Field Of Art Therapy Research Articles

Updating art therapy guidelines for people with personality disorders: a consensus review

ABSTRACT Background The British Association of Art Therapists has specialist interest groups that focus on specific areas of practice, and the need for a review was identified. The author consulted experts in the field of personality disorder and conducted a review of existing guidelines. Art therapy benefits from professional guidelines to ensure safe and effective practices, provide clarity for therapists and maintain consistency in treatment approaches. These guidelines help uphold ethical standards, protect patients’ wellbeing, inform research and promote accountability within the field of art therapy. Aims This paper aims to review and update the professional consensus guidelines for art therapists working with personality disorder, originally published in 2012. Methods A literature search identified new themes relevant to current professional practice. The authors employed semi-structured questionnaires and interviews in the adapted Delphi method process. Experts in the field submitted their responses in three rounds of review. Results Experts in the field indicated that changes were needed to the existing guidelines. The updated guidelines now offer improved clarity regarding practice and more accurately reflect current knowledge in this specific area. Experts reached a consensus on these updated guidelines in the final round of the review process. Conclusions The experts in the field identified significant changes to the guidelines and agreed on the guidelines’ usefulness in enhancing the professional profile and training of student art therapists. Implications for research The updated guidelines will require periodic review in the future to reflect evolving practices and the understanding of effective and safe treatment of personality disorder.

A Descriptive Summary of Field Placements in Undergraduate Art Therapy Education

To learn about the current practices of undergraduate art therapy field placement courses being offered in the United States, we surveyed 32 undergraduate educators about their program’s courses. The results indicated a range in course structure, yet commonalities in instructional content emerged: (a) development and application of professional skills, (b) fostering student reflection, (c) encouraging student research pertinent to the setting, and (d) facilitating professional and career development. Common challenges in fieldwork included the difficulty with maintaining sites, finding qualified supervisors, and supporting the diverse needs of students. These survey results were consistent with national practices yet can inform future research and guidelines pertaining to undergraduate field placement courses while also highlighting the unique aspects specific to the field of art therapy.

Supporting Children with Autism Using Visual Arts

The current study aims to develop a special program for both instructors and educators to train children with autism via art while also promoting their positive behaviors and social requirements. To achieve these goals, an experimental study was carried out at the Centre of Community Services for Autism, drawing on previous research in the field of art therapy. The study concentrated on the usage of images and their visual composition from the linguistic, cognitive, emotional, motor, and social perspectives. The study's findings demonstrated that the image, its simulation, and its practical application all play important roles in promoting specific developmental features of children with autism. Keywords: Visual Arts, Image, Arts Therapy, Children with Autism

Intersectional care ethics in art therapy organizations

This article presents intersectional care ethics as a framework for inclusive, anti-oppressive organizational structures and practices. A brief literature review documents the increasing demand in the art therapy field for theory and practice that is politically engaged and rooted in social justice. Two frameworks for analyzing an organization’s alignment with justice and equity are discussed: intersectionality theory and care ethics. Barriers to creating and maintaining just, equitable, and ethical organizations are also described, and examples are provided for how these barriers have been enacted in one professional association. The article concludes with recommendations posed in the form of questions intended to inspire creative conceptualizations of how intersectional care ethics might become manifest within art therapy organizations.

Community art therapy (CAT): learning from art therapy graduate students’ perceptions

