As an experienced UK career coach with over 25 years guiding professionals across healthcare, the arts, and public service sectors, I know that one of the most rewarding yet competitive roles within the NHS is that of an Art Psychotherapist. If you are preparing your CV for this unique career, you’ve come to the right place. In this detailed guide, I’ll help you craft a CV that not only gets past the initial screening but also wins you that all-important interview.
The importance of the Art Psychotherapist role in the NHS
The NHS Art Psychotherapist plays a vital role in supporting patients experiencing mental health difficulties, trauma, and emotional challenges. By using the creative process of art making in a therapeutic setting, you enable individuals to explore feelings, reduce anxiety, and improve well-being in ways that talking therapies alone cannot always achieve.
Job description and key responsibilities
The role typically includes:
Conducting one-to-one and group therapy sessions.
Working with children, adolescents, and adults facing a range of psychological difficulties.
Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams such as psychiatrists, nurses, occupational therapists, and social workers.
Maintaining accurate and confidential patient records.
Developing therapeutic programmes tailored to service user needs.
Contributing to clinical audits, supervision, and ongoing professional development.
Salary expectations
Within the NHS, Art Psychotherapists are generally employed on the Agenda for Change pay scales. Newly qualified practitioners typically start at Band 6, which currently offers a salary of approximately £35,000 to £42,000 per annum. With experience, senior roles move into Band 7 (£43,000 to £50,000), while highly specialised or managerial posts may reach Band 8a and beyond (£51,000 to £58,000+). This makes it a highly respected and well-remunerated profession with strong career progression opportunities.
Why a winning CV matters
Your CV is not just a list of jobs—it is a marketing document. It is your professional story that communicates to hiring managers why you are the ideal candidate. In a competitive NHS recruitment market, where hundreds may apply for the same role, a generic CV will not stand out. A tailored, focused, and compelling CV will.
I’ve helped countless health professionals refine their applications, and I know exactly what NHS recruiters are looking for. Below I’ll break down how to create a CV that reflects both your clinical skills and your unique passion for art therapy.
Step 1: Start with a strong professional profile
The first section of your CV should be a personal statement or professional profile. Keep this short—around 4–5 lines—but powerful. Highlight your qualifications, therapy approach, patient groups you have worked with, and your personal commitment to mental health care.
Example:
“A qualified HCPC-registered Art Psychotherapist with over five years’ experience delivering individual and group therapy sessions across adult and adolescent mental health services. Skilled in using creative therapeutic approaches to reduce anxiety, improve communication, and support recovery. Adept at working within multidisciplinary NHS teams and committed to promoting patient well-being through evidence-based practice.”
Step 2: Highlight your key skills
Recruiters want to quickly see your core competencies. Create a bullet-pointed skills section that emphasises both clinical and transferable skills.
Examples:
Art therapy session planning and delivery
Group facilitation and patient engagement
Risk assessment and safeguarding
Multidisciplinary collaboration
Patient record keeping (RIO, EMIS)
Reflective practice and supervision participation
Research and audit contribution
Compassion, empathy, and communication skills
Step 3: Detail your professional experience
List your roles in reverse chronological order. For each, include your job title, organisation, dates, and key achievements. Don’t just list duties—focus on impact. Show how you improved patient outcomes, developed programmes, or supported service delivery.
Example:
Art Psychotherapist, NHS Mental Health Trust | 2019 – Present
Delivered individual and group art therapy interventions for adult service users with complex trauma and psychosis.
Designed and implemented a six-week therapeutic art programme, leading to measurable improvements in patient self-expression and emotional regulation.
Collaborated with psychiatrists, psychologists, and nurses to provide holistic care and inform treatment planning.
Provided clinical supervision for trainee art therapy students.
Step 4: Showcase your qualifications
For an NHS Art Psychotherapist, qualifications are non-negotiable. Be clear and precise about your academic background and professional registration.
MA Art Psychotherapy – University of Roehampton, 2018
BA Fine Art – University of Leeds, 2015
HCPC Registered: Yes
Member, British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)
Step 5: Additional sections to include
Professional development: Workshops, short courses, CPD activities.
Publications or presentations: Any research you’ve contributed to.
Volunteer or community work: Particularly if it relates to arts or mental health.
General CV structure for NHS roles
Contact details (name, phone, email, LinkedIn).
Professional profile.
Key skills.
Professional experience.
Education and training.
Professional memberships and registration.
Additional information (IT skills, languages, publications).
Advice for graduates
If you’re newly qualified, focus on your placements and training. Use the experience section to highlight the variety of patient groups you worked with, what you learned, and any positive feedback you received. Showcase your commitment to continuing professional development and your enthusiasm for building a career in the NHS.
Advice for mid-career professionals
If you’re applying for Band 7 or equivalent roles, your CV should highlight leadership skills. Include examples of supervising students, managing small teams, or leading therapeutic programmes. Demonstrate your ability to influence service delivery and innovate within your practice.
Advice for senior management candidates
If you’re aiming for Band 8a+ roles, your CV must show strategic impact. Highlight experience in service development, budget management, policy contribution, or senior supervision. Demonstrate your ability to shape art psychotherapy provision within the NHS and influence mental health strategy.
The do’s and don’ts of an NHS Art Psychotherapist CV
Do:
Keep your CV clear, concise, and no longer than 2–3 pages.
Tailor your CV to each role using the NHS job description.
Use active language: delivered, developed, implemented.
Highlight your HCPC registration clearly.
Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., reduced waiting times by 20%).
Don’t:
Include irrelevant personal information (age, marital status, photos).
Overload your CV with jargon.
Use generic phrases like “hardworking” without evidence.
Forget to proofread—spelling errors are a red flag.
Send the same CV to every NHS trust.
Final tips for creating an interview-winning NHS Art Psychotherapist CV
Use a clean, professional layout with consistent formatting.
Keep sentences short and punchy—make it easy for recruiters to scan.
Include keywords from the job advert to get past automated screening systems.
Balance technical detail with human warmth—show both competence and compassion.
Update your CV regularly, even if you’re not actively job hunting.
Closing encouragement from Jerry Frempong
Having coached professionals for over two decades, I can tell you with confidence: a well-written CV is a game-changer. Too many talented Art Psychotherapists undersell themselves because they simply list duties instead of demonstrating impact. You are doing incredible work supporting patients at their most vulnerable—make sure your CV communicates that value.
If you’re ready to take your NHS career to the next level, don’t leave it to chance. I specialise in transforming CVs and LinkedIn profiles into powerful career tools that win interviews and open doors.
👉 Book your one-to-one appointment today and let’s create a CV that truly represents your skills, experience, and passion: https://www.cvlondon.net/book-an-appointment/
