Telehealth-based creative arts therapy: Transforming mental health and rehabilitation care for rural veterans

Abstract

Arts programs are increasingly recognized for their ability to enhance healthcare and promote health outcomes such as improved quality of life, increased motivation and reduced levels of depression and anxiety. This manuscript describes a creative arts therapy practice known as the Rural Veterans TeleRehabilitation Initiative Creative Arts Therapy (RVTRI CAT) Project that was established to improve access to mental health care and rehabilitation for rural veterans. Entering its third year, the RVTRI CAT project has adapted the creative arts therapies for delivery using Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT). Insights, considerations and best practices are considered for art therapy and dance/movement therapy with implications for future application in music, drama and poetry therapy. In conclusion, the RVTRI CAT program demonstrates that creative arts therapy can successfully be adapted to CVT with some modifications by the creative arts therapist.