A Conversation between East and West: Introducing Expressive Arts Therapy in China

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.

Creative Arts Educ Ther (2020) 6(2):171–178 DOI: 10.15212/CAET/2020/6/1 Growing to be Independent in an Interdependent Culture: A Reflection on the Cultural Adaptation of Creative and Expressive Arts Therapy in an Asian Global City 在相互依存的文化中成长为独立的人： 对创造性和表达性艺术治疗于亚洲国际都会中的文化适应之反思 Abstract Hong Kong is culturally unique. Although its Chinese culture is ingrained, it is also deeply saturated by Western culture due to its long history of Western governance. When considering this in relation to personal and cultural self-construal, the question arises of whether people in Hong Kong tend to view themselves as more independent or interdependent. This question is important for creative and expressive arts therapists because self-construal affects an individual’s motivations for emotional expression and self-development in relation to others, which then affects how arts therapists can encourage individuals to express emotions and grow towards independence and self-actualization. Various clashes may arise between independent and interdependent cultures due to their different life emphases. Therefore, when adapting the skills and knowledge of creative and expressive arts therapy to an interdependent culture, full attention must be paid to supporting individuals in such a culture to discover the optimal balance of the self in relation to others and the community at large, while also considering the dynamic changes in the culture itself over time. Keywords: Independent self, Interdependent self, Chinese, Creative and expressive arts therapy, Hong Kong 摘要 香港具有独特的文化。尽管中国文化根深蒂固，由于长时间受到西方的统治，香港文化亦受到西方文化的深度熏陶和浸润。基于这点，当我们探讨个体和文化自我观念的建构时，我们会遇到「香港人到底是倾向于将自己视为较独立的，还是较相互依存」的命题。这个命题对创造性和表达性艺术治疗很重要，原因是自我观念会影响个人尤其是与人相处时的情感表达和自我发展的动机和取向，对艺术治疗师能够如何鼓励个人表达情感以让个体朝着独立和实现自我的方向成长有着重要影响。还有，生活重点在人生的不同阶段会有所不同，独立和相互依存文化之间的角力或会造成各种冲突。因此，于相互依存的文化下应用创造性和表达性艺术治疗的技巧和知识时，我们必须加倍注意如何让个人在发展个体自我的同时能够与他人和整个社会状况取得平衡，以符合相互依存的文化环境; 并同时须考虑到文化本身亦会随着时间不断变化而出现各种改变。 关键词：独立的自我， 相互依存的自我，中国，创造性和表达性艺术治疗， 香港

Expressive Arts Therapy

This textbook subchapter examines how the creative arts therapies are an important modality for addiction treatment. A valid argument can be made regarding art as an essential tool for effective healing, based in part upon a comprehensive review of current research. Unfortunately, due to inadequately educated staff many addiction programs are mislabeling arts and crafts projects as “creative arts psychotherapy.” This subchapter seeks to address this misnomer as well as the remarkable healing potential of art therapy when facilitated by certified professionals. The benefits and challenges of art therapy will be addressed in a preliminary fashion by providing a definition, case study overview, examples of art, an example each of the journal writing and poetry produced, and a subjective description of the impact of the creative and expressive arts via the client’s perceptions. These will be followed by a Haiku that foreshadowed the client’s success with long-term sobriety after treatment.

Introduction to the special issue on creative arts therapies in the treatment of substance abuse

Creativity in an Online Community as a Response to the Chaos of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Recently there has been an expansion of the literature on creative arts therapy (CAT) interventions in the United States (U.S.) school system. However, findings across studies in the field have yet to be systematically investigated on a national level. The present review is an integrative systematic review of empirically evaluated CAT intervention studies in U.S. schools from the past decade. This synthesis seeks to advance CATs in schools' evidence base and increase research and practice throughout the U.S. Three online databases were searched alongside a manual review of relevant journals. Inclusion criteria required studies to feature a CAT modality, implementation in a U.S. K‐12 school during the school day, and an empirical methodology. The systematic search yielded a total qualifying sample of six studies. General findings indicated that across studies, targeted improvement in psychosocial and behavioral domains was achieved, suggesting that CATs hold major promise due to their ecological responsiveness and versatility. Although the current scope of empirically evaluated CAT interventions in U.S. schools is minimal, findings suggest encouraging avenues for formulating a useful research trajectory and advancing practice. Further research recommendations for the promotion of CATs in schools are provided and situated within the school mental health literature.

