Creative Therapies Research Articles

Creative music therapy in preterm infants effects cerebrovascular oxygenation and perfusion.

Creative music therapy (CMT) has been shown to promote the development of brain function and structure in preterm infants. We aimed to investigate the effect of CMT on cerebral oxygenation and perfusion to examine how the brain reacts to CMT. Absolute levels of cerebrovascular oxygen saturation (StO2) were measured in clinically stable preterm-born neonates (n = 20, gestational age: ≥30 weeks and < 37 weeks) using two near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based tissue oximeters over the right prefrontal cortex and left auditory cortex. We applied the systemic physiology augmented functional NIRS approach. Each CMT session lasted 55min and involved 9 intervals, including two 10-minute intervals during which the music therapist hummed and held the neonate. We found that CMT-induced changes in cerebrovascular StO2, perfusion and systemic physiology (i) could be classified into two groups (group 1: increase in StO2 during the first singing interval, group 2: decrease in StO2), (ii) differed in female neonates compared to male neonates, and (iii) correlated with individual blood haematocrit levels. Our exploratory study (i) demonstrates the impact of CMT on the neonate's physiology and (ii) highlights the need to analyze functional NIRS measurements in neonates separately according to their response pattern to avoid erroneous conclusions, e.g. when only the group average of the signal change is determined.

Collaborative and side-by-side artmaking: reducing social isolation in refugee youth group art therapy

ABSTRACT Background Research on social isolation in refugee youth is important because it affects their sense of belonging, mental health and wellbeing; integration and acculturation into a new country; education; and future employment opportunities. There is limited art therapy research in Australia in this area, leaving a compelling gap in understanding the effectiveness of collaborative and side-by-side artmaking in group art therapy to connect refugee youth with their peers. Aims This study aimed to explore whether collaborative and side-by-side artmaking in group art therapy would connect youth more effectively; alleviate their social isolation from trauma, displacement and re-settlement experiences; provide a safe environment and platform to express themselves; and improve their mental health and wellbeing. Methods The triangular mixed-methods approach used standardised scales and semi-structured interviews to gather information from youth, teachers and art therapists. Mixed-method data analysis was applied using the Reliable Change Index, line graphs, descriptive statistics, and thematic analysis. Results Refugee youths’ self-esteem and confidence seemed to increase through collaborative and side-by-side artmaking. Results highlighted the importance of social connection, self-esteem, confidence and a sense of safety for making positive connections during artmaking. Conclusions Findings indicate potential benefits of pportunities for refugee youth to connect with their peers in the school environment and of group art therapy. Implications for practice and future research Opportunities could be achieved through collaborative and side-by-side artmaking in group art therapy. A larger study, longer programme and mixed populations in the school setting are recommended for future research. Plain-language summary The research aimed to examine if there was an effect of a six-week art therapy programme on social isolation for five 14–15-year-old female refugee youth. This research is important because social isolation affects youth’s mental health and wellbeing. Through creating art individually and next to each other (side-by-side artmaking), and creating artworks together (collaborative artmaking), the programme aimed to reduce social isolation and increase connections between youth during the sessions and in the school environment. The research was conducted in an early intervention creative therapies service onsite at a Queensland English-language transition secondary school. The service is provided by accredited art therapists and uses creative methods to support culturally diverse refugee youth in resettling, learning and recovering from trauma and stress. During the research, youth participants engaged in art activities, such as drawing and painting, while listening to music. Interventions were designed to establish group bonds, build self-esteem and resilience, and empower youth in a safe and supportive environment. Art therapists and teachers observed youth during the research period, completed standardised scales before and after the programme and participated in semi-structured interviews. The youth participants also completed standardised scales and were interviewed before and after the programme. The results showed that after the six-week programme, youths’ wellbeing and connections to each other increased. Three central themes were identified: (1) social connection is important within the school environment; (2) self-esteem and confidence are related to connecting to others and social isolation; and (3) there is a sense of safety in artmaking individually and collaboratively with peers. The study found that the art therapy programme positively affected youth mental health and wellbeing. This suggests the programme effectively reduced participants’ social isolation, potentially offering positive opportunities to connect other youth at risk of social isolation.

