(Re)considering psychological constructs: A thematic synthesis defining five therapeutic factors in group art therapy

Abstract

This thematic synthesis redefines group art therapy mechanisms of change and aims to aid in a critical analysis of group art therapy theory. The researchers reviewed 119 qualitative sources and employed thematic analysis synthesis to develop themes of group art therapeutic factors, which have been previously equated to mechanisms of change. The sources were divided and synthesized in one of four categories based on a pre-determined criteria: teaching texts, practice-based, case study, and single case design. The four syntheses were then reviewed and used to derive possible meta themes of therapeutic factors. The meta-synthesis resulted in five art therapeutic factors in group settings: symbolic expression, relational aesthetics, embodiment, pleasure/play, and ritual. The findings are contextualized to inform training, clinical, and research practices in group art therapy.