Creative arts therapies integrated into interdisciplinary care supports treatment optimization of military-connected individuals with traumatic brain injury, posttraumatic stress disorder, and related health concerns. This paper explores the use of creative performance in interdisciplinary treatment that includes art therapy, dance/movement therapy, and/or music therapy through literature review and discusses implications for physiological, psychological, and psychosocial rehabilitation. It presents an applied model - the Creative Forces Creative Arts Café (CF-CAC) - used with patients receiving creative arts therapies as standard care at military treatment facilities across the United States. A theoretically informed CF-CAC framework provides a structured approach to utilizing creative performance as a clinical tool to support treatment goals and includes guidance for preparation, implementation, and post-experience processing. Core concepts of creative performance that underpin the CF-CAC are informed by creative arts therapies research, social health and human performance models, neurologic theory, and strengths-based approaches that encourage patient engagement, increase treatment adherence, support goal attainment, invite staff collaboration, and promote familial and community engagement. Considerations for facilitating the CF-CAC using virtual platforms to meet the continued demand for tele-connection are discussed. Standardized health measures for formally evaluating the CF-CAC to inform long-term sustainable gains from engagement in creative performance are recommended.

Introduction to the special issue on the creative arts therapies and the family

Depression is a mental state characterized by feelings of sadness, loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, and self-reproach; accompanying signs include psychomotor retardation. Complementary therapies span a broad range of treatments for depression. The aim of this review was to determine whether the use of complementary & alternative therapy (CAT) for treatment of depression is supported by evidence of effectiveness from rigorous clinical trials. Database literature searches were performed in a pre-defined manner. Thirteen RCTs were located that investigated Complementary & alternative therapy and depression: Reflexology (1), Cognitively Behavioural Therapy (3), Yoga (1), Mindfulness therapy (1), Reiki intervention (1), Aromatherapy massage (1), Essential oils (1), Creative arts therapy (1), Herbal medicine (1), Music therapy (1) and Massage (1). The evidence is not compelling for any of these therapies, with many trials suffering from significant methodological flaws. There is evidence to suggest some benefit of mindfulness therapy, yoga, creative art, massage and music therapy on reduction of depressive symptoms. Cognitive Behaviour therapy and aromatherapy massage have a short-term beneficial effect on depression. There is no difference in using herbal, reflexology, essential oil and Reiki therapy in depression but Reiki therapy within the bounds of the conventional care setting may be more effective. In all the CATs examined further investigations are needed in the form of rigorous large-scale trials.

On the road to educating the creative arts therapist

Introduction to the special issue on the creative arts therapies with adolescents

Hope, meaning and the creative arts therapies in the treatment of AIDS

This paper aims to provide an overview of the family therapy in mainland China, by analyzing its development, current situation and future directions. The authors argue that the history of family therapy can be understood as three stages: introductory stage from 1985 to 1994, “blossoming” stage from 1995 to 2004, and “fast growing” stage from 2005 to present. In every stage, we can see clear differences in each of the following fields: training (including training programs in universities and workshops held by companies or institutes), academics (including research articles, professional books and conferences), and general public environment (including media and policies). We also outline the development of China’s first university system family therapy training program as an example and evidence of family therapy’s significant present and future development in mainland China. Based on this, we highlight some points for future improvement in family therapy in mainland China, including developing indigenous theories and practice models, reinforcing training and research programs in university systems, and improving accreditation standard for all family therapists.

Quality of Life Outcomes With Creative Arts Therapy in Children With Cancer.