Arts and drama therapists have three strands whose working practices are very similar though through different mediums – art, drama and music. They use their chosen medium as a therapeutic intervention to help people with physical, mental, social and emotional difficulties, people who are unable to communicate through speech, to create a trusting environment which enables the client to safely express their feelings.
Working as autonomous professionals, arts therapists will each have a case load of clients in a variety of settings including:
- Child or adult psychiatry
- Learning disability centres and other education settings
- Forensic psychiatry
- Prison service
- Progressive illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease
- Palliative care
Using use their creative medium arts therapists make connections with their clients as a means of relating. These creative mediums can by-pass the more conventional routes of communicating and encourage a shared experience, leading to a pursuit of therapeutic goals. The aims of therapy relate directly to the overall development of the client and should not be confused with teaching, recreation or the acquisition of a creative skill.
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