ABSTRACT Background In recent years, therapeutic approaches in the field of art therapy have gone beyond clinical models to include community models that emphasize the potential of art to influence communities in distress and encourage art therapists to expand their therapeutic interventions and extend their professional boundaries. Aims: This qualitative study was designed to better understand the experiences of art therapy graduate students who implemented community art therapy (CAT) projects during their internship after taking courses on CAT. It examined how they experienced the transition from the familiar clinical model to the community model. Results Five main themes emerged from the analysis: the students' perceptions of the differences between CAT and the familiar clinical art therapy setting, the specific role of the community art therapist, the role of the art, a sense of belonging to the community, and the power of the group in CAT. Conclusions The artistic process in CAT contribute to the co-creation of community knowledge through metaphorical expressions of identity and belonging. The students experienced the role of the community art therapist as a continuous dialectic between intervener-joiner who makes an impact and is also affected by the process personally. Engaging in a shared examination of the training of CAT allowed the educators and the students to achieve a deeper understanding of the challenges and the transformation required. Implications for practice CAT should be taught as a separate topic in art therapy programs, and CAT professionals should be trained to support and supervise students and therapists. Plain-language summary In recent years, the field of art therapy has undergone significant changes from traditional clinical to community models that emphasise the potential of art to influence communities in distress and encourage art therapists to expand their therapeutic interventions, extend their professional boundaries, and at times become social activists. This study examined 11 art therapy students’ reports on their experiences as facilitators of a community art therapy (CAT) intervention in communities of their choice. The students wrote a one-page reflection on each community intervention and completed the Helpful Aspects of Therapy (HAT) questionnaire that explores helpful and hindering events in each intervention. Five themes emerged: the students` experiences of the differences between traditional art therapy and the CAT setting in terms of the specific role of the art therapist, the role of the art, a sense of belonging to the community, and the power of the group in CAT. The students indicated that the role of the community art therapist involves a continuous dialectic between participants and the facilitator, who can make an impact but is also affected by the process personally. Overall, CAT should be taught as a separate topic in art therapy programmes and CAT professionals should be trained to support and supervise the work of students and therapists.

미술치료사들의 메타버스 경험에 관한 내러티브 탐구

This study delves into the burgeoning potential of the Metaverse for art therapy by examining the experiences of art therapists on the platform ZEPETO. It specifically seeks to investigate the feasibility of applying the Metaverse in art therapy settings and uncover the nuanced experiences and interpretations of art therapists within the ZEPETO platform. To achieve these objectives, a qualitative research approach - narrative inquiry - was employed. Five art therapists possessing over two years of clinical experience and demonstrating enthusiasm for exploring the Metaverse were recruited as participants. Over three weeks, from October 19, 2021, to November 4, 2021, they engaged in six non-face-to-face, hour-long Metaverse sessions on ZEPETO, occurring twice a week. To deepen our understanding of their experiences, participants were subsequently invited to create artworks and participate in written interviews reflecting on their ZEPETO journeys. Through insightful narrative analysis of the art therapists’ experiences, the study yielded the following key findings. Firstly, ZEPETO presented a novel avenue for art therapists to explore and express their creative desires, offering unique therapeutic possibilities. Secondly, initial interactions within the unfamiliar virtual environment evoked feelings of confusion, stemming from unfamiliarity with the platform’s controls and the ambiguity of boundaries within the Metaverse. Thirdly, the process of translating their Metaverse experiences into artworks served as a catalyst for the creation of practical knowledge, contributing to the development of expert-informed therapeutic approaches. Lastly, analysis of the narratives not only enriched the understanding of the Metaverse’s therapeutic potential but also initiated a broader discussion regarding its broader applicability within the field of art therapy.

Expressive Arts and Family Counseling: An Interview With Dr. Cathy Malchiodi

Dr. Rebecca Pender Baum interviews Dr. Cathy Malchiodi, a leading international expert, writer, and educator in the fields of art therapy, expressive arts therapy, as well as, trauma and arts in healthcare. Dr. Malchiodi has over 30 years of experience and education in trauma intervention and disaster relief. This interview will highlight her expressive arts background and the use of this modality in working with families.

