Art therapy in education findings from a nationwide survey in arts therapies

Abstract

Art therapy in education appears to be a growing area, despite the fact that there are as yet few practitioners. Data collected from a nationwide survey in all arts therapies, carried out at the University of Manchester, School of Education, indicate the extent of this growth as well as conditions of work, client groups and prevalent theoretical influences. Based on these findings, this article discusses the current position of art therapists in education. At the same time, other findings of the study are presented in order to put this work in the wider context of art therapy and arts therapies in general, and suggestions for future directions of work are made.