WHY CHOOSE METÀFORA?
FLEXIBLE
FORMAT
Offered 100% online or blended to suit different schedules.
INTENSIVE
DURATION
5-day intensive course combining theory and practice.
INTERNATIONAL
ACCESS
Timings adjusted for global participation.
PROFESSIONAL
RECOGNITION
Accredited by ATE and FEAPA, the Spanish Art Therapy associations.
COURSE DETAILS
Postgraduate Diploma in Art Therapy & Community Art
The Postgraduate Diploma in Art Therapy & Community Art is a postgraduate level course, prior to the Master’s Degree in Art Therapy, in completing the art therapy training. The diploma can be taken as a complementary training to other care or artistic professions, as a form of personal development or, in the case of continuing in the Master in Art Therapy, as part of the complete training to become an art therapist. It can also be taken as an independent course itself.
In any of the three cases, it consists of an approach to the visual arts as a way of self-knowledge while acquiring the experiential and theoretical foundations necessary to study the following two years of the Master.
The course is held in an online format. The course hours correspond to the CET time zone and are designed to facilitate access for American students.
What will you learn?
- To use your own art making process as a tool for self exploration
- To explore the expressive possibilities of different art media
- The theoretical and experiential basis of relational art psychotherapy
- The differences of distinct art therapy approaches
- The foundations of: Psychopathology, Development Psychology, Mentalization, Relational Psychoanalysis
- Typology
- Postgraduate Course
- Dates
- October, 2025 – June, 2026
- Format
- 100% Online
- Language
- English
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Master the Foundations of Art Therapy: Gain a comprehensive understanding of art therapy’s core principles, historical development, and diverse applications in therapeutic settings.
Explore a Spectrum of Artistic Expression: Learn how to harness the power of painting, sculpture, collage, and other creative mediums to facilitate deep emotional exploration and healing.
Discover the Therapeutic Power of Art: Uncover how art can be a catalyst for self-discovery, emotional processing, and personal growth.
Build a Strong Ethical Foundation: Develop a robust ethical framework for your art therapy practice, emphasizing confidentiality, boundaries and professional supervision.
Become a Skilled Art Therapy Observer: Enhance your ability to analyze clients’ artwork, identifying patterns and insights crucial to the therapeutic process.
Apply Your Knowledge in Real-World Settings: Gain practical experience through hands-on exercises, simulations, and case studies to master art therapy implementation.
PROGRAM
In these sessions, students will receive a historical overview of art therapy, including the presentation of main theoretical concepts, different intervention levels, and their applications in diverse fields and contexts.
Art therapy is employed in various settings such as assistance, social, hospital, and educational centers. These sessions will clarify with whom, how, and where art therapy is practiced.
The objective is not solely theoretical, but also to foster reflection and bibliographic analysis, crucial for professional development. Additionally, the course will explore the multifaceted nature of art therapy and its diverse applications within the proposed theoretical framework.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Trace the historical evolution of art therapy
- Master foundational art therapy theories and concepts
- Understand diverse intervention approaches and their applications
- Explore the art therapy process: materials, space, and dynamics
- Develop skills in individual and group therapy
- Define the art therapist’s role and responsibilities
- Gain insights into professional training and development
The experiential art therapy group is a fundamental component of our training. It involves a small group of students engaged in hands-on artistic exploration. Sessions combine art creation with subsequent group dialogue about the artworks produced.
Guided by an experienced art therapist, participants gain firsthand experience with concepts central to art therapy theory. The methodology is well-documented and focuses on developing group dynamics within an artistic context.
Experiential groups closely resemble therapy groups, offering valuable practical experience in the core elements of the profession. This workshop is ideal for those considering an art therapy career or those seeking to enhance art workshop facilitation skills.
Sessions alternate between artistic production and group discussion.
Case studies showcase the clinical practice of professional art therapists in various settings and groups. These sessions delve into specific individual or group art therapy processes, providing in-depth analysis of intervention strategies, session progression, treatment duration, goals and outcomes. Case studies foster dialogue on the diverse applications and possibilities within the field of art therapy.
DATES & SCHEDULE
10th October, 2025 – 14th June, 2026
CALENDAR 2025/2026
- OCTOBER
- Friday 10
Friday 17
Saturday 18
Sunday 19
Friday 24
Friday 31 - NOVEMBER
- Friday 7
Friday 14
Saturday 15
Sunday 16
Friday 21
Friday 28 - DECEMBER
- Friday 5
Friday 12
Saturday 13
Sunday 14
Friday 19
_
- JANUARY
- Friday 9
Friday 16
Saturday 17
Sunday 18
Friday 23
Friday 30 - FEBRUARY
- Friday 6
Friday 13
Saturday 14
Sunday 15
Friday 20
Friday 27 - MARCH
- Friday 6
Friday 13
Saturday 14
Sunday 15
Friday 20
Friday 27
- APRIL
- Friday 10
Saturday 11
Sunday 12
Friday 17
Friday 24
_ - MAY
- Friday 8
Saturday 9
Sunday 10
Friday 15
Friday 22
Friday 29 - JUNE
- Friday 5
Friday 12
Saturday 13
Sunday 14
_
_
Schedule
- FRIDAY
- 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Class 1 - 5:45 pm – 7:15 pm
Class 2 - _
- SATURDAY
- 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Class 1 - 5:45 pm – 7:15 pm
Class 2 - 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Class 3
- SUNDAY
- 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Class 1 - 5:45 pm – 7:15 pm
Class 2 - 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Class 3
The course hours correspond to the Central European Time zone (CET) and are designed to facilitate access also for American students. During the course, students have to dedicate a minimum of 6 hours per week to complete coursework. Below you can see the time table of a typical month.
