A literature review of the therapeutic mechanisms of art therapy for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder

ABSTRACT

Post-traumatic stress disorder in combat veterans is often managed with the use of psychological intervention such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). There is a body of evidence that suggests that some individuals do not respond as well as others to such interventions. Other strategies in use to support veterans in recovery include art-based therapies and anecdotal evidence suggests that these have therapeutic impact for veteran groups that do not benefit from the aforementioned psychological therapies. This article describes a review of the literature associated with art therapy with combat veterans, aiming to ascertain what the therapeutic mechanisms are for veterans in using art therapy to manage post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Themes became evident within the literature review that are discussed and analysed, with resultant ideas for future research possibilities identified.

KEYWORDS:

• Veterans
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• art therapy
• therapeutic mechanisms

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Janice Lobban, Senior Art Psychotherapist at Combat Stress, Leatherhead, Surrey, for her support and advice in relation to art psychotherapy with veterans and for her generosity in sharing her experiences and answering so many of my questions.

Notes on contributors

Alison Smith is Field Lead for Mental Health and Teaching Fellow at the School of Health Sciences, University of Surrey. Following completion of a Fine Art degree and then her Mental Health Nurse qualification, Alison worked extensively with young people and their families. Her interest in military mental health came as a result of working clinically with veteran fathers and their families. Her clinical work often involved utilising creative therapeutic techniques, working at the South London and Maudsley (Bethlem) Adolescent Unit, St. Bartholomew’s and Sussex Partnership NHS Trust. She most recently completed an Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic and Educational Application of the Arts as a precursor to beginning MA Art Psychotherapy studies.

Alison teaches across all the Health Science programmes in addition to leading the mental health team and aims to integrate creativity, education and professional therapeutic practice. She also continues to hold a small clinical caseload in a community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

Her research interests include art therapies across clinical practice, ethics in mental healthcare and child, adolescent and family mental health. Email: [email protected]

ORCID

Alison Smith http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7499-7136