Therapists’ emotional responses and their relation to patients’ experience of attunement and responsiveness

Objective Therapists’ emotional responses play a significant role in the therapeutic relationship and in the therapy process. The current study examined the associations between therapists’ emotional responses before and after therapy sessions, and patients’ experience of them as attuned and responsive. Method Forty patient-therapist dyads participated in 16 weekly sessions of Supportive Expressive Psychotherapy. Therapists’ emotions were assessed on the Feeling Word Checklist-58. We examined one positive feeling (Parental) and one negative feeling (Inadequate) Following each session, patients and therapists rated responsiveness on the Patient’s Experience of Attunement and Responsiveness. Results Feeling Parental before sessions was associated with patients’ post-session ratings of therapist empathy, but not with session helpfulness or sensed achievement. Therapists’ feelings of inadequacy before sessions were negatively associated with patients’ ratings of helpfulness and achievement, but not with empathy. Therapists’ Parental feelings after the session were positively associated with patients’ ratings and their own ratings on all 3 PEAR subscales. Feeling Inadequate after the session was negatively associated with patients’ ratings of helpfulness, achievement and empathy. Therapists’ ratings were only negatively associated only with helpfulness. Conclusion The study demonstrates that therapists’ emotional reactions play a role in their patients’ experience of their responsiveness.

The Impact of Arts on Mental Health and Well-Being

This paper examines the complex relationship between the arts and mental health, examining its historical roots, theoretical frameworks, and empirical evidence. Artistic expression has long been associated with mental health, providing opportunities for self-expression, emotional release, and psychological recovery. From early civilisations to modern therapeutic techniques, art has been recognised for its ability to improve mental health in a variety of cultures. Theoretical perspectives, such as expressive arts therapy and neuroesthetics, shed light on how creativity influences emotional and cognitive processes. According to empirical studies, participating in artistic activities helps relieve anxiety, sadness, and stress while increasing social support and empowerment. This study addresses the value of interdisciplinary methods, combining lived experiences with research to investigate how art may be used as a powerful tool in mental health interventions such as art therapy and creative practices in community settings. Keywords: Art therapy, Mental health, Emotional well-being, Expressive arts, Creative interventions.

Creative art therapy for postpartum depression： A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aims to ascertain the effectiveness of creative art therapy (CAT) in alleviating symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD). A systematic review of all randomized controlled trials of CAT for PPD was conducted. Eight bibliographic databases, namely, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and China Biomedical Literature Database were searched digitally, while Google Scholar database was searched manually for a comprehensive literature search. The search period is from the establishment of the database to May 2024. Literature screening and data extraction were conducted independently by two researchers, and the risk of bias in the included studies was evaluated. Finally, RevMan5.3 software and STATA 15.1 software were used for meta-analysis. Twelve studies, including 1633 patients, were included in this review. The results of our meta-analysis revealed that the intervention group was significantly better than the control group in depression [SMD=-0.882, 95% CI: -1.256 to -0.508, P ＜ 0.001][WMD=0.680, 95% CI: 0.407-0.953, P ＜ 0.001], anxiety [SMD=-0.712, 95% CI: -1.405 to -0.019, P=0.044], and personal state [WMD=-5.180, 95% CI: -5.869 to -4.491, P ＜ 0.001][SMD=0.388, 95% CI: 0.132-0.643, P=0.003], and the difference was statistically significant. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the above results were stable. CAT (music and creative games) was found to be effective in relieving depression, anxiety, and personal state in patients with PPD. Though CAT appears to be worthy of clinical application, more high-quality and large-sample studies are required to explore various aspects in the current context.

Playfulness in times of extreme adverse conditions: a theoretical model and case illustrations

The act of play has long been recognized as a fundamental aspect of human development. Playfulness, in turn, is considered a variable reflecting individual differences regarding the disposition to engage in play. To gain insight into playfulness’s potential contribution to health and well-being, this paper will explore its role during times of extreme adversity, proposing a theoretical model to understand playfulness as a coping mechanism in such conditions. Our Playfulness as a Coping Strategy model suggests that playfulness comprises various dimensions that serve as intrinsic resources for navigating adversity. In this context, we refer to playfulness as a self-initiated state, whereby individuals reclaim their autonomy to enter a space that opposes or contradicts the extremely adverse condition they are in. The model frames the use of playfulness in extremely adverse conditions, and demonstrates the model with two case illustrations of videos from soldiers in war, both from Ukraine and Israel. By doing that, we shed light on how playfulness can be cultivated as a protective factor promoting psychological adaptation. Furthermore, we outline future directions for research on playfulness as a change factor (i.e., active ingredient) in the creative arts therapies and other interventions, paving the way for elucidating its role in fostering well-being and health.

