HICAT Frequently Asked Questions

Is this course accredited?

Short answer: Yes!

Long answer: There is a wide range of holistic and complementary therapy modalities which do not fit into the Government Training Frameworks in most countries. These include Yoga, Holistic Counselling, Meditation and Holistic Arts Therapies, just to name a few.

These modalities are industry regulated instead of government regulated. It is not that they are unregulated.

In order to practice as a therapist under these modalities you need industry recognition and to be able to get professional indemnity and liability insurance. Industry-based Associations are not owned by the same people who own the training colleges. They are separate, not associated with the colleges and non-bias. Their purpose is to protect the end-user and maintain the integrity of holistic and complementary therapies. They accept members from a very wide variety of different therapeutic modalities. They are not concerned with the specific styles, techniques, traditions or lineages. They are concerned with the quality, educational content, course outcomes, scope of information, where that information originated and the integrity of the course provider. They have a rigorous process which course providers must adhere to before they provide accreditation for any training courses.

Our courses are recognised with The International Institute of Complementary Therapists, The International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine, The Complementary Medical Association and The International Association of Therapists. All have excellent global reputations and rigorous screening processes. We are very proud to have their stamps of approval. Our graduates can join the IICT and the CMA, and get professional practitioner insurance, in 27 countries around the world. Mind Body Education courses are all evidence-based and incorporate a wide variety of techniques and styles.

Arts Therapists in the UK must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), which is the statutory regulator of the profession. The Holistic Integrated Creative Arts Therapy Practitioner Training course is not an HCPC approved programme and completing the course will not lead to participants being able to register as an Arts Therapist or to provide art therapy.

What is the course structure?

Each of your modules will be divided into theory and practice sessions. A great deal of time will be spent exploring and participating in the creative arts and a wide variety of meditation styles, including movement meditation, mantra meditation, chakra meditation, guided creative visualisation, mindfulness and Zen meditation.

Online students will spend around 10 hours per week studying for one year. Studies will include reading, watching videos, completing art projects, writing essays and answering quizzes.

There are some fieldwork components where you will need to involve a friend or family member or visit a professional practice, business or centre but we will guide and assist you with this. You will need to be able to take photos and videos and upload them onto your coursework submission forms. This is not difficult, and we can assist you to learn how to do this if you need us to.

Our students, Assessors and Tutors are physically located in different places, but we are still able to enjoy a strong sense of community.

There is a virtual classroom located on Facebook which is only for students enrolled in this course, where you will receive contact and connection with your classmates and information and guidance from your tutors.

There is a Zoom call with your tutor every fortnight where you can ask questions and get support in real time.

You do not have to participate in the real time workshops if you can’t or do not want to and you can watch them later at any time. You can also get support from your tutor and ask questions via email or telephone whenever you need to.

What topics are covered in this course?

Art Therapy (paint, watercolour pencils, charcoal & oil pastels)
Tactile Therapy (sculpture, clay, construction, Sand play & environmental art making)
Music, Tribal Rhythms, Medicine Drums & Sound Therapy
Dance & Movement Therapy
Role Play, Storytelling, creative writing & Drama Therapy

Theory topics covered in this course include:

The cause & effects of stress
The mind/body connection
Physiology of the brain
Left brain/right brain
Unconscious beliefs and mental patterns Exploring emotions
History of art therapy
Creative therapies & health
Why creative art therapies are effective
Creative art therapies as emotional healing
Creative art therapies for recovery & rehabilitation
Art & developing intuition
Drawing from within
Colour & emotions
Sound, vibration & the bodies cells
The creative process
Art appreciation

Interpretation & diagnosis Compassion & non-judgment
Learning Styles
Personality types
Managing groups
Supporting clients
Working with PTSD
Working with anxiety disorders
Working with grief & loss
Working with children
Working with depression
Working in medical settings
Developing community arts projects
Meditation for every day
Meditation in action through art
Meditation with music and movement
Gratitude & art journaling
Holistic counselling skills for creative arts therapists
Networking & referring
Ethics, safety & professionalism
Setting up your own practice
Creating a specialised practice
Resources, materials & equipment
Marketing for creative arts therapists
Legalities, insurance and joining associations

What materials and equipment do I
need to complete the course?

You will need to be able to read and write in English
Access to a computer with internet connection
Email access
Be able to open and read PDF’s (we can help you with this)
A moderate level of computer literacy (send emails, internet, upload documents and photos)
Ability to take photos and videos (your phone is perfect for this)
Ability to watch and listen to videos on YouTube
You will be provided with a materials list that will cost no more than £150. This will include all the art materials and resources you will need throughout your course. You do not have to purchase all the items at once
Time management skills - You need to set aside 10 hours study time each week to complete your course on time

Will I be able to get support when I need it?

Absolutely!

You will be able to contact your tutor directly via email
You can make appointments to have your tutor telephone you
Our exclusive students Facebook page is active and you will be able to connect with your tutor and other students
You will be able to join our bi-weekly Zoom meetings to ask questions and get support or, if you can’t attend, you can watch the recording later
You will also be assigned a “Study Buddy”. You can connect with your Study Buddy to give and receive support, practise counselling and coaching skills and do activities that require a partner
You will continue to be supported upon graduation via our Facebook community, ongoing Zoom calls and memberships with the Mind Body Education HICAT Association and Mind Body Education Practitioner Support Network

How much does the course cost?

We offer 3 ways of investing in your HICAT Practitioner Training

In full

Investment complete

3 month plan

The first month’s fee must be paid on enrolment and then by the last working day of each month following the start of your course.

10 month plan

The first month’s fee must be paid on enrolment and then by the last working day of each month following the start of your course.

£480

via x3 monthly instalments

£1,440 in full

£155

via x10 monthly instalments

£1,550 in full

£1,398

to invest in full on enrolment

We are able to offer part-scholarships for a few students who may require financial assistance.

An application process applies. Please apply here.

Can I apply for a Student Discount card when I enrol on this course?

Yes!

As you enrol in our HICAT Practitioner Training Course through us you are eligible to apply for a TOTUM PRO (formerly NUS Extra – National Union of Students) Student Discount card.

Please know that Devine-Creative does not benefit from promoting TOTUM, but we think if there are savings to be had you ought to know about them!

TOTUM PRO is a closed-group membership for learners and professional bodies, designed with the 25+ age group in mind offering access to discounts from 350+ high-street and online brands.

We'll send you all the information you need upon enrolment or you can find out more now by clicking the TOTUM logo below

When does the next course start?

We are enrolling for courses commencing on Monday 13th November 2023 and Monday 12th February 2024.

We also have courses planned to commence in April and June 2024 you may ask to join the waiting list for these courses and will be advised when enrolments open...