STILL Art — Therapeutic Art Practitioner Course
A complete accredited training for people who want to support anxious children, teens and adults through structured creative expression. Join two days live on Zoom with over ten hours of bonus online content, or complete the whole course self-paced. Emotional regulation, social stories and a full toolkit of art-based techniques included.
What STILL Art Actually Teaches
Therapeutic art is not a craft class. It is not therapy. It is a structured way to help people express feelings that are too tangled, too large or too wordless to say out loud.
Most therapeutic art courses teach a list of activities. STILL Art teaches a complete method.
You learn how to guide children, young people and adults through creative processes that lower fear, steady the nervous system and give them a way to understand what they are feeling. You learn how to use art for emotional regulation, not as a vague idea but as a set of specific, practised techniques. And you learn how to create and use social stories through art, combining visual expression with narrative structure to help anxious and neurodiverse people prepare for situations that overwhelm them.
You do not need to be an artist. You need a structure, a method and a way of holding space when someone opens up through colour, shape and story. That is exactly what this course gives you.
One Course. Two Ways to Learn.
There are two ways to train as a STILL Art Practitioner. Both lead to the same accredited certificate.
Option one — Live on Zoom plus bonus online content
Join two full days of live training on Zoom, taught in real time with a group. You take part in guided exercises, watch live demonstrations and ask questions as we go. The live course usually runs across a weekend or two weekdays on consecutive weeks.
On top of the live training, you also get full access to over ten hours of recorded video content online. This is bonus material you can work through at your own pace — before, during or after the live days. It covers all eight modules in detail, plus downloadable tools, techniques and session planning resources.
Option two — Entirely self-paced online
If live dates do not suit you, you can complete the entire course online in your own time. You get immediate access to the same ten-plus hours of recorded video training across all eight modules, plus all the downloadable resources. You pause, replay and move at whatever pace works for you — no live sessions required.
Both routes give the same certificate
There is no difference in the qualification. Whether you train live or self-paced, you become a STILL Art Practitioner accredited by ACCPH and IPHM.
Already started online? You can still join a live group
If you begin with the self-paced route and later want to experience the live training, you can join any future live cohort at no extra cost. Many practitioners do exactly this — they start online and attend a live group when they are ready to deepen their skills and confidence.
Everything You Get With STILL Art
This is not a short workshop or a collection of printable activities. It is a complete professional training. Here is what every STILL Art Practitioner receives.
Two full days of live training on Zoom (live route)
Interactive, guided sessions with Stuart. You practise the techniques in real time, work through exercises with a group and ask questions as they come up. Weekend and weekday cohorts available throughout the year.
Over ten hours of recorded video training (both routes)
Every module is taught and demonstrated on video. Live learners get this as bonus content to revisit and build on. Self-paced learners use it as their complete training. Many practitioners return to specific videos months after qualifying to refresh a technique before running a new group.
Emotional regulation through art
This is not a bolt-on. Emotional regulation is woven through the entire course. You learn specific art-based techniques for helping children, teens and adults move from overwhelm to calm. Drawing emotions as colour. Visual safe places. Creative grounding exercises. Art-based tools for shutdown, avoidance and anxiety-driven behaviour. You leave knowing how to use creative work to support regulation, not just expression.
Social stories integrated with therapeutic art
Social stories are a structured way to help people — especially children with autism, ADHD and anxiety — understand and prepare for situations that feel overwhelming. STILL Art teaches you how to create and deliver social stories through art. This means the person is not just reading about what to expect. They are creating their own safe, visual version of it. This is especially powerful for neurodiverse children and young people, and it is something almost no other therapeutic art course currently includes.
A complete toolkit of creative techniques
Shape and symbol exploration. Drawing emotions as colour. Visual safe places. Creative grounding exercises. Art for fear, overwhelm and avoidance. Session design for different ages and settings. You do not get a list of activities. You get a method you can adapt and use with confidence.
Ongoing support and mentoring
Access to the STILL practitioner network, mentoring sessions and resources to support you as you begin running your own sessions.