Civilian participants’ responses to veteran artwork: exploring empathy and understanding

ABSTRACT Background Military-to-civilian transition is complicated for U.S. veterans when civilians lack detailed knowledge of their experiences and military culture. Aims The purpose of this research was to: (1) examine the experiences of a group of civilian participants who viewed a veteran art exhibition and engaged in responsive art making, and (2) to identify participants understanding of military service and the veteran experience may shift as a result of participation in study activities. Methods Case study research was used to examine the experiences of a group of civilian participants who engaged in a workshop that involved viewing veteran artwork and making response art. Data were collected through surveys, participant artwork and written responses, and researcher observation. Case studies were presented using thick description with interpretive and linked narratives to interpret the results. Results Participant experiences demonstrated that the pilot study interventions promoted four outcomes: (1) authentic and meaningful exchanges and engagement with veterans (2) challenged to think about veterans’ experiences more deeply, (3) inspired to show support for people who have served in the military in new ways, and (4) promoted empathy and understanding. Conclusions Results illustrate how active participation in an art exhibition through response art making can help to increase understanding of people with different lived experiences by promoting authentic and meaningful exchanges through art. Implications for practice/policy/future research Interdisciplinary partnerships between art therapists and museum professionals can support the development of programming that bridges divides between groups with different lived experiences and prompts social change through participatory action. Plain-language summary Civilian citizens often lack a complete understanding of veteran experiences and military culture. A civilian citizen is a person who has not serve in the armed forces, and therefore may hold stereotypical beliefs or limited knowledge about veteran experiences. Misunderstandings and assumptions between civilian citizens and veterans can result in a cultural gap, often referred to as the military-civilian divide. This divide can impact the amount and quality of social support veterans receive from civilian citizens as they transition from the military back to civilian life. Poor social support may increase veterans’ risk for mental health issues. Therefore, there is a need for increased understanding of veteran experiences. Public spaces, like art museums, can help veteran experiences to be seen and heard by the larger civilian population. This study explores the experiences of a group of civilian citizens who participated in a workshop. The group of civilian participants viewed a veteran art exhibition and then engaged in making response art. Response art is a tool commonly used in the field of art therapy to express and share complex or difficult experiences. Participants also completed three surveys where they were asked questions about their understanding of veteran experiences. A review of participants survey answers and written responses showed how viewing and creating art promoted personal exchanges veterans, challenged participants to think about veterans’ experiences more deeply, inspired participants to show support for people who have served in the military in new ways, and promoted empathy and understanding. These outcomes show how art can be used to increase understanding across groups with different lived experiences.

A practical development protocol for evidence-based digital integrative arts therapy content in public mental health services: digital transformation of mandala art therapy.

The fundamentals of digital transformation include the conversion of the traditional method into a digital format to develop a standardized system that collects, analyzes, and processes quantitative data. This study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the development process and key elements of evidence-based digital integrative arts therapy. The "Digital Mandala" service in the "Mental Health App" produced as part of a national public mental health project for personalized depression management is adopted to explain how to convert the existing mandala art therapy into digital format. A living lab approach has been applied, which can be used to address the nation's mental health challenges by promoting collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based solutions. Evidence-based digital content requires evidence that covers the structural process, the effects of existing methods, and the components and meanings of each detailed scene. In this section, we provide five stages of the development process, including preliminary research, design, development, commercialization, and advancement. Consequently, clinical elements, integrative arts therapy features, and data factors are defined as the key principles of evidence-based digital integrative arts therapy. Based on the data factors found in this study, it will be possible to create an evaluation dataset of digital integrative arts therapy content for managing depression. Additionally, the large-scale public data can be analyzed through artificial intelligence technology, which is expected to be used as a basis for deriving significant results in a new form, going further than the existing evaluation method. This research is significant because it establishes the foundation for digital transformation in the field of art therapy for public mental health services and investigates its potential.

Bibliometric and Subject Analysis of 100 Most-Cited Articles in the Field of Art Therapy

ABSTRACT Bibliometric citation analyses have been widely used in medicine to help researchers gain foundational knowledge about a topic. The purpose of this study is to analyze the 100 most-cited articles in art therapy to determine their characteristics and to reveal the influential articles in this field. This applied and scientometric study was conducted using retrospective bibliometric and co-occurrence analysis (by VOSviewer software). One hundred of the most-cited articles in the field of art therapy were retrieved from Scopus and analyzed. In this article, the most productive journals, authors, countries, and institutions in producing the 100 most-cited articles were introduced. The co-occurrence maps showed that keywords including cancer, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, dementing disorders, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder had larger nodes. Moreover, depression, life quality, anxiety, and stress were among other studied concepts. This finding indicates the positive effect of art therapy in the treatment of various diseases, particularly cancers and mental disorders.

