Bani Malhotra , Susan Ainlay Anand , Holly Feen-Calligan , Elisabeth Callihan
{"title":"ART-UP: Making the case for visual thinking strategies in art therapy pedagogy, practice, and research","authors":"Bani Malhotra , Susan Ainlay Anand , Holly Feen-Calligan , Elisabeth Callihan","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102299","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102299","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is an art-education technique commonly used to enhance observation and critical thinking skills. Since the use of visual imagery is also the foundation of art therapy, integrating VTS in art therapy can foster clinical excellence and cultivate interprofessional collaboration across diverse settings. VTS can support professional learning by helping trainees and practitioners enhance key therapeutic skills such as Acceptance, Reflexivity, Thinking, Understanding, and Presence (ART-UP). This paper presents the authors’ experiences as art therapists, researchers, and educators in utilizing VTS in art therapy teaching, medical research, and museum settings, illustrated through two vignettes. The first vignette describes using VTS in art therapy with burn patients at the bedside to foster art engagement via art viewing and facilitate psychosocial goals during recovery. The second vignette details a museum art therapy program designed for individuals with memory concerns and their care partners. Drawing from these vignettes and published literature, a third section describes the application of VTS to cultivate art therapy trainee’s observation skills, enhance diagnostic assessments, recognize implicit biases, and broaden art therapy intervention to include observation and discussion of art works. Critical reflections are included to discuss the ways in which VTS can build bridges in art therapy. Interprofessional collaborations based on VTS protocol can encourage empathic dialogue when looking at and discovering the meaning of artwork in diverse settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102299"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143891716","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A study on dance/movement therapy to improve core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder","authors":"Gulandanmu MA, Zisu WANG","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102300","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102300","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of dance movement therapy in reducing restricted repetitive behaviors and enhancing social skills in children with autism in a non-clinical setting.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 28 children with autism from an intelligence rehabilitation center in Shanghai, China, were selected for the study. They were divided into a dance movement therapy experimental group (17 children) and a control group (11 children). The dance movement therapy experimental group received intervention training for 11 months. Relevant scales were used to assess restricted repetitive behaviors and social skills in children with autism and the changes in these children before and after the intervention training were evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>After the dance movement therapy intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvements in the scores on the ABC Symptom Scale, the RBS-R Scale, the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). In contrast, the control group did not exhibit significant changes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Dance movement therapy has a positive effect on reducing restricted repetitive behaviors and enhancing social skills in children with autism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102300"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143882500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Brain activation in response to art-based tasks using diverse materials based on the Expressive Therapy Continuum (ETC)” [The Arts in Psychotherapy 90 (2024) 102185]","authors":"Doug Hyun Han , Sunhee K. Kim , Sunjoo Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102297","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102297","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102297"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143873910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Theresa Van Lith , Emma Cornwall , Nancy Gerber , Ashley He , Madeline Centracchio
{"title":"Visual narratives as evidence: Surveying the role of metaphors in art therapy","authors":"Theresa Van Lith , Emma Cornwall , Nancy Gerber , Ashley He , Madeline Centracchio","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102296","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102296","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metaphors are integral to communication, processing information and therapeutic insights transferring meaning between domains and fostering understanding. Rooted in linguistic and sensory processes, metaphors function as semiotic signs bridging abstract and concrete concepts. In art therapy, they enable non-verbal expression, narrative construction, and emotional exploration, offering insights into clients’ internal worlds. Studying the use of metaphors as evidence in art therapy is one of six categories identified as an outcome of a well-researched project formulating an Art Therapy Research Strategic Plan. Consequently, this study represents a preliminary exploration of the feasibility of metaphors as therapeutic evidence, focusing on their emergence, interpretation, and impact. A self-developed mixed-methods survey was used with 22 art therapists to examine how metaphors enhance self-expression, insight, and client-therapist dynamics. Key findings highlighted how metaphors assist in framing challenges, fostering personal growth, and navigating cultural nuances. The results of this study introduce preliminary constructs to