The art therapy continuum: A useful tool for envisaging the diversity of practice in British art therapy

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a comprehensible and accessible overview of British art therapy practice. It is a ‘snap-shot’ of the main styles of art therapy. It presents an outline of theory in the form of a continuum which illustrates the range of art therapy practice that is available in Britain today. The motivation for the development of the continuum is to assist in providing some clarity to a situation which, at first sight, particularly to training therapists, but also to art therapists in general, seems extremely confusing. The continuum is a fluid way of conceptualising art therapy practice; it depicts practitioners as potentially not locked into a particular way of working, though some people may well only work in one way because of personal preferences, and particular aptitudes.

Keywords:

• Overview of art therapy in Britain
• summary
• practice styles
• theory
• diversity of practice
• model

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Dr Andrea Gilroy of Goldsmith's College, whose remarks on a very early draft made me realise that this is a very difficult undertaking, because there is so much diversity of practice. Michele Gunn's trenchant remarks challenged my ‘arguing for a flexibility of practice and a broad church in which a wide variety of approaches can be included’ as I have chosen not to examine ‘fringe’ and diagnostic work, but I would answer that I want to focus on what is most widespread in a British context. I do, however, appreciate that I am making assumptions about what is legitimately art therapy. I'm particularly indebted to Michele for her excellent critique, to which I hope I have responded adequately. Thanks also to Michele for the elegant rainbow analogy. Thanks too to my colleague Nick Stein for his remarks on the ambiguity of terminologies used in art therapy writing. Dr Susan Joyce's detailed comments were also immensely helpful in pointing out areas lacking in clarity which needed addressing.