Creative art therapies in the treatment of adolescents with eating disorders: An integrative review and thematic network analysis

Eating disorders, prevalent mental health conditions, affect between 0.1 % and 3.8 % of the general population and 1.1 % of adolescents in Europe. Evidence suggests that the peak age of onset is 15.5 years. The recent and ongoing integration of creative art therapies into clinical settings suggest mental health benefits, and their application has been extended to different disorders and populations including eating disorders. However, there is a paucity of research focusing specifically on adolescents. Therefore, the present integrative review identified and summarized research conducted with creative art therapies in the treatment of adolescents diagnosed with an eating disorder. Additionally, a thematic network analysis facilitated the identification and mapping of relevant clinical themes. A database search in English and German, conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, resulted in the selection of ten articles. A thematic network analysis of both qualitative (n = 7) and quantitative (n = 3) studies, allowed the extraction of six global themes: identity, relationships, empowerment, hope, re-signify and defence. Themes were explored and described individually and intertwined. Results suggested consistency of creative art therapies interventions with other psychotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of eating disorders. Furthermore, their apparent developmental appropriateness for the adolescent population and the potential for strengthening the therapeutic process were highlighted.

How to optimise creative art therapy to foster the mental health of refugee adolescents? A Delphi study protocol.

This study aims to identify the most recommended components of creative art therapy (CAT) to improve the mental health of refugee adolescents. A three-round Delphi design is proposed. The first round will include semi-structured interviews with a panel of 12 CAT professionals worldwide and 12 refugee adolescents aged 10-24 in Jordan with a history of participating in creative arts interventions. The hybrid approach of coding and thematic analysis will be conducted to develop statements on recommended CAT components from the interview narratives. In the second round, the same and newly enrolled 24 professionals and 24 refugee adolescents will be asked to rate the statements according to their importance, propose new statements, and add comments. A similar procedure will be followed in the third round, where panellists will rate new and old statements after perusing the feedback from the second round. A statement will gain consensus and indicate essential components when rated 'essential' or 'very important' by > = 80% of panellists. Very important components are those with the same ratings by 60-79.9% of panellists. A list of essential and very important components, perspectives and suggestions will be provided to guide practice and intervention development.

Bibliotherapy: Tracing Its Global Evolution and Exploring the Contemporary Research Landscape in Sri Lanka

Bibliotherapy, the use of literature for therapeutic purposes, has gained increasing attention globally as a complementary approach to mental well-being. Bibliotherapy is a form of creative arts therapy that involves telling stories or reading specific texts and implementing personal connections to the content of books as a therapy. Mainly, there are two types of bibliotherapy as clinical bibliotherapy and developmental bibliotherapy. Clinical bibliotherapy is employed by mental health professionals to address emotional-behavioral problems and achieve therapeutic goals. Developmental bibliotherapy, used by educators, librarians and healthcare assistants and it facilitates to address milder psychological issues. The idea of bibliotherapy is not a new one and it has undergone a dynamic evolution. At early stages, bibliotherapy is developed as ‘reading therapy’. There are various anecdotes scattered through-out the ages that concerning the value of reading. It has been around for centuries, and have been referred to by different terms, depending on the time period. The objectives of this paper were to examine the global evolution of bibliotherapy from its historical roots to the present and to explore the contemporary research landscape of bibliotherapy in Sri Lanka. The methodology based on this study was literary survey. Accordingly, the paper attempts identify the contemporary research landscape in Sri Lanka while revealing global evolution of bibliotherapy. Challenges and possibilities affecting bibliotherapy researches in Sri Lanka are also discussed.

