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a one-year art therapy diploma

turn feeling into a practice.

one year. three levels. learning that is online but never passive, with real field work, supervised practice, a capstone you run yourself, and a credential built to hold up. this is how you actually become an art therapist, ethically and for real.

A learner colouring in an Art of Feeling session
a mandala from one of our field sessions
Not sure if it is right for you? Book a free 15-minute call and we will help you decide.
how long
12 months
how it runs
online + field visits
how you learn
live + self-paced
you end with
a capstone + portfolio
you keep
a physical + digital kit
Chapter 01
why this diploma exists

most art therapy "courses" are a video you forget.

a video library can teach you what art therapy is. it cannot teach you to hold a room, read a drawing, sit with someone mid-breakdown, and stay inside your ethical scope while you do it. that only comes from practice, feedback, and time. so we built a year, not a weekend.

india has a real and growing need for people who can bring expressive arts into schools, NGOs, clinics, and community spaces, and almost no path that trains them properly. this diploma is that path. you learn the theory, then you go and do the work under supervision, then you build something of your own and put your name on it.

it is mentorship-driven, field-tested, and honest about its limits. it will not hand you a clinical licence. it will hand you real skill, real practice, and a portfolio that proves both.

Chapter 02
what makes it different

six things a recording can never give you.

mentors, not a video wall

you learn directly from practising art therapists, psychologists, a researcher, and a neuropsychologist, with live classes and real feedback.

actual field practice

two months of supervised, real-world work in community and care settings, not a roleplay in a slide deck.

supervision circles

one-on-one supervision and peer circles where your cases get seen, discussed, and sharpened by people who do this.

a capstone you run

you design and execute your own art therapy initiative, then document it. you graduate with something real, not just a grade.

a kit you keep

a physical and digital toolkit: journals, prompts, worksheets, audios, and a guidebook you will use long after you finish.

ethics as the spine

every level teaches you your scope. you leave knowing exactly what you can and cannot do, and how to refer when you should.

Chapter 03
the year, level by level

three levels, each one builds on the last.

tap a level to see what you do and what you can do by the end of it.

level one
Core
6 months
level two
Electives
2 months
level three
Practice + Capstone
3 months

Level One · Core (Foundation + Advanced)

the basics, then the depth. mandatory for everyone.

you start at the beginning, properly: what art therapy is and is not, and how creative expression maps to emotional processing. then the heart of the diploma, eight core modules that move from mindfulness-based and somatic work through gestalt and expressive techniques, symbolism and archetypes, the neuroscience underneath it all, family and couples, and how the work changes across the lifespan, with real case studies the whole way. the Foundation part doubles as our standalone Art Therapy Course if you want to test the water first.

by the end you can
  • explain how and why art therapy works
  • choose the right modality for a person
  • read symbols without over-reading them
  • adapt your approach by age and need

Level Two · Personalised Electives

specialise around the work you actually do.

your background decides your electives. a psychologist deepens integration with CBT, DBT, and case conceptualisation. an educator learns special-education and group methods. an artist studies abstract and community work plus the business of it. you build the version of this skill that fits your life.

by the end you can
  • apply art therapy inside your own field
  • design work for your specific people
  • speak the language of your practice

Level Three · Practice + Capstone

real rooms, then your own initiative.

you leave the screen for real, supervised practice in community and NGO settings, learning to design and hold group sessions, manage group dynamics, and facilitate a room, with one-on-one supervision and peer circles so every session you run gets seen and improved. then you finish by building something real: your own art therapy project, from a research-backed plan to delivery to a written reflection on impact, alongside a professional, case-study-backed portfolio and your certification.

by the end you have
  • a group art session you can plan and run
  • real-room dynamics handled calmly
  • a project you designed and delivered
  • a portfolio ready for real use, and your certification
Chapter 04
inside level one

the eight core modules.

mandatory for everyone, this is the spine of your training.

01

Mindfulness-based art therapy

breathwork, guided visualisation, and grounding through making.

02

Somatic art therapy

body-based expressive work for releasing what the body holds.

03

Gestalt & expressive art

the empty chair, the power of now, and structured emotion work.

04

Symbolism & archetypes

reading unconscious patterns in creative expression, carefully.

05

The neuroscience of it

plasticity, trauma-informed practice, and what the brain does with art.

06

Family & couples art therapy

attachment, relationship dynamics, and working with more than one person.

07

Across the lifespan

adapting your approach for children, teens, adults, and elders.

08

Case analysis & ethics

applying theory to real cases, inside clear ethical boundaries.

Chapter 05
make it yours

electives for the you that signed up.

pick the background that fits and see how level two bends the diploma toward your work.

Psychologists & counsellors
Coaches & yoga practitioners
Educators & social workers
Artists & creatives
Curious enthusiasts

Art therapy with CBT, DBT & gestalt

integrate cognitive and behavioural approaches with expressive work.

Therapeutic workbooks & guided assignments

build structured, prompt-led tools for your clients to work through.

Case conceptualisation & ethics

assess, document, and track progress responsibly and well.

Mind-body integration

weave movement, breathing, and visualisation into the art.

Guided imagery & meditative art

combine mindfulness practice with expressive making.

Art therapy in special education

adapt techniques for neurodivergent learners and learning needs.

Community & NGO interventions

design and run group sessions in schools and outreach settings.

Art in community & social spaces

design public projects and creative well-being initiatives.

Abstract & symbolic art therapy

use colour, texture, and metaphor as expressive tools.

The business of art therapy

set up workshops, programmes, and private sessions that last.

