ART THERAPY ON THE MAP (TRAIL PAGE!)THE STATE OF ART THERAPY IN ICELANDNational Association(s)Félag listmeðferðarfræðinga á Íslandi (Icelandic Art Therapists Association)
The Icelandic Association was founded 1998. The Board meets 6-9 time per year, depends on current issues. The Board is selected every 2 years. Main focus is to protect, develop and raise practical and professional awareness for Art therapy and Art Therapists. There are about 20 members in the association. www.listmedferdisland.com |
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Education
At the present time, training to become a qualified art therapist, is unavailable in Iceland. Art Therapists in Iceland have been trained mostly in US or UK but also in Spain. However, since the year 2013 Unnur Ottarsdottir has developed a curriculum and taught art therapy foundation courses at Iceland University of the Arts (4 ECTS) and at University of Akureyri (5 ECTS).
Recognition
The application process for title protection by the Ministry of Welfare started 1999. It has been an ongoing process since then.
Directorate of health gave a positive review the year 2000 but the Ministry of Welfare issued a statement where they postponed all title protection applications until the revision for law for health professionals was finished in January 2013.
From the year 2013 a new application process started which is now at a crucial point.
Directorate of health gave a positive review the year 2000 but the Ministry of Welfare issued a statement where they postponed all title protection applications until the revision for law for health professionals was finished in January 2013.
From the year 2013 a new application process started which is now at a crucial point.
Employement
Today Art Therapists are working in variety of settings with different age group.
- Psychiatry units
- Schools
- Setting for cancer patients and their families
- Private practice (for example we offer services for child protection)
- Non profit Organization for Adolescence in danger of drug abuse.
- Non profit Organization for victims of sexual abuse.
Research & Publication
At the present time the only art therapist that is conducting research is Unnur Ottarsdottir. She has written following publications about her research:
- Ottarsdottir, U. (2005). Art Therapy in Education: for Children with Specific Learning Difficulties who Have Experienced Stress and/or Trauma (Unpublished PhD thesis). University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, England.
Last update: October 2018