The Compassionate Arts Psychotherapy Program: Benefits of a Compassionate Arts Media Continuum

Abstract

The Compassionate Arts Psychotherapy (CAP) program integrates self-compassion and arts psychotherapy practices, which are informed by a compassionate arts media (CAM) continuum. A mixed methods pilot program evaluation with a pretest-posttest single group design, followed by an open-ended survey, was conducted. Participants included 18 graduate students who engaged in ten 2.5-hour meetings, over the course of two weekends. Results showed statistically significant increases in self-compassion, and cognitive and affective mindfulness over time and at two-week follow-up. Qualitatively, participants reported positive gains, specifically: openness to new experiences, here-and-now mindful awareness, and self-compassion. These results suggest the clinical utility of CAP and provide novel perspectives on the directionality of the traditional art therapy media continuum.

Keywords:

• Art therapy
• mindful self-compassion
• mindfulness-based stress reduction
• compassionate arts
• mindfulness

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Noah Hass-Cohen

Noah Hass-Cohen, PsyD, MA, ATR-BC, is Professor in the Couples Family Therapy Masters and Doctoral Programs at California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, Alhambra, CA.

Rebecca Bokoch

Rebecca Bokoch, PsyD, LMFT, is Assistant Professor, and

Grace Fowler

Grace Fowler, PhD, is a graduate, in the Clinical PhD Program at California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, Alhambra, CA.