Therapist and client experiences of art therapy in relation to psychosis: a thematic analysis

ABSTRACT Background Evidenced-based theory of art therapy for people experiencing psychosis is relatively under-developed, especially in terms of the detail of what happens in art therapy sessions, and the role of the artmaking. Aims To explore in-session processes of art therapy from the viewpoint of both service users and art therapists using reflexive thematic analysis. Method Twelve participants, six service users and six art therapists, were interviewed. Results From the analysis, four main themes were created, specifically ‘safe space’, ‘power of artmaking’, ‘challenges’ and ‘supporting recovery’. Conclusions The findings offer triangulated themes from art therapists and service users and explicate the role of the artmaking. Artmaking offers service users a space to express and contain their feelings, needs, wishes and fears within the artwork. This can start a dialogue and provides them with an opportunity to shift how they view their artwork and themselves. Practice implications Artmaking helps service users express non-verbal and embodied material, which could then be explored through a therapeutic dialogue. Service users who struggle with verbalising their thoughts and feelings may particularly benefit from art therapy. Plain-language summary This study explored the processes of art therapy from the viewpoint of both service users and art therapists. Twelve participants, six service users and six art therapists, were interviewed. From the analysis, four main themes were created: ‘safe space’, ‘power of artmaking’, ‘challenges’ and ‘supporting recovery’. The results suggest artmaking offers people the opportunity to communicate their experiences within the artwork. This can start conversations, which may be particularly helpful when words are difficult, and provides people with an opportunity to shift how they view their artwork and themselves. Limitations, research recommendations, and clinical implications are discussed.