Identification of the contexts and mechanisms of Art Psychotherapy treatment that supports healing and recovery for adults who have experienced complex trauma: The development of a treatment manual – Unification Neuro-informed Trauma Reconsolidation Art P

Abstract

Objectives: Design: Focus group session with British Association of Art Therapists regional group; narrative literature review; international survey; development of a treatment manual and validation via expert panel using rubrics, qualitative questionnaires, and Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Participants: International Art Psychotherapists; expert panel members including people with lived experience. Main analysis tools: Hierarchical cluster analysis, SPSS, rubrics and Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Adults who have complex trauma can experience mental ill health that invariably results in significant restrictive impact upon their lives. The purpose of this study was to identify what components and contexts of Art Psychotherapy practice support recovery and healing for people who have compromised mental health resulting from experiences of complex trauma. Four stages within the study were completed, consisting of a focus group and narrative literature review; an international survey; the development of a therapeutic treatment manual; and the validation of the manual which included the completion of rubrics, narrative interviews and Reflexive Thematic Analysis. International Art Psychotherapists treating people with complex trauma were invited to answer four categories of questions: participant information, environment, practical/clinical components, and additional information. Whilst there is a good evidence base for the uses and effectiveness of Art Psychotherapy in general, there has been little causal analysis of which mechanisms and contexts of Art Psychotherapy can prove effective. The survey data identified that expert practitioners consider positive therapeutic impact to be associated with specific art medium, the therapeutic environment, and clinically informed approaches. The focus group, narrative literature review, the findings from the international survey, and clinical experience and expertise informed the development of a therapeutic treatment manual, Unification Neuro-informed Trauma Reconsolidation Art Psychotherapy (UNTRAP).

Date of Award	24 Aug 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Northumbria University
Supervisor	Simon Hackett (Supervisor) & Michael Hill (Supervisor)