Senior Lecturer, Art Therapy
Division: Occupational Therapy & Arts Therapies
Adrienne McDermid-Thomas (MA, PGDip, MSc) is a Senior Lecturer of Art Psychotherapy. She is also Programme Leader for the MSc in Art Psychotherapy. Adrienne is an Art Psychotherapist with experience of working within a forensic mental health service, substance misuse service, community mental health service, and in working with people living with dementia. She has contributed to the Art Psychotherapy MSc since 2010.
- Overview
- Teaching & Learning
Following the completion of an MA in English Language and Literature at the University of Edinburgh in 1999, I qualified and registered as an Art Psychotherapist in 2004, working across NHS and third sector organisations to support adults living with varied and complex challenges in relation to their health and wellbeing.
During my work in an NHS Forensic Mental Health Service in Scotland, I became interested in and focussed my practice on the role of Art Psychotherapy in mental health recovery for people living in and moving on from secure accommodation. Latterly, I worked in partnership with colleagues in the voluntary sector to bring Art Psychotherapy into the outdoors. Nature-based/environmental arts therapies and art therapy supervision has supported my own practice and my work at Queen Margaret University.
I also have a strong investment in practice-education, having worked as a Practice Educator and an AHP Practice Education Facilitator externally to the university and as professional practice tutor, internally within the programme.
Affiliations/Memberships to Other Organisations:
- Member of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)
- Health Professions Council ( HPC) registered practitioner
As Programme Leader, I have an overview of modules within the programme, working closely with colleagues in the other Arts Therapies and withing the Person-centred Practice MSc Framework. I teach across the programme modules, delivering a variety of lectures, workshop and seminars as well as facilitating Interpersonal Learning Groups and Practice-based Learning Supervision Groups. I have contributed to international arts therapies education in Spain and in Chile.
