16th International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) Conference, Endicott College, Beverly, MA, USA, 19–23 June 2025

On the road to educating the creative arts therapist

We are honored to present this collection of abstracts from the Research and Thesis Poster Session of the 57th American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) Conference in Montreal, Canada held from October 27-30, 2022. This paper features eleven abstracts that showcase the latest research in dance therapy from various perspectives and approaches. These abstracts were selected and curated by Research and Practice committee members, Karolina Bryl, Cecilia Fontanesi, and Chevon Stewart, who were responsible for organizing the Research and Thesis Poster Session. The Research and Thesis Poster Session is a vital component of the ADTA Conference, providing a platform for researchers and practitioners to share their work, exchange ideas, and connect with colleagues. The abstracts presented in this paper offer insights into a broad range of topics, including the use of dance therapy in clinical and community settings, the integration of technology in dance therapy, and the examination of cultural and social factors that impact the practice of dance therapy. We hope this collection of abstracts will inspire and inform future research in dance therapy, and we extend our appreciation to all the presenters for their contributions.

In 1999 the Potomac Art Therapy Association (PATA) conducted a survey of its members' involvement in and attitudes toward research. This survey was also made available to attendees of the 30th Annual American Art Therapy Association (AATA) conference in 1999. In this report, salient survey results are presented. Two factors were found to contribute to art therapists' hesitancy to pursue research: "lack of training" and "statistics and mathematics." Art therapists' lack of involvement in research is discussed in the context of AATA's initiative to promote research. Recommendations are made regarding further improvements of the survey.

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The 11th dialogue group between descendants of Holocaust perpetrators, victims, and liberators was held in conjunction with the International Family Therapy Association (IFTA) Conference in Reykjavík, Iceland, in October 2006. Some of the history and evolution of this unusual group of mental health professionals, which has had an existence of 12 years, has been chronicled in prior articles (Kaslow, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002). Therefore, in this article the most salient facts about the group's origins, raison d'être, and annual meetings, as well as changing group composition, is summarized. Some reflections on the course of the life of the group, its impact on its members, and the wider ripple effect are provided. Written comments made by some of the participants are included to illuminate their reflections on their experiences. The meeting in Reykjavik is described and finally the reasons for phasing out the group are given. A significant 12-year project is drawn to a close, hopefully with members having derived both new perceptions of the “other” and some deep and lasting healing through personal reexperiencing of the Holocaust having been incorporated and integrated differently into their lives. It is hoped that readers may deduce some principles and glean other information that will be valuable to them in their practices and their personal lives when dealing with survivors of the Holocaust and other more recent traumatic genocides: their students, supervisees, patients, colleagues, and perhaps relatives.

International Roving Reporter--International Family Therapy Association (IFTA) Conference in Turkey a Triumph

The Flowing Tao of Expressive Arts Therapy, the theme of the 11th International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) created “the way” to bridge the wisdom of the East to that of the West. This conference birthed a global village at the Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, Hong, Kong where over 400 people gathered to honor the Eastern and Western practitioners, artists, educators and their acumen in expressive arts. As the first IEATA conference in Asia, two thirds of the participants were from Asian countries, demonstrating the vibrancy of expressive arts in Asia as well as coupling with the West, with 26 countries represented! The intention of the conference was to create a community that invited formal and informal dialog, as well as making the conference affordable to many who live in developing countries through the numerous scholarships offered. The choice of the Youth Village provided a setting in which we all lived, ate, played and studied together with a taste of nature in urban Hong Kong. The feedback we received reflected our intention that the conference enhance dialog and bonding among our many international participants.

Resistance to all of the licensed classes of anthelmintics is now widespread and targeted worming strategies are advocated to reduce selection pressure and delay the onset of anthelmintic resistance. Targeted strategies of worm control are relatively straightforward in adult horses but where youngstock are present the situation becomes more complicated. Youngstock are more susceptible to infection and clinical disease and additional parasites have to be considered in control programmes. Despite the additional complexity, targeted worming strategies can be employed on breeding establishments, and indeed should be, as owners of young horses have the most to lose if anthelmintic resistance develops.