Accredited certification
STILL Art Practitioner certificate accredited by both ACCPH and IPHM. Same certificate whether you train live, self-paced or both.
Who This Course Is For
STILL Art has become a first step for people who want to help but do not want a clinical route.
It is designed for Teachers and teaching assistants People in children's homes Therapists and coaches Parents and carers Support workers and youth workers Artists and creatives who want their work to support wellbeing SENCOs and pastoral leads in schools Anyone who wants to make a difference but is unsure where to begin
If you want to support anxious minds through structured creative practice, this course gives you a safe and accredited way to do it..
Why Choose STILL Art
Many therapeutic art courses teach activities without giving a psychological framework. Others rely on clinical language that puts off non-therapists. Most completely ignore anxiety. And almost none of them teach emotional regulation or social stories through art.
STILL Art is different for five reasons.
One. It is built around anxiety
The STILL Method is known internationally for its work with anxious children and adults. This means the creative activities you learn are not just expressive. They link directly to emotional safety and nervous system regulation. Every technique in the course connects back to how anxiety works in the brain and body.
Two. It teaches emotional regulation through art
You do not just learn activities. You learn how to use specific creative processes to help someone move from a state of overwhelm into calm. This includes art-based grounding, visual safe places, drawing emotions as colour and creative tools for shutdown and avoidance. This is a core part of the training, not an optional extra.
Three. It includes social stories through art
Social stories help people — especially neurodiverse children and young people — understand and prepare for situations that cause anxiety. STILL Art is one of the only practitioner courses in the UK that teaches you how to create social stories through visual expression. The person does not just hear the story. They build it, draw it and make it their own.
Four. It is a structured system, not a hobby course
Most competitors offer a collection of activities with no underlying method. STILL Art gives you a clear set of steps. A transferable approach. A way to work confidently in schools, care homes, older people's services and private practice.
Five. You are properly supported
You can complete the course entirely self-paced or join live teaching on Zoom and you can do both. The live route includes two full days of interactive training plus over ten hours of bonus online video. The self-paced route gives you the same ten-plus hours to work through in your own time. Either way, you get mentoring, ongoing support and a practitioner community. No other provider in this field combines creative work, anxiety expertise and accredited training in this way.
This is why STILL Art practitioners are increasingly being asked to run groups in schools and care settings across the UK.
What You Will Learn
What You Will Learn
Module One
Introduction to therapeutic art What therapeutic art is What it is not How creativity helps an anxious brain feel safe How STILL integrates with creative practice
Module Two
The foundation of safe sessions Preparing the space Building trust Guiding without directing Closing sessions safely
Module Three
Core art-based tools for emotional regulation Drawing emotions as colour Visual safe places Shape and symbol exploration Creative grounding exercises Art for emotional regulation and nervous system safety
Module Four
Communication and emotional awareness Reading cues Listening without judgement Supporting reflection Helping people make sense of their own work
Module Five
Working across ages and settings Children Teens Adults Neurodiverse clients Social stories through art Groups in schools One-to-one sessions in care settings
Module Six
Advanced STILL Art practice Creative approaches for fear and overwhelm Using STILL tools through art Helping with shutdown, avoidance and anxiety-based behaviour Session design for more complex needs
Module Seven
Ethics and scope Boundaries Confidentiality Safeguarding When to refer to clinical services Working confidently within the role of practitioner
Module Eight
Practice and feedback Live demonstrations Guided practice Support as you build your first sessions Feedback to strengthen your confidence
How Therapeutic Art Helps Anxious Minds
Anxiety traps people in a loop of fearful thinking. Creative work shifts them out of that loop and into sensory processing, which is where emotional regulation happens.
When someone draws, paints, shapes or builds, they move from their overactive thinking brain into a calmer, more grounded state. This creates distance from overwhelming feelings. It helps people visualise safety. It gives expression to what they cannot easily speak about. And it supports regulation, clarity and a sense of agency that anxiety takes away.
The STILL Art approach is intentionally gentle. It is structured enough to feel safe but open enough for personal expression. This combination is what helps people calm, explore and begin to change.
