Technology Training for Future Art Therapists: Is There a Need?

Orr, Penelope P.

doi:10.1080/07421656.2006.10129329

Cited by 17 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The importance of suitable specialist training in the use of digital technology for art therapists providing therapy online has been highlighted in previous research studies (Carlton, 2014;Collie et al, 2006;Orr, 2006Orr, , 2012 and echoed in survey responses we gathered. In case of the recent accelerated move to online art therapy provision, limited training and access to suitable therapy space as well as limited support in needing to make significant adaptations to practice had implications for therapists' confidence, which was found to be generally lower in providing online art therapy sessions in relation to face to face.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…Limited research to date examined art therapists' attitudes to digital technology and its use in art therapy sessions with clients, but has not yet given insights into the client perspective. Several surveys among US-based art therapists over the last two decades were in fact concerned primarily with digital technology use and ownership and less with the actual practice with clients (Orr, 2006(Orr, , 2012Peterson, 2010;Peterson et al, 2005). Some key messages coming from these investigations included art therapists' willingness to adopt new digital media for therapy only once their benefits for clients and any risks are known.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Online art therapy practice and client safety: a UK-wide survey in times of COVID-19

Zubala

Hackett

2020

International Journal of Art Therapy

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Online art therapy practice and client safety: a UK-wide survey in times of COVID-19

Zubala

Hackett

2020

International Journal of Art Therapy

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“…Four articles from two US-based research teams focused entirely on the views and opinions of art therapists on the use of digital technology in art therapy practice and utilized a survey design ( Table 2 : Peterson et al, 2005 ; Orr, 2006 , 2012 ; Peterson, 2010 ). They gathered both the therapists’ experience (based on practice) and expectations (based on personal attitudes).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Across the studies, a trend emerged suggesting an increasing use of digital technology within art therapy sessions. A study comparing results from surveys undertaken 7 years apart, found that between 2004 and 2011 art therapists increased their use of digital media in their art therapy practice with clients: from 19 to 32% using technology as an artmaking tool during sessions and from 2.4 to 9.4% using web camera communication during sessions ( Orr, 2006 , 2012 ). In addition, in the 2011 survey, 11.8% respondents reported using online chat ( Orr, 2012 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Art Therapy in the Digital World: An Integrative Review of Current Practice and Future Directions

Zubala

Kennell²,

Hackett

2021

Front. Psychol.

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BackgroundPsychotherapy interventions increasingly utilize digital technologies to improve access to therapy and its acceptability. Opportunities that digital technology potentially creates for art therapy reach beyond increased access to include new possibilities of adaptation and extension of therapy tool box. Given growing interest in practice and research in this area, it is important to investigate how art therapists engage with digital technology or how (and whether) practice might be safely adapted to include new potential modes of delivery and new arts media.MethodsAn integrative review of peer-reviewed literature on the use of digital technology in art therapy was conducted. The methodology used is particularly well suited for early stage exploratory inquiries, allowing for close examination of papers from a variety of methodological paradigms. Only studies that presented empirical outcomes were included in the formal analysis.FindingsOver 400 records were screened and 12 studies were included in the synthesis, pertaining to both the use of digital technology for remote delivery and as a medium for art making. Included studies, adopting predominantly qualitative and mixed methods, are grouped according to their focus on: art therapists’ views and experiences, online/distance art therapy, and the use of digital arts media. Recurring themes are discussed, including potential benefits and risks of incorporating digital technology in sessions with clients, concerns relating to ethics, resistance toward digital arts media, technological limitations and implications for therapeutic relationship and therapy process. Propositions for best practice and technological innovations that could make some of the challenges redundant are also reviewed. Future directions in research are indicated and cautious openness is recommended in both research and practice.ConclusionThe review documents growing research illustrating increased use of digital technology by art therapists for both online delivery and digital art making. Potentially immense opportunities that technology brings for art therapy should be considered alongside limitations and challenges of clinical, pragmatic and ethical nature. The review aims to invite conversations and further research to explore ways in which technology could increase relevance and reach of art therapy without compromising clients’ safety and key principles of the profession.

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“…Several articles and survey studies suggest that art therapists were initially cautious about welcoming technological media into the art therapy studio (Peterson et al, 2005;Asawa, 2009;Peterson, 2010), with concerns regarding the loss of tactile and sensual qualities in digital art making environments (McNiff, 1999). Nevertheless, the need for technology training for art therapy students was acknowledged by students (Orr, 2006), and views on virtual technologies have been changing, highlighting the importance of "broadening definitions of art materials and contexts" (Kapitan, 2007, p. 51). In the current climate of COVID-19, the use of technology in art therapy has been recognized, drawing attention also to ethical and safety concerns in the operation of these media (Alders et al, 2011).…”

Section: Digital Artmaking and Vr In Art Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Outcomes of Visual Self-Expression in Virtual Reality on Psychosocial Well-Being With the Inclusion of a Fragrance Stimulus: A Pilot Mixed-Methods Study

et al. 2020

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AimsIn this pilot mixed-methods study, we examined the participants experiences of engaging in virtual drawing tasks and the impact of an olfactory stimulus (calming fragrance blend) on outcomes of affect, stress, self-efficacy, anxiety, creative agency, and well-being (satisfaction with life).MethodsThis study used a parallel mixed-methods, simple block randomization design. The study participants included 24 healthy adults aged 18 to 54 years, including 18 women and six men. The participants completed two 1-h immersive virtual art making sessions and were randomly assigned to receive either a fragrance or a non-fragrance condition for the first session. Quantitative (standardized self-report measures) and qualitative (open-ended survey responses and virtual artwork) datasets were collected concurrently and integrated during data analysis.ResultsThe quantitative results indicated that the fragrance condition demonstrated a significant reduction in negative affect (e.g., feeling hostile, jittery, upset, distressed, etc.), namely, reduced feelings of negativity when compared to the non-fragrance condition. A trend toward improvement in self-efficacy was also seen in the fragrance condition. No significant changes were found for fragrance or non-fragrance conditions for positive affect, anxiety, and creative agency. The qualitative findings included five themes related to art making experiences in virtual reality in both conditions: fun and joy; novelty of virtual media, experimentation, and play; relaxation and calm; learning curve; and physical discomfort and disorientation. Four themes were identified for virtual art content and visual qualities: nature imagery, references to memories and personal symbols, fantasy and play within imagery, and depiction of everyday objects.ConclusionsOverall, the participants reported positive responses to the novel virtual art making experiences which were further heightened by the inclusion of the fragrance stimulus for negative affect. These preliminary findings need to be replicated with larger sample sizes to confirm the outcomes and the trends that were seen in this pilot study. Further research is recommended to examine the differences between experiences of virtual and traditional art media and to examine different olfactory stimuli promoting focus and concentration.

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Technology Training for Future Art Therapists: Is There a Need?

Cited by 17 publications

References 12 publications

Online art therapy practice and client safety: a UK-wide survey in times of COVID-19

Online art therapy practice and client safety: a UK-wide survey in times of COVID-19

Art Therapy in the Digital World: An Integrative Review of Current Practice and Future Directions

Outcomes of Visual Self-Expression in Virtual Reality on Psychosocial Well-Being With the Inclusion of a Fragrance Stimulus: A Pilot Mixed-Methods Study

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