Background The creative arts therapies (CATs) enhance mental health and support cognitive functioning in older age. However, there remains a gap in research regarding their utilisation and older adults’ attitudes towards participation. Aims This study explored older Israeli adults’ perceived barriers and facilitators to engaging in CATs, among individuals with and without prior experience. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 older adults: 10 who had participated in CATs, mostly in art therapy, and 10 who had not. This design enabled a deeper exploration of engagement, with non-participants providing insights into barriers. Results A thematic analysis yielded five themes: (1) Preconceptions about mental health services and CATs can act as barriers to utilisation; (2) Referrals and prior familiarity facilitate utilisation; (3) CATs are perceived as less threatening than other forms of mental health services; (4) CATs provide an opportunity to rectify past experiences of self-criticism and oppression related to artistic expression; (5) CATs facilitate a process of self-discovery. Cultural, gender, and migration influences may also shape attitudes toward CATs. Conclusions The barriers include mental health stigma, self-stigmatisation of artistic abilities, lack of awareness of CATs, and inadequate referrals. Facilitators include previous art experience, the less intimidating nature of CATs, and the increased self-confidence and personal growth resulting from participation. Cultural sensitivity is essential, since norms and values may shape engagement with CATs. Implications for practice Identifying barriers and facilitators to CATs is crucial, for promoting their utilization among older adults. These findings are primarily applicable to art therapy, and further research is needed to explore their relevance to other CATs modalities. Plain-language summary The creative arts therapies (CATs), which cover art, drama, music, and dance movement therapies, have been shown to improve mental health and well-being in older adults. However, little is known about older adults′ attitudes towards CATs and the barriers and facilitators influencing their engagement. This study explored these attitudes and identified ways to increase older Israeli adults’ participation in CATs. We interviewed 20 older adults, 10 of whom had participated in CATs, mostly in visual art therapy, and 10 who had not, to provide insights into the barriers to participation. Five key findings were identified. Preconceptions about mental health services and misconceptions about CATs, such as the belief that they require artistic skill, discourage participation. Previous exposure to CATs or personal recommendations encourage engagement. CATs are seen as less intimidating than traditional talk therapy, making them more approachable. CATs help older adults overcome struggles with self-criticism and develop confidence in their creative abilities. CATs provide opportunities for self-expression and personal growth. Cultural, gender, and migration influences may also shape attitudes toward CATs. These findings highlight the need to reduce stigma, increase awareness of CATs, and make them more accessible. By addressing these barriers and building on factors that encourage participation, CATs can become a powerful tool to support mental health and enhance well-being in older adults.

Last year we attended the 27th Annual Conference of the American Art Therapy Association, following in the footsteps of Joan Woddis and Peter Byrne who attended the 16th and 17th Annual Conferences of AATA. In this paper we describe our experiences at the 1996 Conference and reflect on what we learnt there about art therapy in the differing cultural contexts of Britain and the United States of America. We set our thoughts in the developing debate about Anglo-American approaches to art therapy, aware that our impressions are based on a limited experience, not necessarily reflective of American art therapy as a whole

Mindfulness and the Arts Therapies: Theory And Practice, Laury Rappaport (ed.) (2013) London and Philadelphia: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 352 pp., ISBN: 9781849059091, p/bk, $29.95 Unfolding Reflection from the Flowing Tao of Expressive Arts – The 11th International Expressive Arts Therapy Association Conference, Hong Kong, People’s Republic Of China, 6–10 October 2015

Expressive Arts Therapy

Theatre, Education and Performance, Helen Nicholson (2011) Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 245 pp., ISBN: 9780230574236, p/bk, £17.99 Theatre for Change: Education, Social Action and Therapy, Robert J. Landy and David T. Montgomery (2012) New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 337 pp., ISBN: 978-0-230-24366-8, p/bk, $30.00 Expressive Arts in the Winds of Change, 10th International Conference of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, Double Tree Hotel, Berkeley, CA, 14–17 March 2013 Exploring where Poetry and Therapy Intersect: Two workshops delivered by Diana Hedges and Reamonn O’Donnchadha, PoetryReach, Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland, 23 March 2013

The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of technology on art therapists by exploring how art therapists own and use technology and to determine barriers to ownership and use. A survey was conducted at the 2002 annual conference of the American Art Therapy Association in Washington, DC. Of the 250 surveys distributed, 195 were completed and returned, yielding a 78% return rate. The survey asked respondents about their personal, professional, and with-client applications of technology. Participants also responded concerning the barriers they face pertaining to ownership and use of technology. The survey results demonstrated that art therapists own and use a variety of technological devices. Statistically significant differences were found between respondents' use, ownership, and application of technology in the categories of age, professional registration, and education. It was concluded that art therapists as a group are informed about technological devices and their applications.

During the analysis of a survey of art therapy educators in 2001 (St. John, Kaiser, & Ball, 2004), issues of importance to art therapy and art therapy research education emerged. As a follow-up, the authors interviewed educators attending the 2002 Annual Conference of the American Art Therapy Association (AATA) to gain an understanding of their perspectives in three areas: emphasis on teaching qualitative and quantitative approaches, expected research competencies of graduates, and assistance programs needed to teach art therapy research effectively. Results from the study indicate that most participants perceive that qualitative research currently is emphasized more than quantitative research in art therapy education. Educators identified that the research competencies most expected from their graduates are the ability to read critically and to understand published research. Finally, with respect to teaching research effectively, most indicated that ongoing research education would support their teaching efforts. Implications for AATA and the profession are discussed.