This is why therapeutic art is increasingly used in schools, care homes, children's homes, older people's services and community wellbeing settings across the UK. It works with children, teens, adults and neurodiverse people. And with the right training, you do not need to be an artist to guide someone through it.
Transform Lives With Therapeutic Art
Discover how to use art to support mental and emotional wellbeing with the STILL Art Practitioner Training. This is a complete therapeutic art course that teaches you to help clients express, explore and resolve feelings and emotions through safe, structured creative work.
The course provides every tool you need to start making a difference immediately, without requiring any additional specialist training. Delivered by The STILL Method and accredited by ACCPH and IPHM, you learn to run both in-person and remote sessions so your clients receive consistent support wherever they are.
Whether you work independently or within schools, hospitals, older people's services, children's homes or learning disability settings, this course equips you to deliver impactful therapeutic art sessions. You do not need to be skilled at art to become a practitioner.
Why people choose STILL Art over other courses
Make a genuine difference — help anxious children, teens and adults find calm and clarity through creative expression.
Get more than activities — learn a structured method with emotional regulation techniques, social stories through art and a full creative toolkit.
Train your way — join two days live on Zoom with over ten hours of bonus online content, or complete the entire course self-paced. Either way, you get the same accredited qualification.
Gain a recognised qualification — accredited by ACCPH and IPHM with ongoing practitioner support.
"I love how practical this course was. I came away with so many tools. My sessions with young people have changed completely." — Will, Therapeutic Carer
What Every STILL Art Practitioner Receives
Two days of live training on Zoom (live route) or recorded — guided, interactive sessions with exercises, demonstrations and group practice.
Over ten hours of extra recorded video (both routes) — Additional training to give a complete insight into emotional regulation.
Emotional regulation training through art — specific creative techniques for helping people move from overwhelm to calm.
Social stories through art — learn to create visual social stories for anxious and neurodiverse children and young people.
A complete creative toolkit — drawing emotions as colour, visual safe places, shape and symbol work, grounding exercises and session plans.
Personalised support — mentoring sessions and ongoing access to the STILL practitioner community.
Accredited certification — STILL Art Practitioner certificate with ACCPH and IPHM.
Ongoing registration and licence — annual fee of £50. to Transform Lives with STILL Art?
Enroll Now: Secure your place and start your journey in therapeutic art.
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Comprehensive Tools and Techniques
STILL Art integrates therapeutic art with the STILL Method's structured approach to anxiety. The course covers:
Art-based emotional regulation — creative techniques specifically designed to calm the nervous system and support people in moving from fear to safety.
Social stories through art — a structured way to help anxious and neurodiverse people understand, prepare for and feel safer in difficult situations, created through their own visual expression.
The STILL Method — a proven anxiety support framework used internationally, integrated into every creative exercise.
Personalised session planning — how to design and adapt therapeutic art sessions for different ages, settings and needs.
Ongoing support — access to resources, mentoring and a practitioner community for continuous development.
Common Questions About STILL Art Training
Do I need to be an artist to take this course?
No. STILL Art is designed for people who want to support others, not for professional artists. You do not need any drawing or painting ability. The creative techniques are structured and guided. They are tools for emotional expression, not art skills.
What is the difference between therapeutic art and art therapy?
Art therapy is a regulated clinical profession in the UK that requires an HCPC-registered postgraduate qualification. Therapeutic art is a broader, practitioner-led approach that uses creative processes to support emotional wellbeing without providing clinical treatment. STILL Art trains you as a therapeutic art practitioner, not a clinical art therapist. You can work in schools, care homes, community settings and private practice within the scope of this role.
What are the two ways to take this course?
You can either join two days of live training on Zoom — which also includes over ten hours of bonus online video content — or you can complete the entire course self-paced online using the same ten-plus hours of recorded training. Both routes lead to the same accredited certificate. If you start self-paced, you can join a live cohort later at no extra cost.
How much content is in the course?
The live route includes two full days of interactive Zoom training plus over ten hours of bonus recorded video across eight modules, along with downloadable tools, techniques and session planning resources. The self-paced route includes the same ten-plus hours of video and all the downloadable resources.