Reviewing the effect of creative arts therapy on the development of cognitive and social skills in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Creative art therapy has been utilized for many years as a treatment regimen for certain mental disorders. Overall, results of studies on creative art therapy show a positive trend, with general improvements in mental health and reduction of neurological symptoms in the majority of cases. The results regarding the effectiveness of creative art therapies in treating autism spectrum disorder are unclear and varied, due to the range of symptoms involved in autism spectrum disorder, the effect of age on therapy, and the variety of creative art therapies available for use. Of all the creative art therapies chosen to review, music was the most investigated. The studies performed on music therapy showed positive results, however, a large-scale randomized controlled trial refuted the positive benefits, leading to an inconclusive overall result on the effectiveness of music therapy. Research on the benefits of creative art therapies for children with autism spectrum disorder is inconclusive. Studies generally demonstrate a positive effect on many different types of creative art therapies. However, these studies have major limitations in generalizability due to small sample sizes and their descriptive nature. Future research should focus on developing randomized controlled trial protocols that can be used on a larger scale to generate more definitive results on the benefits, or lack thereof, of creative art therapies. Research should also be performed on the effect of adolescence on creative art therapies, and whether targeting it at younger children with autism spectrum disorder would be more or less beneficial than targeting it towards adolescents.

The Impact of Expressive Arts Therapy on Emotional Regulation and Self Compassion among Adolescents

The Impact of Expressive Arts Therapy on Emotional Regulation and Self Compassion among Adolescents

Family‐centered creative arts therapies for children with autism: A configurative systematic review

AbstractObjectiveThis configurative systematic review analyzed family‐centered creative arts therapies for children with autism to understand why and how they are done.BackgroundCreative arts therapies and family‐centered practice are both beneficial for children with autism. Research combining both approaches—that is, family‐centered creative arts therapies—is emerging, and reported findings are promising. A deeper understanding of the theoretical influences and mechanisms of these therapies may generate new ways of thinking and working with families with children with autism.MethodsFollowing registration with PROSPERO and in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) guidelines, a literature search was performed, resulting in 17 studies. Thematic analysis considered the studies in terms of theoretical influences, creative arts therapy components, and family‐centered components.ResultsThe development‐in‐context perspective was a key theoretical influence. In addition to music and singing, body movement/physical activity was a prominent component of creative arts therapies. Verbal support as well as modeling behaviors and strategies to parents were salient family‐centered components.ConclusionThis systematic review reveals common principles, practices, and gaps in the existing literature and their relevance for families with children with autism.ImplicationsThese findings bear implications for families, therapists, Certified Family Life Educators, and other professionals working with families with children with autism.

Reflections from LGBTQIA+ individuals of their past experiences of psychotherapy and counselling and the use of creative therapy—A qualitative study

AbstractBackgroundPrevious literature tends to suggest that the LGBTQIA+ community face higher rates of mental disorders and illnesses. This appears to be due to minority stress as a result of the discrimination and hostility towards the community from society. In relation to psychotherapy and/or counselling, affirmative therapy has been found to be helpful; however, it is clear from the literature that the LGBTQIA+ population do not feel accepted or understood when accessing mental health support.MethodParticipants were invited to take part in an interview consisting of open‐ended questions relating to the topic of interest. Following this, a thematic analysis was completed.FindingsThe thematic analysis revealed four main themes: these were ‘sexuality and gender within the therapeutic relationship’, ‘desirable characteristics and attributes in a therapist’, ‘undesirable characteristics and attributes in a therapist’ and ‘creative therapy’.Implications for PracticeThe results could be used to inform mental health practitioners of the importance of cultural competency in relation to the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as helping aid how to approach sexuality and/or gender in a therapeutic space. The conclusions also highlight the need for practitioners to explore context with LGBTQIA+ clients rather than solely emotion focus.ConclusionThis study indicated that the LGBTQIA+ community prefer working with LGBTQIA+ therapists due to a shared lived experience and perceived baseline understanding of each other. It was also found that context was important for them in therapy, rather than emotion focus, and creative therapy was also shown to be useful for the community.

Meeting the multidimensional self: fostering selfhood at the interface of Creative Arts Therapies and neuroscience.

