The use of art therapy videos for children and teenagers living with cancer during COVID-19

Abstract

This article explores a practitioner’s response to the limits on face-to-face art therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the creation of pre-recorded art therapy videos for clients. This work took place at Challenge, a not-for-profit charity located in Melbourne, Australia, that supports children and teenagers living with cancer. A description of scripting, filming and editing processes is presented, including frameworks and methods that promoted sensory enrichment, curiosity and creative expression through the videos. The strengths and limitations of pre-recorded art therapy videos are discussed to encourage broader conversations on their use in the field.