Survivors of father–daughter incest often suffer from complex trauma and sensory insensitivity, making it difficult to decipher the sensations in the body and experience body ownership, self-location and agency. This case study illustrates how sensory focused, Trauma-Centred Developmental Transformations can help restore or develop a bodily self, desensitize fear-based schemas, revise deeply buried beliefs and extend repertoire.
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Empirical studies in the creative arts therapies (CATs; i.e., art therapy, dance/movement therapy, drama therapy, music therapy, psychodrama, and poetry/bibliotherapy) have grown rapidly in the last 10 years, documenting their positive impact on a wide range of psychological and physiological outcomes (e.g., stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, and pain). However, it remains unclear how and why the CATs have positive effects, and which therapeutic factors account for these changes. Research that specifically focuses on the therapeutic factors and/or mechanisms of change in CATs is only beginning to emerge. To gain more insight into how and why the CATs influence outcomes, we conducted a scoping review (Nstudies = 67) to pinpoint therapeutic factors specific to each CATs discipline, joint factors of CATs, and more generic common factors across all psychotherapy approaches. This review therefore provides an overview of empirical CATs studies dealing with therapeutic factors and/or mechanisms of change, and a detailed analysis of these therapeutic factors which are grouped into domains. A framework of 19 domains of CATs therapeutic factors is proposed, of which the three domains are composed solely of factors unique to the CATs: “embodiment,” “concretization,” and “symbolism and metaphors.” The terminology used in change process research is clarified, and the implications for future research, clinical practice, and CATs education are discussed.
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Developmental Transformations (DvT), a practice involving interactive, improvisational play in pairs or groups, has gained international appeal as a therapeutic intervention for different populations in a variety of health, care and recreational contexts. However, a rigorous review of the benefits of DvT has not been conducted. The purpose of this study was to review extant literature for the observed benefits of DvT, identify gaps in the literature and make recommendations concerning future research including identifying possible areas for outcome measurement for preliminary studies. The authors, who each completed training in this approach, conducted a scoping review of English-language, published, peer-reviewed and grey DvT literature through 2021. From an initial 745 records retrieved through databases and a manual search, 51 publications met criteria, which, when analysed using in-vivo and pattern coding, resulted in a total of seventeen categories of observed benefits ascribed to DvT. These included six general categories – relational, emotional, social, cognitive, behavioural and physical benefits – and eleven complex categories of benefits to participants across the lifespan. In addition to benefits for participants, benefits of DvT were also observed and reported for facilitators, therapists, teachers and supervisors engaged in this practice. This review revealed inconsistencies regarding the reporting of practitioner training, frequency, format, population, intended goals, assessment measures and outcomes. Future studies with increased experimental rigor, standardized outcome measures and consistent reporting are recommended.
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Formal elements are often used in art therapy assessment. The assumption is that formal elements are observable aspects of the art product that allow reliable and valid assessment of clients’ mental health. Most of the existing art therapy assessment instruments are based on clinical expertise. Therefore, it is not clear to what degree these instruments are restricted to formal elements. Other aspects might also be included, such as clinical expertise of the therapist. This raises the question of whether and how formal elements as observable aspects of the art product are related to clients’ mental health. To answer this question, four studies are presented that look at: (1) a meta-theoretical description of formal elements; (2) operationalization of these formal elements so they can be analyzed reliably in clients’ art products; (3) establishment of reliable and clinically relevant formal elements; (4) the relationship between formal elements and adult clients’ mental health. Results show that the combination of the formal elements “movement,” “dynamic,” and “contour” are significantly interrelated and related to clients’ mental health, i.e., psychopathology, psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance, and adaptability. These findings give insight in the diagnostic value of art products and how they may add to clients’ verbal expression and indicate their potential to benefit from therapy.
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In clinical practice, formal elements of art products are regularly used in art therapy observation to obtain insight into clients’ mental health and provide directions for further treatment. Due to the diversity of formal elements used in existing studies and the inconsistency in the interpretation, it is unclear which formal elements contribute to insight into clients’ mental health. In this qualitative study using Constructivist Grounded Theory, eight art therapists were interviewed in-depth to identify which formal elements they observe, how they describe mental health and how they associate formal elements with mental health. Findings of this study show that art therapists in this study observe the combination of movement, dynamic, contour and repetition (i.e., primary formal elements) with mixture of color, figuration and color saturation (i.e., secondary formal elements). Primary and secondary elements interacting together construct the structure and variation of the art product. Art therapists rarely interpret these formal elements in terms of symptoms or diagnosis. Instead, they use concepts such as balance and adaptability (i.e., self-management, openness, flexibility, and creativity). They associate balance, specifically being out of balance, with the severity of the clients’ problem and adaptability with clients’ strengths and resources. In the conclusion of the article we discuss the findings’ implications for practice and further research.
