Understanding the role art therapy can take in treating veterans with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Individuals who are highly avoidant and/or have dissociative post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) presentations may be less likely to engage in evidence-based trauma treatments, and consequently are more likely to drop out of therapy. These individuals may benefit from approaches that provide alternatives to verbal or cognitive processes to achieve therapeutic outcomes.In recent years, a number of research studies have been undertaken at the UK veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress to try to understand the role art therapy can take in treating veterans with chronic PTSD. An overview of the findings is presented, along with suggested treatment and ethical guidelines, and recommendations for innovative ways to conduct research on the value of art therapy for veterans. Art therapy is shown to offer promise as a treatment for the overcoming of PTSD-related avoidance symptoms and for increasing self-awareness. Furthermore, the work created in sessions captures snapshots of meaning that veterans can use as a form of communication outside of the art therapy space, as active working documents. In this way, art therapy can assist veterans to understand and communicate their inner experiences, and to engage in trauma therapy.