Intriguing explorations at the intersection of the fields of neuroscience and psychology are driven by the quest to understand the neural underpinnings of "the self" and their psychotherapeutic implications. These translational efforts pertain to the unique Creative Arts Therapies (CATs) and the attributes and value of the self-related processes they offer. The self is considered as a multi-layered complex construct, comprising bodily and mental constituents, subjective-objective perspectives, spatial and temporal dimensions. Neuroscience research, mostly functional brain imaging, has proposed cogent models of the constitution, development and experience of the self, elucidating how the multiple dimensions of the self are supported by integrated hierarchical brain processes. The psychotherapeutic use of the art-forms, generating aesthetic experiences and creative processes, touch upon and connect the various layers of self-experience, nurturing the sense of self. The present conceptual analysis will describe and interweave the neural mechanisms and neural network configuration suggested to lie at the core of the ongoing self-experience, its deviations in psychopathology, and implications regarding the psychotherapeutic use of the arts. The well-established, parsimonious and neurobiologically plausible predictive processing account of brain-function will be discussed with regard to selfhood and consciousness. The epistemic affordance of the experiential CATs will further be portrayed, enabling and facilitating the creation of updated self-models of the body in the world. The neuropsychological impact of the relational therapeutic encounter will be delineated, acknowledging the intersubjective brain synchronization through communicative verbal and non-verbal means and aesthetic experiences. The recognition and assimilation of neuroscientific, phenomenological and clinical perspectives concerning the nested dimensionality of the self, ground the relational therapeutic process and the neuroplastic modulations that CATs have to offer on the premise of fostering, shaping and integrating selfhood.

Creative puppet therapy reduces hallucinations in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia: Preliminary findings

Anomalous experiences and hallucinations characterize schizophrenia. This study aimed at determining the efficacy of creative puppet therapy (CPT; creation of a puppet with malleable DAS) to reduce severe anomalous experiences and hallucinations among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Double-blinded, controlled trials were performed on a convenience sample of 24 patients from a mental health center. The intervention group of 12 patients (who created puppets) and the pseudo-treatment group of 12 patients (who were involved in outdoor leisure trips) were compared to the control group of 12 control participants (who created puppets). Cardiff Anomalous Perceptions Scale (CAPS) assessed hallucinations; Emotional Expression Inventory (EEXI) assessed the emotional expression of one's own puppet. Puppet facial features were measured. Results showed that CPT effectively reduced (d = –4.00) hallucination frequency in patients. Hallucination reduction occurred across all sensory modalities, but touch and bodily interoception. Exteroceptive vs. interoceptive hallucinations was the most valuable classification in patients. Compared to controls, puppets created by patients expressed more negative emotions and had larger eye diameters, shorter noses, and larger whole face width. Eye diameter was correlated with fear, sadness, anger, and disgust, and whole face width with boredom. Fragmented-self integration of schizophrenia through CPT treatment might exploit aggregative dominance of the patient's own body.

Drama therapists’ attitudes and perspectives regarding dis/ability: A community survey

The Dis/ability and Drama Therapy Lab at Lesley University conducted a community-wide survey aimed at better understanding drama therapists’ attitudes toward dis/ability. This survey was modeled after previous surveys conducted in creative arts therapies; a combination of a validated measure and researcher-designed questions were used to elicit information on attitudes, experiences, frameworks used, and confidence levels. Open ended questions were paired with quantitative measures to allow for respondent elaboration, and qualitative data are utilized to illustrate and support quantitative results. Data were analyzed from 146 participants who met inclusion criteria. Results indicate that while drama therapists hold overall positive attitudes toward dis/ability, there are significant gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed.

A handbook for Rhythmic Relating in autism: supporting social timing in play, learning and therapy.

We present a handbook for Rhythmic Relating, an approach developed to support play, learning and therapy with young autistic children, unconventional communicators, and autistic people who have additional learning needs. Rhythmic Relating is based on the Movement Sensing perspective, a growing body of research that recognizes that autistic social difficulties stem from more basic sensory and motor differences. These sensorimotor differences directly affect embodied experience and social timing in communication. The Rhythmic Relating approach acknowledges that autistic/non-autistic interactive mismatch goes both ways and offers bidirectional support for social timing and expressive action in play. This handbook is presented in an accessible fashion, allowing the reader to develop at their own pace through three skill-levels and encouraging time out to practice. We begin with the basics of building rapport (seeing, copying, and celebrating interactional behaviors), introduce the basic foundations of sensory stability, and then move on to developing reciprocal play (using mirroring, matching, looping, and "Yes…and" techniques), and further to understanding sensory impetus (using sensory contours, accents and flows) and its potential in support of social timing. Rhythmic Relating is offered in support of each practitioner's creative practice and personal sense of fun and humor in play. The model is offered as a foundation for interaction and learning, as a base practice in schools, for Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists and Physiotherapists, and can also provide a basis for tailoring creative arts therapies when working with autistic clients.

