Flexing the frame: therapist experiences of museum-based group art psychotherapy for adults with complex mental health difficulties

ABSTRACT

This research aimed to investigate our experiences of facilitating museum-based art psychotherapy groups for adults with complex mental health difficulties, identifying key themes to help inform the practice of other art psychotherapists working in museum settings. Drawing on concepts of tacit knowledge, action research, reflexivity and arts-based research, we engaged in structured discussions and reflective art-making in three areas of focus, and then carried out a simple thematic analysis of the data. The areas of focus were: the role of museum objects within the art psychotherapy process; the movement between and within the private artmaking space and the public spaces of the museum; and the potential impact of the public nature of the museum. The themes we identified relate to familiar theoretical concepts such as containment, mentalisation, transitional objects and space, attachment and joint attention. Our research led us to challenge our feeling that we were ‘breaking the rules’ of ‘orthodox’ group art psychotherapy practice by working outside the framework of a traditional therapy room. We conclude that there is potential value in this particular way of ‘flexing’ our practice and encourage other art psychotherapists to explore museum-based work and share their experiences.

Plain-language summary

• This article explores the issues involved in running art psychotherapy groups for people with long term mental health difficulties in museums instead of NHS outpatient centres. It is written from the perspective of three art psychotherapists who examine their own experience of running these types of groups. The research gives insights into the opportunities and challenges of working in this way.

• We started by agreeing on three specific questions: what significance might the museum objects hold for the service users, how might physically moving between a private art-making room and the public space of the museum impact on the service users, and what are the potential issues involved in delivering art psychotherapy in a public building rather than the more private space of an NHS building?

• For each of the three areas we met twice. At the first session we discussed our experience of running the museum-based groups in relation to that area, and at the second we used artmaking to expand our discussion. We recorded and transcribed our discussions and analysed the transcripts. The analysis produced several themes, which we then related to existing psychotherapeutic theory. We used a simple research process that helped us to think about what we do as art psychotherapists and why - a process which other art psychotherapists could use for their own research.

• We conclude that there are different issues and opportunities when working in museums compared with working in NHS buildings. The work challenges traditional expectations of how art psychotherapy is carried out and requires creativity and flexibility on the part of the therapist. We found that using museums for art psychotherapy was an interesting and valuable extension to our work. Other art psychotherapists who wish to run groups in museums may find our insights useful.

KEYWORDS:

• Art therapy
• art psychotherapy
• museums
• galleries
• adults
• group
• mental health
• complex

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Dr Sue Holttum (Research Officer, British Association of Art Therapists) and Mark Walker (Senior Research Manager – Governance, Gloucestershire NHS Research Support Service) for their advice on methodology, and to Angela Burton (Lead for the Arts Therapies, ²gether NHS Foundation Trust) for her support for innovative practice. We are grateful to the staff of the museums and to the group participants for their contribution to our continuing learning as art psychotherapists. Thanks also to Dr Peter Jackson for photographing our artwork.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Ali Coles is an Art Psychotherapist at ²gether NHS Foundation Trust, working in an adult community mental health service in Gloucestershire with clients with severe and enduring psychological difficulties. She previously worked in the museum sector and has an MA in Museum and Gallery Management. She has a particular interest in the use of museums, galleries and other cultural and environmental resources in Art Psychotherapy and co-founded the British Association of Art Therapists’ (BAAT) Museums and Galleries Special Interest Group. She is also a Lecturer in Art Psychotherapy at the University of South Wales.

Fiona Harrison is an Art Psychotherapist with Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust working with the Adult Psychology and Psychological Therapies Team. She works with individuals within the community mental health service who have severe and enduring psychological difficulties. She has held an honorary contract with ²gether NHS Foundation Trust and maintains her interest in developing the use of museums and art galleries for art psychotherapy groups. She is a member of the BAAT Museums and Galleries Special Interest Group.

Saira Todd is an Art Psychotherapist working in schools, with a children and families counselling service and with adults in private practice. She worked as an Honorary Art Psychotherapist for ²gether NHS Foundation Trust in Gloucestershire for several years, co-facilitating art psychotherapy groups for adults with complex mental health issues. She is a member of the BAAT Museums and Galleries Special Interest Group.

ORCID

Ali Coles http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8330-0903

Fiona Harrison http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1200-7141

Saira Todd http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4231-7842