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Lichamelijkheid en cognitie zijn de basis van het sociaal functioneren. Dramatherapie biedt de moge-lijkheid om via spel en beweging, projectief spel en het uitspelen van enactments/ dramatisch spel, de dynamiek tussen lichamelijkheid en de cognitie te exploreren, te structureren en het inter-persoonlijke begrip, binnen de mogelijkheden van de cliënt, tot ontwikkeling te brengen.
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Arts in Health, also known as Arts for Health, is an umbrella term used to describe the domain of using the arts to enhance our (mental) health and well-being. It involves a heterogeneous range of professionals who use the arts in various ways, with different goals and outcomes. The practices of these professionals can be placed on a continuum based on the variety of goals and outcomes, ranging from promoting social connection or well-being to treating (mental) health conditions. Recent discussions in the Netherlands have raised questions about the position of creative arts therapists on this continuum. This opinion paper addresses this issue by providing a brief overview of the development of the profession of creative arts therapists, the working areas of creative arts therapists and the growing evidence base of creative arts therapeutic interventions. The practices of creative arts therapists are positioned on the continuum, where the emphasis on and accountability for the clients’ (mental) health increases and evidence-informed use of the arts within a more clearly delineated and legally safeguarded professional framework are present. Knowing where the practices of creative arts therapists are placed can assist in identifying when to choose creative arts therapists, other professionals combining arts and healthcare, or a combination of professionals.
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Het is een eer om met deze openbare lezing het ambt van hoogleraar Vaktherapie te aanvaarden. Temeer omdat dit de allereerste leerstoel Vaktherapie in Nederland is. Een bijzonder domein van behandelingen voor mensen met psychische aandoeningen en psychosociale klachten dat sinds jaren is ingebed in de geestelijke gezondheidszorg en in sectoren als de ouderenzorg, somatische zorg, basis- en voortgezet onderwijs. ‘Waarom nu pas?’ ‘Waarom is deze of een vergelijkbare, leerstoel niet eerder ingesteld, wetende dat deze behandelingen al jaren worden toegepast binnen de zorg en daarbuiten?’ Er zijn in Nederland veel vaktherapeuten, circa 5800. In vergelijking met de ongeveer 6700 psychotherapeuten in Nederland (Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek, 2018), is het dus geen klein gebied. Er is ook de actieve Federatie Vaktherapeutische Beroepen, dit is de koepelorganisatie van de verenigingen van vaktherapeutische disciplines. Ik ga daar later nog iets over te zeggen en over de ontwikkelingen die er momenteel gaande zijn. In het buitenland zijn er wel leerstoelen op dit gebied. Dus waarom nu pas een leerstoel Vaktherapie?
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Vaktherapie werkt aan tekorten/problemen met betrekking tot vier kerngebieden:zelfbeeld, emoties, cognitie en interactie. De vaktherapie richt zich op het opheffen of verminderen van tekorten met betrekking tot dynamisch criminogene factoren, anders gezegd: op risicofactoren uit de SAVRY (12‐18 jarigen) die een relatie hebben met de vier kerngebieden: ? voor het kerngebied zelfbeeld betreft dit de risicofactoren omgang met delinquente leeftijdsgenoten en negatieve opvattingen; ? voor het kerngebied emotie gaat het om de risicofactoren ervaren stress en copingvaardigheden, riskant gedrag/impulsiviteit en problemen bij omgaan met boosheid; ? voor het kerngebied interactie betreft het de risicofactoren omgang met delinquente leeftijdsgenoten, afwijzing door leeftijdsgenoten en gebrek aan berouw/empathie; ? voor het kerngebeid cognitie tenslotte gaat het om de risicofactoren afwijzing door leeftijdsgenoten, negatieve opvattingen en aandachtstekort hyperactiviteitprobleem
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Hoe kunnen vaktherapeuten samen met het kinderwerk en de bijbehorende nieuwe (regionale) zorgnetwerken, nieuwe interventies ontwikkelen en vormgeven met en voor kwetsbare jongeren in hun eigen leefomgeving, zodat enerzijds ontwikkeling van delinquent gedrag bij kwetsbare jongeren voorkomen wordt en anderzijds ketenzorg ontstaat en terugval van jongeren in delinquent gedrag (her)opname in justitiële jeugdinrichtingen en de gesloten jeugdzorg voorkomen wordt. In dit participerend actiegericht onderzoek was er sprake van een intensieve samenwerking tussen professionals en betrokkenen in de praktijk. Hiertoe werd een Community of Practice (CoP) opgericht bestaande uit Jongerenwerkers, Beeldend therapeut, deelnemende kinderen uit een aandachtswijk in Maastricht. De interventies zijn door deze samenwerking ontwikkeld en voortdurend geëvalueerd, waarbij gebruik werd gemaakt van zogenaamde van kwalitatieve en kwantitatieve methoden en instrumenten bij alle betrokken partijen.
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