Child Art Psychotherapy

With its roots in psychodynamic thinking, namely the acknowledgment of unconscious processes of mind and its influence on thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, the Vasarhelyi Method of Child Art Psychotherapy is founded on the principle that images and their creation have a distinct relationship with the unconscious. The CAP modality is an integrative approach to psychotherapy for children and adolescents, drawing from a number of traditions including Psychoanalytic / Object Relations, Humanistic & Integrative psychotherapy, and Jungian analytical psychology, amongst others. The creation of images in the presence of a trained Child Art Psychotherapist assists young people who may struggle to express their difficulties verbally to experience insight, develop understanding, create meaning, and promote positive change in their lives. The client’s feelings and experiences are explored through the simultaneous production of art work and verbal discussion with the Child Art Psychotherapist in a safe, contained therapeutic space. The images and art work created by young people in the psychotherapeutic context are seen as the primary mode of communication between the child and therapist. Working in this way has been shown to be very effective in providing a pathway for the child or adolescent to articulate their difficulty and distress.



Students of the programme develop an understanding of the fundamental theories and principles of psychotherapy, and are taught the Vasarhelyi Method of Child Art Psychotherapy. Individual and small group supervision are integral aspects of the course, as are personal psychotherapy, group process, and clinical placements.



Art psychotherapy is internationally recognised as an effective support for children with mental health difficulties and is utilised across clinical, educational, and private settings. The Vasarhelyi Method of Child Art Psychotherapy [CAP] is a specific method of art psychotherapy for children and adolescents up to the age of 18, originally developed in the UK by Vera Vasarhelyi within the context of a multidisciplinary Child and Adolescent Mental Health team setting. CAP is a psychodynamic approach to art psychotherapy, where young people are supported in exploring and processing past experiences and current difficulties at both conscious and unconscious levels. This exploration is done through the medium of art materials in a safe and contained therapeutic space. As described by Vera Vasarhelyi (1990), ‘The symbolic content of images can facilitate a unique insight into the dynamics of the unconscious, and allow the privilege of seeing hidden processes, which would otherwise remain largely inaccessible to exploration.’



This graduate level programme is open to candidates who are working with children and young people in difficulty will find this programme invigorating. It will make an invaluable contribution to their career and to their commitment to work with vulnerable children and young people. It is also inspiring for those who are working with children with long-term physical illnesses. Graduates of the programme who hold prior qualifications in psychotherapy, social work, and other allied professions have found work in clinical mental health settings. Other graduates have found work in educational, voluntary, and statutory organisations, while others who have attained sufficient clinical experience in different settings work in private practice.



NFQ Level: 9 (180 credits)

Level: Graduate Taught

Award: Professional Masters

Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:

Please choose ONLY the modules your module co-ordinator instructs you to choose when registering for any one year.

MDCS42640: Vasarhelyi Mtd&TrainExp Part 1

MDCS41680: Introduction to Psychotherapeutic Models

MDCS42670: Research Skills

MDCS42680: Mental Health: young people

MDCS42560: CAP Clinical Placement 1

MDCS42600: Supervision of Clin Practice 1



Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:

Please choose ONLY the modules your module co-ordinator instructs you to choose when registering for any one year.

MDCS41690: Psychotherapeutic Models

MDCS42650: Vasarhelyi Mtd&TrainExp Part 2

MDCS40240: Development of Pictorial Thinking

MDCS42570: CAP Clinical Placement 2

MDCS42610: Supervision of Clin Practice 2

MDCS42660: CAP Minor Dissertation



Stage 2 Options - A) Min 0 of:

Year 3 Core Modules

MDCS42500: Child&Adolst Psychopathology 1

MDCS42520: CAP Clinical Paper 1

MDCS42540: CAP Seminar 1

MDCS42580: CAP Clinical Placement 3

MDCS42620: Supervision of Clin Practice 3



Stage 2 Options - B) Min 0 of:

Year 4 Core Modules

MDCS42510: Child&Adolst Psychopathology 2

MDCS42550: CAP Seminar 2

MDCS42530: CAP Clinical Paper 2

MDCS42590: CAP Clinical Placement 4

MDCS42630: Supervision CAP Clin Practice

Eligibility criteria:

A third level degree or equivalent is required.



Experience of working with children and adolescents within mental health or educational settings is an advantage.



Applicants are short-listed on the basis of their previous professional experience and the short-listed candidates are interviewed to assess their suitability.



Successful applicants will be required to consent to garda clearance being sought which is standard procedure for professionals engaged in direct work with young people.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme.



Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page (https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax) for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

4 years part-time.

Delivery: On Campus

X997: Child Art Psychotherapy

Professional Masters



Part-Time: Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught