Sabine C. Koch , Sarah Stange , Natalie Ernst , Julie Kinnen , Manuela Juhart , Harald Gruber , Maren Schlüter , Ulrike Schwab de Ribaupierre , Bettina Merschmeyer , Simone Klees , Johannes Junker , Henning Hues
{"title":"‘Strong Kids’: Effects of drama therapy on child resilience after the 2021 German flood disaster","authors":"Sabine C. Koch , Sarah Stange , Natalie Ernst , Julie Kinnen , Manuela Juhart , Harald Gruber , Maren Schlüter , Ulrike Schwab de Ribaupierre , Bettina Merschmeyer , Simone Klees , Johannes Junker , Henning Hues","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102254","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102254","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the effects of drama therapy workshops in schools and kindergartens on strengthening the resilience of the children after the centennial flood disaster in the German Ahrtal in July 2021. The drama therapy intervention reached about 600 children in kindergartens and schools, with <em>N</em> = 238 being part of the main evaluation of the workshop (ages 3–11). The children’s educators completed the 10-item child resilience scale for each participating child (<em>N</em> = 238) at five points in time: before and immediately after the flood (in hindsight at baseline), before and after the intervention, and at a six-week follow-up; control participants were observed at two additional times (<em>n</em> = 127; within-group), with a questionnaire before and after a regular school week preceding the workshop week. Within the given limitations of a within-subject design, results suggest that the drama therapy intervention can strengthen child resilience, independent of sex, number of siblings or migration background of the children. Educators’ ratings indicated that child resilience increased significantly from before to after the intervention compared to a regular school week and further increased significantly from after the workshop to the follow-up. Acceptance of the intervention was high. Vulnerable children with the highest social-behavioral problems showed the steepest increase in resilience after the workshops but fell back at follow-up. Children aged 3–4 and severely affected children benefited less and may need an adapted version or longer duration of the intervention. Moderating factors and implications of the findings for child emergency aid and prevention are discussed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102254"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143453736","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}
Eric Pfeifer , Sandra Elisabeth Aigner , Christine Stolterfoth , Rachel Dale , Thomas Ostermann , Thomas Probst , Elke Humer
{"title":"Music therapists’ perspectives on nature-connecting methods and the integration of nature in music therapy: Results of a survey among German and Austrian music therapists","authors":"Eric Pfeifer , Sandra Elisabeth Aigner , Christine Stolterfoth , Rachel Dale , Thomas Ostermann , Thomas Probst , Elke Humer","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102252","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102252","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nature- and ecology-related topics are currently gaining increasing attention in healthcare and among healthcare professions. In music therapy, nature, nature-assisted approaches, and ecology have not yet been frequently discussed issues. Only few concepts and approaches have been developed and implemented so far. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey to gain more knowledge about music therapists’ perspectives concerning the implementation of nature and nature-connecting methods in music therapy. A total of N = 84 music therapists from Austria and Germany took part in our investigation. The survey included quantitative and qualitative items. For data analysis, we applied SPSS Statistics and qualitative content analysis. Results show that 75 % of the participating music therapists have never or rarely conducted music therapy in nature so far. However, almost 67 % of them estimated the potentials of integrating nature in music-therapy work to be (very) high. The more pronounced the nature connectedness and openness to experience, the higher the music therapists’ assessments of the potentials of nature in music therapy. Music therapists judged music therapy in nature to enhance the therapists’ diagnostic insights and listening to nature sounds to positively affect clients’ well-being. As for potential risks, heightened distraction and confidentiality breaks were ranked highest. These findings offer preliminary insights into music therapists’ attitudes and experiences concerning the integration of nature and nature-assisted methods in music therapy. Further studies are indicated to expand and deepen limited evidence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102252"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143092741","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}
Paula Pérez-Núñez , Clare O´Callaghan , Oscar Martínez , Patricia Caballero , Maddalen García-Sanchoyerto , Imanol Amayra
{"title":"Analysis of songwriting group music therapy programme for informal caregivers of older adults","authors":"Paula Pérez-Núñez , Clare O´Callaghan , Oscar Martínez , Patricia Caballero , Maddalen García-Sanchoyerto , Imanol Amayra","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102253","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102253","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Songwriting (SW) is a music therapy technique commonly used to alleviate the burden that informal caregivers usually experience. Detailed descriptions and analyses of SW programmes are necessary to understand the underlying factors of change occurred during these interventions. The main purpose of this study is to describe a songwriting group music therapy (SGMT) programme, including the analyses of differences in the meaningfulness and content of song lyrics based on three SW approaches: individual song parody, group song parody, and original songwriting. This 10-session programme was applied to 60 informal caregivers. The Meaningfulness of Songwriting Scale was administered and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC-22) software was used to analyse lyrical content. SW approaches showed significant differences between them, being more meaningful, presenting more content of social processes, and less affective content as the intervention progressed. The main variable affecting outcomes was the number of care hours provided by the caregivers. The SGMT enhanced group cohesion, providing a safe space for caregivers to explore their authentic needs and emotions. This study highlights the importance of providing detailed intervention programmes to replicate and adapt the interventions to caregivers’ needs. This adaptation can be achieved thanks to the versatility of the SW.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102253"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143127821","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":"Supporting children of terminally ill adults: An arts-based psychoeducational narrative approach","authors":"John Mondanaro","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102257","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Children facing the loss of a significant adult hospitalized with serious illness face the task of reconciling life changing circumstances incurred by the impending death of the significant adult figure. Despite the family centered philosophy of many hospitals, the needs of these children are often relegated to secondary consideration resulting in concrete interventions focused on product or legacy devoid of the psychotherapeutic support that is essential to profound meaning making. This article explicates and endorses a clinical approach fostering inclusion and authentic communication through developmentally targeted psychoeducation as fundamentally precursory to legacy work. Retrospective thematic analysis coding of unsolicited feedback received from 178 families for whom 370 children and teens were served by our program, was conducted to identify actionable recommendations or confirmation that the program is worthwhile or helpful. Analysis revealed <em>aesthetic framing, gratitude, inclusion,</em> and <em>relationship completion</em> as favorable outcomes suggesting that such narrative therapy in the early stages of diagnosis and treatment can be of optimal benefit to both the child(ren) and families with informational groundbreaking essential to anticipatory grief, and healthy bereavement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102257"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143349712","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 exploring dance/movement therapy's affinity with the body training system by Lee-chen Lin in Taiwan: A focus on self-concept","authors":"Zhuoni Wang, Kyung Soon Ko","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102263","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102263","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the compatibility of Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) with the Body Training System (BTS) developed by choreographer Lee-chen Lin, born in Taiwan, emphasizing the interconnectedness of body, mind, and self-exploration. The study identifies key affinities between Lin's BTS and DMT through a literature review, particularly in their shared focus on somatic awareness, emotional regulation, and the relationship between the self and others. The findings suggest that, while cultural interpretations of self-concept exist between Eastern and Western contexts, the need for self-exploration through bodily experience is universal. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of body philosophy in mental health and highlights the potential for integrating culturally unique practices into DMT, thereby expanding therapeutic approaches in diverse cultural settings. Future research should foster a cross-cultural dialogue on well-being and mental health interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102263"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143478904","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 therapist’s interventions in terms of the potential space in an open studio for at-risk children: Vignette analyses","authors":"Michal Bat Or , Tami Gavron , Dorel Pinto","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2025.102248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explored therapeutic interventions of art therapists working with at-risk, six to ten-year-old foster care children. The exploration was conducted with Winnicott’s concept of potential space in mind; this space may be impaired in children who have suffered trauma and neglect. Three experienced art therapists conducted a reflexive thematic analysis of 27 vignettes documenting interactions between child, therapist, and artwork/materials, with special focus on intervention characteristics and children's responses. The findings reveal four types of therapeutic interventions relating to the potential space: a) Encouraging entry into the potential space; b) Joining the potential space; c) Disrupting the potential space; and d) Failure to facilitate entry into the potential space. The challenge of identifying the potential space in some vignettes is also addressed. The discussion reviews the findings through the lens of relevant psychodynamic theories, particularly object relations, while considering the unique characteristics of this population. Limitations of this study, therapeutic implications, and recommendations for future research are also presented.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102248"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143093276","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}
Jessica M. Hauck , Brianna B. Hughes , Thomson J. Ling , Kira Jones , Courtney Eannone , Shayna Saltzman , Anthony Pacifico , Savanna M. Daquila , Ting-Hsuan Liu
