Opening Art Therapy Thresholds: Mechanisms That Influence Change in the Community Art Therapy Studio

Abstract

Community art therapy studios promote individual and communal transformation outside of traditional health settings. In this qualitative study, 3 art therapists observed 6 sessions of a community art therapy studio by making art and writing observations. Synthesis of their findings indicated the importance of tending to healthy relationships. Further emergent themes that point to mechanisms of change included (a) safety (structure), (b) acceptance (nonjudgment, genuineness), and (c) opportunity (authentic self, exploration, creativity, self-care). These results point to how art therapists can transfer their training and expand services for a wider reach of therapeutic experiences.