be explored and expanded in a subsequent scoping review and correlational study on the thematic categorization and application of metaphors in art therapy as evidence-based practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102296"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143874453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Conversations on echolalia: Seven music therapists discuss their experience with autistic echolalia","authors":"Maya K. Marom , Avi Gilboa , Ehud Bodner","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102295","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102295","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Little has been written on music therapists’ perspective on autistic-echolalia, its possible meanings in therapy, and its possible musical connotations. In this article we describe the viewpoint of seven music therapists who work with clients on the autism spectrum who echo frequently. Their experience of being receivers of echolalia is divided into four perspectives: as persons, as therapists, as musicians, and as music therapists. The participants were asked to describe their own emotions when their clients echo, and their thoughts on possible reasons for the echoing. Then, they were asked about possible connections they saw between echoing, prosody, and music, and about their interventions when echoing occurs. The interviews were subject to Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The analysis followed the same order, with themes that portray the participants’ emotions; themes that focus on their theoretical formulations on possible reasons for clients’ echoing during music therapy; themes that focus on connections between echoing, prosody and music; and themes that describe interventions in response to clients’ echoing. The discussion presents autistic echolalia as an interpersonal phenomenon, which affects the person who receives it. We believe that providing a stage for participants on the receiving end of the interaction dyad to explain their perspective, can help clinicians better understand this phenomenon in the context of their work, and realize steps to overcome some of the difficulties that it may cause within the therapeutic process. Finally, in light of the Double Empathy Theory, the autistic perspective is represented in the discussion as well.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"94 ","pages":"Article 102295"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143867878","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Angélica Vásquez Morales , Rosa-María Rodríguez-Jiménez
{"title":"On virtual reality: A thematic analysis from a dance movement therapy perspective","authors":"Maria Angélica Vásquez Morales , Rosa-María Rodríguez-Jiménez","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102292","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102292","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology composed of several integrated elements that allow simulation and interaction in an immersive environment. Various sensory and cognitive stimuli must be experienced through the human body to accomplish this phenomenon. For this reason, VR is studied and used more frequently in different therapeutic and socio-educational environments. Given its embodied, intersubjective, enactive, and emotive qualities, adjectives also used to describe dance movement therapy (DMT), it is necessary to develop a conceptual and theoretical approach from an embodied perspective. From a reflective standpoint, this article analyzes some important possibilities and precautions to evaluate the possible integration of VR in DMT and vice versa. The study of VR not only concerns DMTs but also different therapists and professionals interested in this type of technology. While DMT continues to expand its fields of action and methods, more research is still required on VR-assisted interventions. A wider exploration and training in the field are necessary to provide ethical and updated care according to the needs and problems of today’s contemporary world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"93 ","pages":"Article 102292"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143817821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Girija Kaimal , Kristyn S. Stickley , Bani Malhotra , Kim Valldejuli , Joanna Herres
{"title":"Psychosocial benefits of engaging in heritage arts practices in art therapy","authors":"Girija Kaimal , Kristyn S. Stickley , Bani Malhotra , Kim Valldejuli , Joanna Herres","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Indigenous and traditional (heritage) arts practices have sustained over time to serve the creative and expressive psychosocial needs of communities. The potential therapeutic aspects of these long-standing practices to promote health and well-being are not well understood. This paper reports preliminary quantitative findings from a global multi-site within-subjects mixed methods research study examining the impact of heritage artforms on affect, anxiety, stress, self-efficacy, and creative agency to understand the physical and psychosocial benefits as applied to art therapy practice. The study participants (n = 54) engaged in two conditions: 1) self-selected preferred heritage art practice and 2) a puzzle task. All participants completed standardized pre and post measures before and after both sessions. Findings indicated that participants reported more positive affect (PA) and less negative affect (NA) after the heritage art task compared to the puzzle task. When interactions between time and task were examined, statistical significance was found for NA as well as anxiety, demonstrating that participants experienced more significant reductions in these areas in the heritage art task compared to the puzzle task. Engaging in heritage artforms may provide multiple psychosocial benefits which may support positive outcomes in art therapy practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"93 ","pages":"Article 102271"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143747407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Voice of Light: Piloting a visual arts psycho-social recovery program with Australian veterans and first responders","authors":"Jasjit Kaur , Henry Bowen , Jessica L. Paterson","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102290","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102290","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Military and emergency services personnel have an increased prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to the general population. These populations also exhibit high dropout rates from traditional therapies as they may struggle to cope with their emotionally demanding nature. Therefore, providing military and emergency services personnel with alternative forms of therapy is beneficial to enhance engagement, comfort, and social connectedness, to help diffuse the emotionally demanding nature of interacting with trauma, preventing early termination of the therapy. The present study explored the acceptability and feasibility of the Voice of Light Program (VOLP). VOLP is a peer-facilitated, group psycho-social recovery program for military and emergency services personnel. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the conclusion of the program to capture participants’ perceptions and experiences of the program. The data gathered from interviews was analysed using thematic analysis; five themes encompassing seven sub-themes regarding the acceptability and feasibility of the program were identified. These themes included creative and innovative outlet, comforting and safe environment, therapeutic elements, influence of the VOLP, and improvements for the future programs. The observations from this study regarding the need of military cultural competency in the development of the program and trauma-informed care in the content of the program, can be utilised for the development of an acceptable and feasible program for military and emergency services personnel, for future studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"93 ","pages":"Article 102290"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143739145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Psychodrama’s effects on PTSD, depression, anxiety, traumatic grief, prolonged grief disorder, and spontaneity: A mixed methods study in inpatient addiction treatment","authors":"Scott Giacomucci , Joshua Marquit , Haydn Briggs , Ritika Gupta","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102293","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102293","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study (<em>n</em> = 148) examines psychodrama as an effective group therapy in an inpatient substance use setting as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and traumatic grief. Overall quantitative outcomes indicate an average reduction in PTSD by 52.71 %, depression by 61.76 %, anxiety by 53.72 %, traumatic grief by 31.39 %, and prolonged grief disorder (PGD) by 32.36 %. Results also show an increase in spontaneity by 31.08 % and high patient satisfaction scores related to the experience of participation in the trauma-focused psychodrama groups. Qualitative findings from patient surveys support the quantitative outcomes and provide additional insight into participants’ experiences of the sessions. The outcomes of this mixed-methods study further contribute to the research base of psychodrama as an effective treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and traumatic grief, while also highlighting the essential role of spontaneity – the curative agent in psychodrama psychotherapy. While there are multiple limitations in this study, the overall results point to psychodrama as a viable group therapy modality in inpatient addiction treatment to address co-occurring disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"93 ","pages":"Article 102293"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143817820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Art therapists' experiences of countertransference with clients with intellectual disabilities","authors":"Shir Harpazi , Sharon Snir , Dafna Regev , Chen Moisa","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102294","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102294","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study examined art therapists' countertransference experiences when working with clients with intellectual disabilities.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A mixed methods design was used, involving process diaries, RAP (Relational Anecdotes Paradigm) interviews, and the Therapist Response Questionnaire (TRQ). Seven art therapists working with clients with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities provided data from nine treatments.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Four primary countertransference themes emerged: Parental/Protective, Helplessness/Ambivalence, Joy/Satisfaction, and Compassion/Sadness. The Parental/Protective theme was the most frequent. The theme of Helplessness/Ambivalence reflected doubts and professional dilemmas. Joy/Satisfaction was reported to emerge from successful interactions, whereas Compassion/Sadness was tied to clients' struggles.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of countertransference in art therapists working with clients with intellectual disabilities. These countertransference reactions, encompassing both positive and negative emotions, play a crucial role in the therapeutic relationship. It is suggested that by acknowledging and constructively engaging with these reactions, therapists can foster stronger therapeutic relationships.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"93 ","pages":"Article 102294"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143837987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}