OsloMet to launch master’s degree programme in art therapy

“The department is excited to finally be able to offer a master’s degree programme in art therapy,” explains Liv Dahlin, Head of the Department of Art, Design and Drama at OsloMet.

Art therapy will be offered as a programme option alongside the existing master’s degree programmes at the department.  

“We want to give more people the opportunity to specialise in this important subject area. Currently, there are no master’s degree programmes in art therapy in any of the Nordic countries. This means that students have travelled abroad to other European countries in order to complete a master’s degree in art therapy,” she explains.

“We are incredibly proud of the study programme, which can help meet future needs in mental health care,” Dahlin notes.

An important addition

Art therapy employs creative work with images as a form of communication and the approach is used both to prevent ill health and promote mental and physical health.

“Art therapy is an interdisciplinary profession that aims to prevent or ameliorate various psychosocial and health issues by using art as part of the therapeutic relationship,” says Professor Mimmu Rankanen from the Department of Art, Design and Drama. Professor Rankanen holds the academic responsibility for the new programme option.

 “This makes art therapy an important addition to the more traditional social and healthcare interventions, and is suitable for people from different cultural backgrounds and in different age groups. In a time of many crises, art therapy represents a highly suitable method for working with trauma. It can also be applied in schools and special needs education.

“In art therapy, individuals or groups create art and reflect on the work in relation to their own lives. The process is managed by the art therapist, and this allows participants to feel safe to explore, understand and change various aspects of their lives, thereby improving their psychosocial health, wellbeing, or quality of life.

Currently, art therapy is most widespread in various forms of mental health services. There is an increased focus on drug-free therapy and community-based care.

“It is therefore important that we develop, use and research the impact of complementary treatment options such as art therapy,” Rankanen emphasises.

Art therapy is also used in the somatic health services and there is excellent research evidence from and experience of using art therapy at an international level, including as an adjunct to cancer treatment.