Examining Character Strengths of Creative Arts Therapists in Canada: A Survey Study (Examen des forces de caractère des thérapeutes en arts créatifs au Canada : une étude par sondage)

Abstract

This survey study examined the most prominent character strengths in creative arts therapists (CATs) employed in Canada and how they apply their strengths in their work settings. The CATs (N = 156) first completed the 24-item Essential subscale (GACS-E) of the 72-item Global Assessment of Character Strengths (GACS-72) and then responded to open-ended questions directing them to report how they use their top character strengths in their work. The GACS-E subscale results indicated that the highest character strengths among CATs in descending order were kindness, curiosity, love of learning, and creativity. CATs’ self-reported top character strengths were creativity, curiosity, and kindness. The qualitative analysis yielded three main themes relative to how participants used these character strengths in their work: adaptability, building therapeutic rapport, and being authentic. The CATs utilized creativity, curiosity, and kindness together to become more compassionate and effective professionals who are flexible, build healthy relational bridges with their clients, students, employees, and supervisees, and provide genuine, empathetic care. Future Canadian and international researchers need to investigate how character strengths might be used differently by CATs in various roles such as therapist, supervisor, and educator.