Art for self-healing

use creative practice for your own well-being and stress relief.

Art journals for self-discovery

a structured journaling method for emotional clarity.

Chapter 06
what field practice looks like

real rooms, real people, real work.

moments from our community and field sessions. this is the work you are training to do.

Two learners with their finished mandalas
a session in a community setting
A journal spread and art materials in a session
expression, not technique
A learner with the journal she filled in
pride in something they made
Chapter 07
how it actually works

how you learn, and what you keep.

how you learn

live, self-paced, and in the field

  • live classes with faculty, where the real teaching happens
  • self-paced modules and video demonstrations you revisit any time
  • guided audios for art and mindfulness practice
  • supervised field work and peer supervision circles
  • one-on-one mentorship on your capstone and portfolio
your kit, physical and digital

tools you will still use years later

  • a mandala notebook, doodle books, and an art therapy journal
  • ready-to-use worksheets and templates
  • 100+ art prompts for sessions and self-practice
  • the Foundations of Art Therapy guidebook
  • exclusive video demonstrations and self-paced modules
Chapter 08
how you are assessed, and what you earn

a credential built to hold up.

how you are assessed

by what you can do, not what you memorised

  • practical assignments across the core modules
  • structured case-study analysis
  • supervised practice, reviewed live
  • a capstone project you design and deliver
  • a final portfolio review with faculty
what you walk away holding

your certification package

  • the Diploma in Art Therapy from Socially Souled
  • a Certificate of Completion
  • a Letter of Recommendation from Socially Souled
  • a Competency Report mapping your real strengths
  • validation of your internship and practical experience

This diploma builds real, applicable skill and credibility. It is not, on its own, a licence for independent clinical practice, and we will always tell you that plainly.

Chapter 09
where it takes you

what you can actually do after.

run your own workshops

design and facilitate expressive-arts sessions and programmes for groups.

add it to your practice

integrate art therapy into existing counselling, coaching, or teaching, within your scope.

work in the field

bring the work into schools, NGOs, rehabilitation, and elder-care settings.

list on Souled Connect

once trained, list yourself as an art therapist on our marketplace and let people find you.

Chapter 10
who teaches you

a mentorship-driven journey.

practising art therapists, counselling psychologists, a clinical researcher, and a neuropsychologist, alongside the founders.

your art therapists
Aparna Raghavan
Art Therapist, expressive and community healing
Sakina Patanwala
Art Therapist, trauma and creative resilience
counselling psychologists
Spreeha Bezbaruah
Counselling Psychologist, grief and expressive arts
Shivika Chadha
Counselling Psychologist, family and structured care
Mayuri Pal
Psychologist, Socially Souled Bengaluru
founders, research & neuroscience
Radhika Goyal
Founder, clinical hypnotherapy & mindfulness
Akul Grover
Founder, the business of a therapy practice
Isaac Thomas
PhD Scholar, clinical research & method
Sharvi Bhansali
Neuropsychologist, the brain on art
Chapter 11
the community you join

you are not learning this alone.

Learners sharing the journals they made together
india's largest psychology community

You graduate into India's largest psychology community: cohorts, mentors, and practitioners who keep showing up long after the diploma ends.

Chapter 12
the honest part

what it costs, and how to start.

a full year of mentorship, field practice, a kit, and a credential. the full diploma is ₹30,000, and you do not pay it all now: hold your place, or talk to us first.

the next cohort begins 1 September reserve now to hold your place
reserve your seat
₹500

hold your place in the September intake. it adjusts against your full fee, and it is fully refundable if the diploma is not right for you.

  • locks your place in the cohort
  • a call with our team to map your fit
  • adjusts against the full fee
reserve your seat
the full diploma
₹30,000

the complete one-year programme: live classes, self-paced modules, electives, field practice with supervision, your capstone, the kit, and the full certification package.

  • all three levels, 12 months
  • physical and digital kit included
  • supervised field practice
  • certification package on completion

to enrol, reserve your seat above or book a discovery call below. instalments can be discussed on your call.

prefer to talk it through first? book a free 15-minute discovery call.
not ready for the whole year? begin with a Sip & Paint evening, or take the Foundation on its own as the Art Therapy Course.
start with the course
Chapter 13
before you reserve

the honest answers.

do i need an art background or a psychology degree?

neither. the diploma is built for psychologists, counsellors, coaches, educators, artists, and serious enthusiasts alike. what you do need is a willingness to do the work and to respect your ethical scope, which we teach directly.

how much time will it take each week?

it is paced over twelve months with live classes, self-paced modules, and field practice. exact weekly hours are shared on your reservation call so you can plan around your life, but it is a real commitment, not a skim.

is it fully online?

the learning is online with live and self-paced parts. level three is real, supervised field practice, so you do step into actual rooms with supervision. that is the point.

will this make me a licensed clinical therapist?

no, and we will not pretend otherwise. it builds genuine, applicable skill and a strong credential, but it does not replace the formal qualifications required for independent clinical practice. you learn to work within your scope and to refer when you should.

what exactly do i graduate with?

the Diploma in Art Therapy, a Certificate of Completion, a Letter of Recommendation from Socially Souled, a Competency Report, validation of your practical experience, your physical and digital kit, and a portfolio you built yourself.

can i pay in instalments?

yes, instalment options can be arranged. reserve your seat first, then we work out the plan on your call.

what if i miss a live class?

sessions are supported by self-paced material and recordings where possible, so a missed live class does not derail you. your mentor keeps you on track.

your seat is waiting

a year from now, you could be the one holding the room.

hello@sociallysouled.com  ·  +91 91370 08686