A scoping review of supervision in creative arts therapies in Korea

This study aimed to identify the current research on creative arts therapies supervision in Korea by reviewing relevant literature and analyzing research themes and content. The goal was to identify critical considerations for creative arts therapies supervision and propose future research directions. To this end, papers published up to June 2024 were searched on three major Korean academic platforms using keywords, such as the names of various art media combined with “clinical supervision” and “supervision.” A total of 484 papers were retrieved, and after applying the exclusion criteria, 69 were selected for analysis. Since the inception of supervision research in Korea in 2005, most studies have focused on art and music therapy, which can be classified into three categories. First, studies examining supervisors and supervisees—key participants in supervision—accounted for half of the reviewed papers, focusing on their perceptions and supervision characteristics. Second, research on supervision types identified six primary categories: individual and group supervision, peer supervision, self-supervision, on-site supervision, remote supervision, and art-based supervision. These studies highlighted specific considerations unique to each type. Third, in the absence of studies grounded in diverse philosophical and psychological theories, research on the factors that enhance art therapists’ professional competencies, competency models, and trend analyses lays the foundation for adequate creative arts therapies supervision in Korea.