{"title":"DRAWS: A documentation model for use in art therapy training and practice","authors":"Jessica M. Hauck , Brianna B. Hughes , Thomson J. Ling , Kira Jones , Courtney Eannone , Shayna Saltzman , Anthony Pacifico , Savanna M. Daquila , Ting-Hsuan Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2024.102246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2024.102246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Effective treatment requires thorough documentation. Existing documentation practices may be limited when adapted to expressive helping professions. Art therapy, unlike verbal interventions, includes artistic components that traditional psychotherapy documentation formats may not capture. Good documentation must capture these components, including the selection of materials, interpretation of art from multiple perspectives, and the client’s response to directives. DRAWS is a standardized note-taking format designed to aid art therapists and trainees in learning how to record and organize clinical information unique to the creative process. It includes D-Describing, R-Reviewing, A-Assessing art made in session, as well as W-What other elements are important to the art, and S-Summarizing the session. DRAWS incorporates current research and documents elements of art therapy practice that have been identified as crucial, and may also be used to communicate information.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102246"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143127808","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":"Studio art therapy postventions for long-term suicide loss survivors: A phenomenological study","authors":"Noah Hass-Cohen , Rebecca Bokoch , Sharon Strouse , Mikayla Medina , Jasmine Colon , Courtney Mims","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2024.102247","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2024.102247","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The prevalence of suicide and associated mental health risks for survivors of suicide loss represents a societal concern. Postvention research is lacking for long-term suicide loss survivors. This interpretative phenomenological qualitative study presents interview findings (<em>N</em> = 23) from a studio art therapy community setting. Based on suicide loss survivor studio art therapy research, four postvention activities were examined: altered books, decorated boxes, doll making, and wrapped sticks. Themes and categories for postventions were: 1. Self, person who died by suicide, other, and shifting representations, 2. Processing of autobiographical narratives, continuing bonds, spiritual connections, emotions, and symbolism; 3. Studio art therapy facilitation and materials. Specific meaningful essences were inspired by the postvention structure and materials such as page turning with altered books, containing meaningful objects in decorated boxes, physical and tactical form of dolls, and the branching form of decorated sticks. Clinical impressions suggested the possible advantages of specific postventions activities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102247"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143127814","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":"Psychological flexibility in art therapy: Practice-based research","authors":"Jordan S. Potash , Tally Tripp , Chelsea Baxter","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2024.102244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2024.102244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Psychological flexibility is an important quality that is useful across diagnostic categories for enhancing mental health and wellness. This practice-based study investigated how psychological flexibility manifested over 10 individual art therapy sessions. Sixteen clients completed the Ulman Personality Assessment Procedure and art therapy as usual as well as the General Self-Efficacy Scale v2.0 and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II. Based on the results of the measures, clients were categorized into high flexibility, low flexibility, and split flexibility groups. Qualitative analysis of these groups indicated different prevalent approaches to art making (high: shifting and meaning making, low and split: familiarity and constriction), including components of the Expressive Therapies Continuum. The study offers tentative indicators to recognize psychological flexibility in art therapy, which points to possible therapeutic factors and interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102244"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143127813","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}
Nalini Prakash , Arun Ramakrishnan , Daniel T. Vader , Sherry Goodill , Nancy Beardall , Reneé H. Moore , Minjung Shim
{"title":"Two ways to measure interpersonal synchrony in dance/movement therapy: Comparing accelerometer data with observational data","authors":"Nalini Prakash , Arun Ramakrishnan , Daniel T. Vader , Sherry Goodill , Nancy Beardall , Reneé H. Moore , Minjung Shim","doi":"10.1016/j.aip.2024.102245","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aip.2024.102245","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Moving in synchrony with others is associated with heightened social engagement and cooperation between individuals. Creative arts-based approaches such as dance/movement therapy (DMT) incorporate nonverbal techniques to develop interpersonal synchrony and group cohesion, and to enhance kinesthetic empathy. While DMT commonly uses Laban Movement Analysis (LMA), an analytical assessment system to observe and interpret movement, it is subject to personal bias and observer fatigue. Therefore, our goal was to explore the utility of the accelerometer to objectively measure rhythmic synchrony (RS) and spatial synchrony (SS) with 14 middle school students during 10 weekly group DMT sessions and to examine changes in mean scores for RS and SS over three time points. A wrist-worn accelerometer and Laban Movement Analysis (LMA), were used to measure RS and SS between individuals in each group. Biometric and observational data were compared to observe trends between both data sets. Participants’ subjective experiences of wearing the device during movement were also investigated. Although no statistical significance was found in IS scores across groups, in comparing the two data sets, overall biometric scores of RS increased marginally between the three time points, and overall observational scores notably increased between T1 and T2 and decreased between T2 and T3. Group 2 demonstrated similar upward trends in both data sets. This study is the first to investigate the useability of the accelerometer to measure interpersonal synchrony in DMT. Although the findings are encouraging, further investigation is needed to provide definitive information on the usefulness of the accelerometer in this context. Limitations and suggestions for future research are included.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47590,"journal":{"name":"Arts in Psychotherapy","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 102245"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143127812","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}