Addressing psychosocial trauma in post-conflict peacebuilding: Emotions in narrative and arts-based approaches

Drawing on contemporary research on the nature and treatment of trauma in psychology, neuroscience and the emerging field of art therapy, this article adopts a psychosocial approach to examine the role that the arts may play in assisting individuals and societies to recover from the trauma of violent conflict and contribute to the establishment of sustainable peace. Taking a broad understanding of the arts to include a range of creative endeavours, it primarily focuses on non-verbal art forms, including but not restricted to music, painting, sculpture, drawing and dance, as well as traditional arts and crafts. It demonstrates that many art forms have the potential to make specific contributions to the amelioration of conflict-related trauma by addressing pervasive non-verbal memories that typically stand outside the remit of more conventional psychosocial practices, such as truth-telling and storytelling. They do so, it argues, by providing a means of expressing, evoking, regulating and transforming the emotions in ways that allow individuals and societies to confront and acknowledge their violent pasts, develop supportive relationships in the present and draw on their creativity to imagine a better future.

Preliminary modelling for strategic planning in art therapy research: A multi-phase sequential mixed methods study

In the absence of a systematic research agenda in the field of art therapy the aim of this project was to conduct a multi-phase sequential mixed methods study. The first phase involved conducting a scoping review of publications and conference presentations to determine current research trends. The findings of the scoping review were used to initiate the second phase– the construction of a survey. The survey was disseminated to art therapists internationally and the results were used partially to generate a focus group interview protocol. The focus group was convened to explore questions from the survey requiring more in-depth examination. The integrative analysis of the data in these first two phases assisted in the development of several preliminary recommendations for identifying philosophies, methodologies, and evidence-informed practices that will advance the generation of art therapy knowledge and aid in the development of a strategic plan.

Knitting as a Way of Honoring Black Ancestry and Creating Storytelling Through Community, Belonging, and the Reframing of Grief: A Womanist Perspective (Le tricot comme moyen d’honorer l’héritage noir et de créer la narration à travers la communauté, l’appartenance et le recadrage du deuil : une perspective féministe noire)

This paper is written with the flow of journey. It challenges the way that research is traditionally experienced in the field of art therapy in that it calls upon womanism with its emphasis on place making, survival skills, Black diasporic connectivity, storytelling, and experience centering, with an understanding that within a story there is more occurring than just the words spoken. It is written to be read as a whole, flowing experience and recognizes, openly, that the preface, research, and methodology all fed into the outcome. The research from its concept to completion was a back-and-forth process that needed honoring for its story and contribution just as much as the data output it created. Stories build on stories, as memories build on memories, in a messy, nonlinear way that is deeply reflective of life. This paper utilizes nontraditional research headings to honor the story.

The Effect of Art Therapy on the Children of Hospital 57357 to Achieve Technical and Psychological Support

The Effect of Art Therapy on the Children of Hospital 57357 to Achieve Technical and Psychological Support

Uncertainty in Abstract Painting and Its Possibility of Stimulating Positive Feelings in Viewers

Starting from the theoretical definition of positive feelings and uncertainty, this paper discusses the research in the embodiment of the principle of pleasure brought by uncertainty in daily life and discusses its feasibility. By analyzing the pleasure of uncertainty in the field of musical artistic expression and the connection between music and abstract painting, the author explores the causes of positive feelings from uncertainty in abstract painting and its application. Through creative practice and related material experiments, the author achieves the result that there is potential for viewers to get positive feelings after experiencing the uncertainty in abstract painting works. This study aims to explore the application of abstract painting in the field of art therapy through this series of investigations.

