability (candidates must have attained at least 22 years of age, prior to entry);

3. experience of work (at least 2 years) in the medical profession or allied health professions, psychology, social work or education.