Exploring art therapy group practice in early intervention psychosis

ABSTRACT

This article aims to outline the process by which we set up an art psychotherapy group for young adults experiencing first episode psychosis. Our reflections on this process are discussed together with reflections from the individuals accessing the group in its first year. Our writing, evidence and discussion are based on an earlier report which aimed to identify good art therapy practice in early intervention for psychosis by meeting guidelines set out by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence and the Initiative to Reduce the Impact of Schizophrenia.

KEYWORDS:

• Art therapy
• early intervention
• group
• joint attention
• mentalising
• psychosis

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful to the group members who gave permission for their words and images to be used and to Dr Chris Wood for her help and encouragement.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributor

Sarah Parkinson is a painter, Art Therapist, Group Analyst and MBT Practitioner working with Avon & Wilts Partnership NHS Trust. She has a special interest in social inclusion and was a founder member of the Community Arts Therapies Project in 2005 and Fresh Art@ in 2013. She is currently involved in a new project exploring observational drawing as an intervention in psychosis. Email: [email protected]

Claire Whiter is currently a trainee clinical psychologist at Plymouth University. Prior to training, she worked in the voluntary sector for women’s mental health and was a core group member of Bristol Self-injury Self-help (SISH). She co-facilitated the EI art therapy group when working as a mental health worker within an early intervention for psychosis service. Claire has an interest in embodied distress, psychosis, trauma and dissociation. She is currently conducting research with early intervention teams looking at how staff talk about the meaningfulness of psychosis.

Notes

1 All identifying features, names and locations have been changed or removed in the interest of confidentiality.