For certain classes, please prepare a series of art materials such as paper, crayons, pencils, paints, clay, modeling clay, fabrics, old magazines, bits and pieces, glue and anything likely to be used as art material of some kind.
NOTES:
The schedule indicated below is illustrative, the final programming is provided to the students at the beginning of the course.
Likewise, we inform that in Europe, two time changes occur each year. On the last Sunday of March, the clocks go forward one hour (2am becomes 3am). On the last Sunday of October, the clocks go back one hour (3am becomes 2pm).
FEES & DISCOUNT
Benefit from the 15% discount on full payment before the 5th June, 2025
To guarantee a place on the course, you must pay at least the reservation fee. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee a place on the course. The reservation fee is included in the total price.
Once the reservation fee has been paid, the remaining payment must be made no later than 1 week before the start of the course.
- Fees with 15% discount
- Reservation fee: 180€
- Total fees
- 850€
(includes the reservation fee)
- Fees without discount
- Reservation fee: 180€
- Total fees
- 945€
(includes the reservation fee)
PAYMENT CONDITIONS
Application fee:
When applying to some Metàfora courses, the application form is accompanied by an application fee. This fee is returned to the applicant in the case of non-admission.
If admitted, the application fee is deducted from the tuition fees of the course.
If the student wishes to cancel or postpone the application, this fee remains valid for a maximum of 12 months, counting from the beginning of the course in which the student originally enrolled (see conditions below).
Reservation fee:
When the student has been admitted to the course, it is necessary to pre-enroll by paying a reservation fee. Metàfora does not guarantee a place on the course without this payment.
The reservation fee will not be refunded under any circumstances.
For courses with an admission process, it is required to have a letter of admission in order to pay the reservation fee. Upon admission, the student will receive an invoice with the amount and a payment terms are specified.
If the payment due date is not met, the student may lose their place and be placed on the waiting list.
For bank transfers it is essential to send proof of payment to Metàfora within the deadline.
For courses without entrance requirements, the reservation is guaranteed at the moment of the registration payment.
Tuition payment:
For courses that require an admission process, the remaining tuition must be paid at least 30 days before the start of the course (45 days before for those courses in which the Award Scheme discount has been applied).
In the case of courses without entry requirements, the remaining fees must be paid 7 days in advance of the start of the course.
If the payment due date is not met, the student may lose their place and be placed on the waiting list.
For bank transfers it is essential to send proof of payment to Metàfora within the deadline.
Once the course has started, there is no possibility of returning the fees (or part of them). if the student wishes to cancel or postpone their stay at Metàfora.
Payment of tuition in instalments:
Some courses offer the possibility of paying the remaining tuition in instalments with an increase of between 5% and 8% of the pending amount. The payment terms are established by Metàfora.
Defer the beginning of a course or change course:
If the student wishes to postpone course start or change to another course, the amount paid remains valid for a maximum of 12 months, subject to an additional fee (see below). The deferment period counts from the beginning of the course on which the student originally enrolled.
The fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.
During this period, the student may opt for other courses (subject to admission and free places). In the event that the fees for the new course do not coincide with the course chosen initially, the student will be requested to pay the difference. If the chosen course has a lower value than the one paid, the remaining amount will be saved for another Metàfora activity, for a maximum of 12 additional months.
To postpone the start of a course or change to another course, it is necessary to inform Metàfora by written notification at least 6 weeks before the beginning of the original course start.
A deferment letter carries an additional cost of 250€, to be added to the remaining fees.
Involuntary interruptions of studies:
In case of accident or illness during the course, the studies may be interrupted for a maximum period of 12 months. It is necessary to present a medical certificate.
During this time the acquired economic commitment remains valid without any surcharge.
Voluntary interruptions of studies:
Once the course has started, there is no possibility of returning the tuition fee (or part of it), if the student wishes to cancel or postpone their stay at Metàfora.
If a student decides to interrupt their studies voluntarily, they lose their place on the course and must still comply with the acquired financial commitment.
In no case will voluntary interruption of the course leave the student exempt from the financial commitments contracted.
If the student wishes to resume the studies in the future, they must restart the application and enrollment payment procedures again.
Payment Methods:
All payments can be made in cash, by credit / debit card (through Metàfora’s website, by phone or in person) or by bank transfer.
When making the payment by bank transfer, the full name of the applicant must be clearly indicated. Metàfora is not responsible for reservation of places for participants whose name and course is not correctly included in the transfers received. In case of doubt, please send proof by email.
All commissions related to international bank transfers are at the expense of the sender. Any erroneously applied commission will be claimed when the student arrives.
Late payments:
A supplement of 20€ will be applied for each week of late payment.
ENROLLMENT
To enroll in this art therapy course, you have to fill out the form and pay either the reservation fee or the full price.
If you have any questions during the registration process, you can call us at +34 93 330 00 89 or write us an email at at@metafora.org.
CREDITS & DIPLOMA
TESTIMONIALS FROM FORMER STUDENTS
ABOUT METÀFORA
Our mission is to empower professionals and aspiring therapists from diverse backgrounds to harness the transformative power of art. Whether you’re a psychologist, psychotherapist, artist, social worker, nurse, teacher, occupational therapist, or medical professional, Metàfora offers a dynamic learning environment to expand your skill set and unlock the therapeutic potential of art.
At Metàfora, we believe in personalized education that fosters both personal and professional growth. Our diverse range of training programs empowers students to explore various art therapy approaches and techniques. Led by highly qualified experts, our curriculum delivers exceptional training and support.
Immerse yourself in Barcelona’s vibrant artistic heritage while acquiring world-class art therapy education.
Our commitment to innovation and student well-being has positioned Metàfora as a leading institution for those seeking to transform lives through the power of art.
PROGRAMS ACCREDITED BY:
MEMBERS OF:
