This book provides a practical and research-based exploration of virtual art psychotherapy, and how its innovations are breaking new ground in the mental health field. With seventeen chapters authored by leaders documenting their research on creative arts therapies online, along with findings from the Virtual Art Therapy Clinic, this volume presents examples, strategies, and experiences delivering arts-based therapeutic services and online education. Clinical practice examples support and provide evidence for the transition from in-person to virtual sessions. By combining the collected expertise of all the contributing authors, this book encourages art therapists to support further growth in the field of virtual art therapy.

Art therapists work with diverse people experiencing life-changing distress that cannot be expressed verbally. From its early beginnings in the UK and USA, art therapy is now attracting international interest and recognition. To meet ever-changing needs in uncertain times, art therapists worldwide are currently advancing socially just and culturally relevant practice and research. This book presents original contributions, highlighting innovative research and culturally diverse practices that are transforming art therapy with new insights and knowledge. It captures an internationally vibrant and truly client-centred profession, and will be of interest to arts therapists, artists in healthcare, psychotherapists, counsellors, and professionals who use art therapeutically in their practice.

`This is an important and topical book coming at a time when there is growing pressure to show evidence of good practice, in order to reassure the prospective client, and to demonstrate financial accountability. It gives valuable guidelines and examples for art therapists. The book is innovative and inspiring, and the author′s enthusiasm shines through. I end with the last line of this topical, readable, relevant book - one that encapsulates its content: ′We need the facts, we need the figures, but we need the stories and the pictures, too′ - Therapy Today `This book makes a major contribution to the field of art therapy by reviewing, in an accessible and informed manner, the issues around the development of research-informed practice. The author offers an overview of different traditions of inquiry that will be of value to practitioners as well as those actually involved in carrying out research′ - John McLeod, Tayside Institute for Health Studies, University of Abertay Dundee `This impressive book is lively, inspiring and innovative. Andrea Gilroy′s energetic enthusiasm for her subject is infectious. She breathes life into the topics of research and EBP. This rich exploration combines a rigorous investigation of the existing literature with intelligent, original and practical suggestions. A thorough, informative approach that challenges existing thinking. This is a must for art therapists - at last a book that places art at the centre of our evidence in a convincingly argued, accessible and rewarding read′ - Professor Joy Schaverien PhD Art Therapy around the world is under increasing pressure to become more "evidence-based". As a result, practitioners now need to get to grips with what constitutes "evidence", how to apply research in appropriate ways and also how to contribute to the body of evidence through their own research and other related activities. Written specifically for art therapy practitioners and students, Art Therapy, Research & Evidence Based Practice: " traces the background to EBP " critically reviews the existing art therapy research " explains the research process " links research with the development of clinical guidelines, and " describes the knowledge and skills needed to demonstrate efficacy. Drawing on her own experience as a researcher, practitioner and lecturer, Andrea Gilroy looks at the implications of EBP for art therapy and examines common concerns about the threat it may pose to the future provision of art therapy within public services. Art Therapy, Research Evidence-Based Practice addresses issues which are critical to the future development and even the survival of art therapy. Combining insightful analysis with practical guidance and examples, this is an ideal resource for practitioners and for those in training. Andrea Gilroy is Reader in Art Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Art therapy literature is often based either on practice in a specific setting, art material or population, or if taking a more theoretical focus, on illustrative case studies. This book provides a theory-based approach to research, teaching, and practicing art therapy, including verbal and arts based techniques, settings, art processes and analyses, and the principles of supervision, evaluation, and research. It also offers an overview and discussion of how the different orientations of psychological and social theories are interpreted and implemented by art therapy. The book provides an integrative perspective that anchors methodology within a rigorous theoretical background. Focusing on three sub-groups of Dynamic, Humanistic and Systemic-social theories, each chapter outlines the central concepts of varying sub-theories within a general heading, and their interpretation from an art therapy perspective. Ephrat Huss explores the respective and shifting roles of art, client, and therapist through each theory, demonstrating the practical implications for creating a coherent intervention that informs all parts of the setting, therapy, client evaluation, and supervision. A Theory-based Approach to Art Therapy draws on the latest research in the field and will be a valuable text for art therapy theorists, educators, students and researchers, as well as for other social practitioners interested in understanding how to integrate the arts into their practice.

Art therapy is a developing profession worldwide, and one that is recognised in some countries, but by no means all. Furthering the establishment of art therapy will require the discipline to develop a robust research profile, one that shows it to be an effective intervention with a wide range of client populations within health, social, educational and criminal justice systems. This edited volume makes a significant contribution to art therapy's evidence base. It reports on innovative art therapy research and conveys, in an accessible and highly readable way, the lived experience of research by art therapy practitioners. Narratives describe a variety of fascinating projects - from a randomised controlled trial to research-based case studies and clinical research that draws on visual and historical methods - that demonstrate a reflexive loop which moves from practice to research and from research back into practice, showing that research is an exciting, accessible and eminently do-able activity. A collaborative approach between the editor and the contributors informs a series of commentaries about both their research findings in relation to the evidence-base of art therapy with children, adults and people with learning disabilities, and the issues that arise for clinical practices and services at the point of delivery.

Art therapists work with diverse people experiencing life-changing distress that cannot be expressed verbally. From its early beginnings in the UK and USA, art therapy is now attracting international interest and recognition. To meet ever-changing needs in uncertain times, art therapists worldwide are currently advancing socially just and culturally relevant practice and research. This book presents original contributions, highlighting innovative research and culturally diverse practices that are transforming art therapy with new insights and knowledge. It captures an internationally vibrant and truly client-centred profession, and will be of interest to arts therapists, artists in healthcare, psychotherapists, counsellors, and professionals who use art therapeutically in their practice.

`This is an important and topical book coming at a time when there is growing pressure to show evidence of good practice, in order to reassure the prospective client, and to demonstrate financial accountability. It gives valuable guidelines and examples for art therapists. The book is innovative and inspiring, and the author′s enthusiasm shines through. I end with the last line of this topical, readable, relevant book - one that encapsulates its content: ′We need the facts, we need the figures, but we need the stories and the pictures, too′ - Therapy Today `This book makes a major contribution to the field of art therapy by reviewing, in an accessible and informed manner, the issues around the development of research-informed practice. The author offers an overview of different traditions of inquiry that will be of value to practitioners as well as those actually involved in carrying out research′ - John McLeod, Tayside Institute for Health Studies, University of Abertay Dundee `This impressive book is lively, inspiring and innovative. Andrea Gilroy′s energetic enthusiasm for her subject is infectious. She breathes life into the topics of research and EBP. This rich exploration combines a rigorous investigation of the existing literature with intelligent, original and practical suggestions. A thorough, informative approach that challenges existing thinking. This is a must for art therapists - at last a book that places art at the centre of our evidence in a convincingly argued, accessible and rewarding read′ - Professor Joy Schaverien PhD Art Therapy around the world is under increasing pressure to become more "evidence-based". As a result, practitioners now need to get to grips with what constitutes "evidence", how to apply research in appropriate ways and also how to contribute to the body of evidence through their own research and other related activities. Written specifically for art therapy practitioners and students, Art Therapy, Research & Evidence Based Practice: " traces the background to EBP " critically reviews the existing art therapy research " explains the research process " links research with the development of clinical guidelines, and " describes the knowledge and skills needed to demonstrate efficacy. Drawing on her own experience as a researcher, practitioner and lecturer, Andrea Gilroy looks at the implications of EBP for art therapy and examines common concerns about the threat it may pose to the future provision of art therapy within public services. Art Therapy, Research Evidence-Based Practice addresses issues which are critical to the future development and even the survival of art therapy. Combining insightful analysis with practical guidance and examples, this is an ideal resource for practitioners and for those in training. Andrea Gilroy is Reader in Art Psychotherapy at Goldsmiths, University of London.