What does the literature teach us about research, theory, and the practice of art therapy for individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities? A scoping review

This scoping review sheds light on the literature in the field of art therapy for people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD). People with IDD suffer from social exclusion and are often pushed into the margins of society. This exclusion is also reflected in the scant research on IDD in psychotherapy and art therapy. In recent years, although research in the field of art therapy has grown and expanded, and despite the abundance of clinical work, there is little material in the literature available to art therapists working with individuals with IDD. This review examines the extent, range, and nature of the art therapy IDD literature. It draws preliminary conclusions from these studies, identifies relevant gaps that exist and areas for future work. The 39 articles reviewed here present the state of therapeutic practice, theoretical approaches and research conducted in the field of art therapy for the IDD population.

ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНЫХ КОПИНГ-СТРАТЕГИЙ У МОЛОДЫХ ЛЮДЕЙ В ПРОЦЕССЕ ГРУППОВОГО КОНСУЛЬТИРОВАНИЯ С ПРИМЕНЕНИЕМ АРТ-ТЕРАПЕВТИЧЕСКИХ ТЕХНИК

Statement of the problem. Life in the modern reality is dynamic and contradictory, young people constantly have to overcome different kinds of difficulties (age crises, choice of their professional way and its development, interpersonal relations, questions of finance, everyday life stresses, etc.). In the period of the pandemic essential factors for the Russian youth were the fear infecting themselves and their loved ones; danger (mistrust of the health care system) [Kozlova, 2020]. The conditions of modern life only emphasize the relevance of the problem of coping behavior. In a situation when the general level of tension and stress is quite high, it is important to provide psychological assistance to young people in the formation of diverse and effective coping strategies. We consider expedient to use group work to solve this problem. This helps reach a sufficient number of participants and provide support and exchange of experience that are important to young people. For group consultations to be effective, it is important to understand the problem field of coping behavior and actual and potential demands of young people for psychological aid. We believe that one of the ways to solve this problem is to study and find effective and efficacious techniques of psychological help in forming coping strategies in young people. The purpose of the article is to present the results of the forming experiment, dynamics of the choice of coping strategy in young people after the carried out group work with application of art therapeutic techniques. The theoretical and methodological basis of research was made by the ideas of foreign psychologists in the field of studying of coping strategies: L. Murphy, R. Lazarus, S. Folkman, J. Amirhan, E. Haim, E. Skinner, etc. Ideas of Russian researchers in the field of studying coping strategies: L.I. Antsyferova, N.E. Vodopyanova, V.A. Bodrov, S.K. Nartova-Bochaver, E.V. Bityutskaya, T.L. Kryukova, E.I. Rasskazova, T. O. Gordeeva, E.N. Osin, etc. and also Russian studies in the field of art therapy: A.I. Kopytin, M.V. Kiseleva, E.A. Medvedeva, T.D. Zinkevich-Evstigneeva, E.V. Tararina, etc.. The study involved 30 students from 18 to 28 years old. Richard Lazarus’ “Coping Strategies” questionnaire and the “Cope” questionnaire (E.I. Rasskazova, T.O. Gordeeva, E.N. Osin) were chosen as diagnostic tools. Respondents, numbering 10 persons, took part in the forming-up experiment (group counseling). Research results. Tension level of the coping strategy “Confrontation” decreased in this group. There was a decrease of a high level of tension of the coping strategies “Self-control” when overcoming of the problem occurs at the expense of suppression and restraint of emotions, and the strategy “Escape-avoidance” when the person evades the problem, denying it. It is possible to point out that among emotional coping strategies, “optimism” increased, among behavioral ones – “cooperation” increased, among cognitive ones – “relativity” increased. Conclusion. The obtained data and their analysis allow us to speak about the importance and relevance of the topic of coping with stress. The program of group consultations, including art therapeutic techniques, promotes the formation of various coping strategies of behavior, providing effective coping with stress. The obtained changes give reasons to continue the research in this direction.