Can I do the self-paced course and then join a live group later?
Yes. Many practitioners do exactly this. When you enrol on the self-paced course you can join any future live cohort at no extra cost.
Is this course accredited?
Yes. STILL Art is accredited by both ACCPH and IPHM. You receive the same accredited certificate regardless of which learning route you choose.
What makes this different from other therapeutic art courses?
Three things. First, the entire course is built around anxiety — every technique links to emotional safety and nervous system regulation. Second, you learn how to integrate social stories with art, which is especially valuable for neurodiverse children and young people. Third, you get a genuinely substantial training — either two live days plus ten-plus hours of bonus video, or the full ten-plus hours self-paced. Most competitor courses offer activities without a structured method, a psychological framework or anxiety expertise.
Can I use this qualification to work in schools?
Yes. STILL Art practitioners are already running sessions in schools and care settings across the UK. The course covers working with children, teens, adults and neurodiverse clients, including group work and one-to-one sessions.
Does the course cover emotional regulation?
Yes. Emotional regulation through art is a core part of the training. You learn specific creative techniques designed to help people move from a state of overwhelm or anxiety into calm and safety. This includes grounding exercises, visual safe places and art-based tools for shutdown and avoidance.
Does the course cover social stories?
Yes. STILL Art is one of the only therapeutic art practitioner courses in the UK that teaches you how to create and deliver social stories through art. This is particularly effective for neurodiverse children and young people, but also works well with anyone who finds verbal processing difficult.
What settings can I work in after qualifying?
Schools, children's homes, care homes, older people's services, community projects, private practice, hospitals and learning disability settings. The STILL Art approach is designed to transfer across ages and environments.
Choose your route and book STILL Art Practitioner training
If you know STILL Art is the right training for you, this section gives you a clear next step. You can join live therapeutic art coach training dates on Zoom or begin the self paced course straight away through our online learning platform.
Both routes lead to the same accredited STILL Art Practitioner certificate with ACCPH and IPHM. Most people use both at different stages.
- Train to guide anxious children, teens and adults through safe creative sessions.
- Choose live Zoom dates or a self paced route that fits around your life.
- Use a complete therapeutic art approach, not just a list of activities.
Weekend courses usually run on Saturday and Sunday. Weekday cohorts run on the same weekday across two consecutive weeks, often on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Exact dates and times are shown on the booking page.
You are booking a complete therapeutic art practitioner course, not a one off workshop. The choice here is simply how you prefer to learn.
Both routes include the same STILL Art curriculum, accreditation and access to ongoing mentoring.
Two ways to become a STILL Art Practitioner
STILL Art is designed for teachers, support workers, carers, therapists and creatives who want to use art as a safe way to support anxious minds. You can train entirely online, join live groups, or combine both.
Live Zoom training
Join a live therapeutic art coach group on Zoom with Stuart as your trainer. The course usually runs across two days, either as a weekend block or as two weekdays on consecutive weeks.
- Two live training days focused on therapeutic art and anxiety.
- Options for weekend or weekday cohorts in London time.
- Guided exercises, live demonstrations and space for questions.
- Same accredited STILL Art Practitioner certificate as the online route.
On Bookwhen you will see all STILL Method events. Look for entries labelled ART COACH or STILL Art Practitioner two day course.
Self paced online course
Start today on the STILL Art online course. Move through the modules in your own time, replay activities and build your first sessions at a pace that works for you.
- Immediate access to all STILL Art modules and resources.
- Study at your own pace from anywhere in the world.
- Use the tools with children, teens and adults once you qualify.
- Same accredited STILL Art Practitioner certificate as the live route.
Many people begin online, then join a later live cohort to deepen their confidence and get feedback on their sessions.
What you are saying yes to
When you choose your route you are saying yes to a structured therapeutic art approach built around anxiety awareness and emotional safety. You leave able to run creative sessions in schools, care settings, community projects or private practice, even if you do not see yourself as an artist.
If you want to explore the course in more detail first, you can read more on this page or visit the Therapeutic Art Coach Training guide for a deeper look at how STILL Art works in practice.