Course General Description

Be a culturally sensitive, competent and ethical Art Therapist. As an art therapist, you purposefully facilitate an art-making process to create self-expression, reflection, understanding and change with people and/or communities who encounter a range of stress, trauma, physical, mental or societal challenges and experiences. Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that helps people to effect change and growth through the use of art materials in a supported and safe environment. For those having difficulty expressing their thoughts and feelings verbally, art therapy is non-intrusive and can tap into the rich non-verbal aspects of communication and creativity. Art therapists develop the necessary skills and training to effectively work with a variety of populations throughout the life cycle. They work within various medical, institutional, educational, and rehabilitative settings that may include learning, development, medical conditions, social work, marginalized groups, crisis and trauma within communities, ageing and eldercare to name a few. The practice of art therapy ranges from studio-based to clinical approaches, depending on the art therapist's level of expertise, practice and working environment. Art therapists remain sensitive to cultural awareness, difference and diversity and adhere to international ethics and best practices.

School General Description

LASALLE College of the Arts (informally LASALLE) is a post-secondary arts institution in Singapore. Founded in 1984, LASALLE boasts eight art and design schools that offer more than 30 diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in contemporary arts and design education. LASALLE's bachelor's and master's degrees are validated by Goldsmiths College, University of London, one of the top universities in the world for Arts and Humanities. Many leaders in the Singapore arts scene are linked to LASALLE, including Alan Oei as artistic director of The Substation and Eugene Tan as director of the National Gallery Singapore. LASALLE is Singapore's first local homegrown institution to be awarded the EduTrust Star, a certification that acknowledges LASALLE's “quality education services”. It was also awarded the Green Mark Gold Award by the Building and Construction Authority, for its contribution to sustainability and environment awareness in the development of the McNally campus.