Communicating Scope of Practice: An Outpatient Group Art Therapy Documentation Initiative (Communiquer le champ de pratique : une initiative de documentation sur l’art-thérapie ambulatoire de groupe)

In medical settings, art therapists face challenges of communicating their therapeutic practices to clinicians who are unfamiliar with the vernacular of art therapy. Despite growing evidence, the field of art therapy lacks a common language “scope of practice” that easily translates across fields. In this study, we piloted a novel documentation tool, The Progress Note for Group Art Therapy (PN-GAT), which aggregated frequencies of assessments and interventions within the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York, while identifying common practices of outpatient art therapy groups that may contribute to the development of a more communicable “scope of practice.” Our interdisciplinary documentation initiative was implemented during 18 adult outpatient art therapy groups conducted by one art therapist from August 2018 through February 2019. Analysis showed that insight-development (38.6%) and social-relational (35.9%) interventions were recorded more frequently than art-making (25.5%) interventions. The most frequently logged art therapy assessments included assessments of client response (88.9% of sessions) and mental status examinations (72.2%). The growth of art therapy within medical practices necessitates a rethinking of treatment collaboration. Our findings identified frequently used components of art therapy based in a medical setting, as well as the need for future medical education initiatives. While improving standards of collaborative care, the development of a well-defined “scope of practice” may serve to enhance interdisciplinary communication.

OBAS-ATT: observation-based instrument for assessment in art therapy with traumatised women

ABSTRACT Background Art therapists need specific instruments to measure treatment outcomes. The development of assessment instruments for special purposes, such as measuring key elements of the therapeutic process, is a growing and important area of research. Standardised instruments can help to compare and contrast data, and this may contribute to the development of the discipline. Aims The aim of this research was to design a new, process-oriented instrument that can help art therapists assess the therapeutic progress of the treatment for women who have suffered traumatic experiences. The instrument was called Observation-based Assessment Art Therapy Trauma Tool (OBAS-ATT). Methods The preliminary design of the tool was based on observation instruments and the analysis of the psychological scales commonly used with the target group. The first version of the tool was submitted to a panel of experts as part of a Delphi study to reach consensus on the content of the tool. Then, a focus group was held to improve tool usefulness. Results The final result is a structured template composed of 50 items organised in 11 dimensions that helps to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Conclusions The designed tool is an interesting starting point for developing useful and standardised tools. Experts participating in the study highlighted the importance of combining qualitative and quantitative data. Implications for practice/policy/future research This tool can help art therapists gather organised information and evaluate the patient therapeutic process, which should improve practice in the field. Further research is required to determine inter-rater reliability and the psychometric properties of the scales. Plain-language summary This article proposes a new observation tool in the art therapy field that can help to assess the therapeutic progress of patients who have experienced traumatic situations. Research into art therapy assessment is a growing area of knowledge, as art therapists need tools designed specifically for art therapy. Tried and tested forms of assessment can help to demonstrate the effectiveness of art therapy. They can lead to art therapy being considered an optimal approach for trauma treatment. The designed tool is a template to help art therapists gather key information related to what happens during the art therapy session. The art therapist rates observation items expressed on a scale of 1–6 and has the option of adding observations. Two different groups of individuals with expertise in this field were consulted about the content of the tool. The Delphi method and focus group technique were used. Although further research is required to validate the tool, this instrument can help art therapists to organise information and assess therapeutic progress. Also, it is a potentially interesting starting point for developing effective assessment.

Legal and Ethical Considerations in the Conservation of Artwork Produced During Art Therapy

ABSTRACT Works of art created by children under the care of art therapy pioneer Edith Kramer at the Wiltwyck School for Boys in the 1950s are presented as a case study to examine the practical, legal, and ethical challenges of conserving art produced in the course of therapy. The artworks, deposited in the New York University Libraries Special Collections in 2011, are five drawings and forty-two paintings on paper. Multidisciplinary research into the fields of art therapy, archival management, health care law, and the history of Wiltwyck revealed a broad spectrum of value categories associated with the artworks. A values-based decision-making process, together with information garnered through materials testing and analysis, informed conservation actions, including the retention of post-custodial interventions and redaction of private health information.