The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a single session mindfulness-based art therapy doodle intervention may support and improve: (a) mindfulness, (b) mindful creativity, and (c) positive and ...negative emotional states. A general community sample of 71 adult participants engaged in the mindful doodling virtual two-hour workshops. Based on retrospective methods from participant self-reported perceptions before and after the workshop, there were statistically significant increases in ratings of mindfulness, mindful creativity, and positive emotions, as well as decreases in negative emotions (p < .05). The results suggested the potential efficacy and clinical benefit of this single session art therapy intervention for promoting mindfulness, creativity, and positivity in the community.
Medical conditions impact a person physically, emotionally, socially, cognitively, spiritually, and psychologically and often involve significant disruption to everyday life and to a person's sense ...of self. The practice of art therapy in medical settings occurs in numerous contexts, for individuals with an array of conditions, and for all ages. Art therapy in medical and healthcare settings has grown to become probably the largest area of published research in the field. This special issue on medical art therapy will highlight medical art therapy services, programs, and research.
The uses of mobile brain/body imaging (MoBI) are expanding and allow for more direct study of the neurophysiological signals associated with behavior in psychotherapeutic encounters. Neuroaesthetics ...is concerned with the cognitive and neural basis of art appreciation, and scientific correlations are being made in the field that might help to clarify theories claimed in the creative arts therapies. Yet, most neuroaesthetics studies are confined to the laboratory and do not propose a translation for research methods and clinical applications. The creative arts therapies have a long history of clinical success with various patient populations and will benefit from increased scientific explanation to support intervention strategies. Examining the brain dynamics and motor behaviors that are associated with the higher complex processes involved in artistic expression offers MoBI as a promising instrumentation to move forward in linking ideas from neuroaesthetics to the creative arts therapies. Tracking brain dynamics in association with behavioral change allows for more objective and quantitative physiological monitors to evaluate, and together with subjective patient reports provides insight into the psychological mechanisms of change in treatment. We outline a framework that shows how MoBI can be used to study the effectiveness of creative arts therapy interventions motivated by the 4E approach to cognition with a focus on visual art therapy. The article illuminates how a new partnership among the fields of art therapy, neuroscience, and neuroaesthetics might work together within the 4E/MoBI framework in efforts to advance transdisciplinary research for clinical health populations.
The article illuminates how a new partnership between the fields of art therapy, neuroscience, and neuroaesthetics might work together within the 4E/MoBI framework in efforts to advance transdisciplinary research for clinical health populations.
This study examined the effect of interactive television-based visual art therapy and expressive arts therapy on the critical thinking skills of school children that survived abduction. A ...quasi-experiment was conducted among 470 school children in two secondary schools. The participants were divided into a control group ( N = 235) and experimental group ( N = 235). The experiment group was further divided into the art therapy group and the expressive art therapy group. We found that art therapy and expressive art therapy were effective in improving the critical thinking skills of the children who experienced kidnapping in Nigeria.
The integration of somatic approaches in art therapy can counter the trauma of microaggressions. By adopting a power-from-within stance, art therapists can facilitate sessions for clients to affirm ...their LGBTQIA+ identities while resisting the impact of discrimination. This article, co-written by an art therapist and client, provides lived experience examples of somatic art therapy: Somatic Experiencing® integrated with body tracing, and sensorimotor art therapy (the Clay Field
®
). The authors concur that somatically integrated art therapy has helped replace automized behavioral patterns based on fear with behavioral choices that emerged from a place of safety. Implications for therapeutic alliance and power dynamics within art therapy sessions are explored as tenets of body-based self-reflection.
Non-confrontative interventions for those with sexual offenses are grounded in reflexivity, rooted in empathy, and established in a secure therapeutic alliance to address complex treatment needs. ...This case study describes The Journey, a strength-based art therapy approach. Upon reflection, four concepts emerged: seeking change, being in limbo/"not quite there," a sense of belonging and faith, and intimacy/solitude. This case demonstrates how art therapy helped clients accept responsibility, acknowledge past wrongdoings, express remorse, seek control and connection, and express their desire to belong.
Dance, Ageing and Collaborative Arts-Based Research contributes a critical and comprehensive perspective on the role of the arts –specifically dance – in enhancing the lives of older people. The book ...focuses on the development of an innovative arts-based program for older adults and the collaborative process of exploring and understanding its impact in relation to ageing, social inclusion, and care. It offers a wide audience of readers a richer understanding of the role of the arts in ageing and life enrichment, critical contributions to theories of ageing and care, specific approaches to arts-based collaborative research, and an exploration of the impact of Sharing Dance from the perspective of older adults, artists, researchers, and community leaders. Given the interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of this book, it will be of interest across health, social science, and humanities disciplines, including gerontology, sociology, psychology, geography, nursing, social work, and performing arts. Licence line: Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.
Posttraumatic nightmares (PTN) are a frequent symptom after a traumatic event and often play part in the psychopathology of patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Imagery rehearsal ...therapy (IRT) currently offers the best evidence for an effective treatment to reduce PTNs, although high drop‐out rates are common. Art therapy in IRT may counteract this, by its indirect, nonverbal, and often playful approach that helps to break through avoidance. This case study focusses on the perception of a patient with BPD in an art therapy based IRT treatment for patients with PTNs. It tells the story of Aurelia, a 40‐year‐old woman who, within this treatment, processes traumatic contents of her childhood like physical and sexual violence, but also current interactional problems that manifest themselves in her nightmares. Following the IR‐AT treatment for PTNs Aurelia noticed a reduction in her nightmares, was less afraid of them and felt calmer towards her trauma. She expressed herself in the art medium and by this developed more self‐efficacy. Her process resulted in an integration of the trauma and a perceived decrease in borderline symptoms. Future research can build on this basis to further explore the mechanisms and effects of IR‐AT for PTNs.
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