A - 25 Without Words: Relational Neuropsychology and Creative Arts Therapies with People Managing Aphasia

Abstract Objective Common approaches to functional rehabilitation with persons managing aphasia after stroke highlight conversation and semantic retrieval, with a lack of evidence considering the diversity of physiological, social–emotional, and psychiatric symptoms and responses. Further, evidence shows high dropout rates and limited engagement for post-stroke therapies. This research considered: How does participating in a neuropsychologically-informed creative arts therapy program influence cognitive and clinical therapeutic outcomes for a person with aphasia? Method A 64-year-old White man presented mixed conduction aphasia following left middle cerebral artery stroke in the temporal parietal region. Burden of Stroke Scales, Western Aphasia Battery, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and Rey Complex Figure Tasks indicated moderate aphasia, diffuse cognitive impairment with severe memory impairment, and functional difficulties with communication, social relationships, and mood. The patient participated in six 1-¼ hour creative arts therapies with a clinical neuropsychology doctoral candidate co-located in a speech-language-hearing clinic. Results The patient actively participated in all individualized arts-based directives with complete adherence to specific session goals. Outcomes evidenced clinically significant improvements in tasks evaluating perceptual-motor, executive function, and memory domains of function. Linguistic inquiry and analysis software indicated reduction in nonfluencies and increased use of affective language. Clinical therapeutic outcomes included improved mood, engagement, and relational experiences assessed at session- and program- levels. Conclusions Multi-modal, low-verbal approaches for assessment and rehabilitation after stroke improve individualized approaches to treatment beyond semantic retrieval. Clinical neuropsychologists are well-placed to inform psychotherapies for this unique symptom-clustered condition, and creative arts therapies show promise in improvements in cognitive and social–emotional domains of function.

Young Adult Cancer Patients (AYA): Preferences for Outpatient Psychosocial Care and Gender-Specific Differences - Results from the AYA-LE study

To investigate the importance of individual topics in outpatient care services and the preferences for their design from the perspective of young adults with cancer (AYA="adolescents and young adults") in Germany. A total of 514 AYAs aged 18-39 years were surveyed twice over a 12-month period (t1=immediately after acute treatment, t2=12 months post-treatment) regarding the importance and satisfaction with topics such as anxiety, the impact of the illness on partnerships/family and social environment, future perspectives, personal coping strategies, sexuality, and desire for children/fertility, as well as the types of care services. The subjective importance and satisfaction with the care topics and services were analyzed using variance and moderator analyses. The most important topics for care services were future career prospects (M=3.22, SD=1.56), social impact (M=3.19, SD=1.54), and personal coping strategies (M=3.52, SD=1.46). The greatest dissatisfaction was noted in the areas of sexuality (M=2.01, SD=1.59) and desire for children/fertility (M=2.08, SD=1.72). At time t2, relaxation techniques (M=3.46, SD=1.36) and psychological counseling (M=3.43, SD=1.46) were the most desired care services. Female AYAs rated psychological counseling (F[1.199)=9.21, p=0.003), social counseling (F[1.221]=6.60, p=0.011), creative therapy options (F[1.219]=21.74, p<0.001), support groups (F[1.215]=4.29, p=0.040), patient education (F[1.210]=6.96, p=0.009), and relaxation techniques (F[1.194]=23.68, p<0.001) significantly more important than male AYAs. The study highlighted several areas of dissatisfaction with the current outpatient care services for AYAs. The results demonstrate the need to incorporate cross-sex and gender-specific care preferences of AYAs to improve outpatient psychosocial care. A specific set of AYA-care services should be designed and implemented to address the aforementioned psychosocial topics, which include sexuality and the desire for children/fertility. It is also crucial for outpatient practice to raise awareness among the involved professional groups. Further research is required to gain a deeper understanding of sex differences.

Creative Forces programming with military families: Art therapy, dance/movement therapy, and music therapy brief vignettes

LAY SUMMARY Creative arts therapists (art therapists, dance/movement therapists, and music therapists) administer assessments and interventions that support the holistic well-being of military families affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Through participation in the Creative Forces: United States National Endowment for the Arts Military Healing Arts Network, military families discovered strengths, inspired connections, and improved understanding of their relationships. Creative arts therapies (CATs) motivated engagement, which ultimately boosted family resilience. CATs are an integral part of interdisciplinary care to address behavioural and rehabilitative conditions of military families impacted by TBI and PTSD. Future research should examine the efficacy of creative arts therapies in improving resilience in military families.