Practitioners' experiences of holding when delivering art therapy, compared with arts-for-health activities.
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| Title: | Practitioners' experiences of holding when delivering art therapy, compared with arts-for-health activities. |
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| Authors: | Wrigley, Gemma1 (AUTHOR) contact@gemmawrigley.com |
| Source: | International Journal of Art Therapy: Inscape. Jun2026, Vol. 31 Issue 2, p159-173. 15p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Health services accessibility, *Decision making, *Research methodology, *Art therapy, *Experiential learning, Work, Psychotherapists, Risk assessment, Art therapists, Psychotherapist attitudes, Interviewing, Judgment sampling, Thematic analysis, Phenomenology, Data analysis software, Psychosocial factors |
| Abstract: | Background: High-profile evidence positions arts-based activities as viable and beneficial healthcare practices. However, studies do not sufficiently delineate the therapeutic actions of art psychotherapy from arts-for-health activity, resulting in lack of clarity about which type of art-based activity may be most appropriate for whom. Aims: The study aims to further our understanding of the therapeutic action of holding in art-based healthcare activities, referencing Donald Winnicott's theory of the developmental 'holding environment'. Methods: Three art therapists who practice in both roles attended semi-structured interviews and produced artworks on the theme of experiences of holding in art therapy and arts-for-health. Transcripts and artworks were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Five superordinate themes emerged for each realm of practice, discussed alongside phenomenological concepts of identity, attention, relationship, temporality and accountability. In addition, two general themes transcended both practices, namely, (1) holding feels different in each role and (2) tensions and opportunities between professions. Conclusions: Some similarities in the experiences of facilitating art psychotherapy and arts-for-health activities are acknowledged, however phenomenological themes showed significant differences between experiences of holding within each practice. Implications for practice/policy/future research: Results may be useful to aid appropriate decision making about arts-based healthcare commissioning and may also support future positioning of activities on the continuum of arts-based healthcare practice. Results also indicate that there are considerable opportunities for mutual learning and collaboration between professions, and that experienced art therapists are well-placed to provide arts-for-health supervision and/or consultation. Plain language summary: The benefits of arts in healthcare continue to be celebrated in recent research; however it is unclear from these studies which type of arts-based healthcare practices work best for different client needs. With the aim of better understanding the differences between art psychotherapy and arts-for-health, three art psychotherapists were asked to make artworks about their experiences of facilitating each type of activity. More specifically, they were asked to think about their experiences of 'holding', as way of facilitating therapeutic spaces and relationships. Participants were interviewed about their artworks and their experiences of holding in each setting, using a method designed to understand and make sense of these experiences. Results showed that while there are some similarities between both practices, there are also clear differences in the experiences and meanings they made of holding in each setting. Results showed that there were two main themes which span both practices: holding feels different in each role, and tension and opportunities between professions. There were also five experiential themes for each type of practice, detailing the differences between experiences of holding. It is hoped that the study will contribute to a greater understanding of the similarities and differences between practices, supporting decision making by commissioners and clients alike. The research may also contribute toward positioning art psychotherapy and arts-for-health practices on the continuum of art-based research. Finally, the research recommends that both types of practitioners can learn from each other and opportunities to collaborate should be embraced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of International Journal of Art Therapy: Inscape is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 194299580 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Practitioners' experiences of holding when delivering art therapy, compared with arts-for-health activities. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wrigley%2C+Gemma%22">Wrigley, Gemma</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> contact@gemmawrigley.com</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Art+Therapy%3A+Inscape%22">International Journal of Art Therapy: Inscape</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 31 Issue 2, p159-173. 15p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+services+accessibility%22">Health services accessibility</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+making%22">Decision making</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Art+therapy%22">Art therapy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+learning%22">Experiential learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work%22">Work</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychotherapists%22">Psychotherapists</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk+assessment%22">Risk assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Art+therapists%22">Art therapists</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychotherapist+attitudes%22">Psychotherapist attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Judgment+sampling%22">Judgment sampling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Phenomenology%22">Phenomenology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychosocial+factors%22">Psychosocial factors</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Background: High-profile evidence positions arts-based activities as viable and beneficial healthcare practices. However, studies do not sufficiently delineate the therapeutic actions of art psychotherapy from arts-for-health activity, resulting in lack of clarity about which type of art-based activity may be most appropriate for whom. Aims: The study aims to further our understanding of the therapeutic action of holding in art-based healthcare activities, referencing Donald Winnicott's theory of the developmental 'holding environment'. Methods: Three art therapists who practice in both roles attended semi-structured interviews and produced artworks on the theme of experiences of holding in art therapy and arts-for-health. Transcripts and artworks were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results: Five superordinate themes emerged for each realm of practice, discussed alongside phenomenological concepts of identity, attention, relationship, temporality and accountability. In addition, two general themes transcended both practices, namely, (1) holding feels different in each role and (2) tensions and opportunities between professions. Conclusions: Some similarities in the experiences of facilitating art psychotherapy and arts-for-health activities are acknowledged, however phenomenological themes showed significant differences between experiences of holding within each practice. Implications for practice/policy/future research: Results may be useful to aid appropriate decision making about arts-based healthcare commissioning and may also support future positioning of activities on the continuum of arts-based healthcare practice. Results also indicate that there are considerable opportunities for mutual learning and collaboration between professions, and that experienced art therapists are well-placed to provide arts-for-health supervision and/or consultation. Plain language summary: The benefits of arts in healthcare continue to be celebrated in recent research; however it is unclear from these studies which type of arts-based healthcare practices work best for different client needs. With the aim of better understanding the differences between art psychotherapy and arts-for-health, three art psychotherapists were asked to make artworks about their experiences of facilitating each type of activity. More specifically, they were asked to think about their experiences of 'holding', as way of facilitating therapeutic spaces and relationships. Participants were interviewed about their artworks and their experiences of holding in each setting, using a method designed to understand and make sense of these experiences. Results showed that while there are some similarities between both practices, there are also clear differences in the experiences and meanings they made of holding in each setting. Results showed that there were two main themes which span both practices: holding feels different in each role, and tension and opportunities between professions. There were also five experiential themes for each type of practice, detailing the differences between experiences of holding. It is hoped that the study will contribute to a greater understanding of the similarities and differences between practices, supporting decision making by commissioners and clients alike. The research may also contribute toward positioning art psychotherapy and arts-for-health practices on the continuum of art-based research. Finally, the research recommends that both types of practitioners can learn from each other and opportunities to collaborate should be embraced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Art Therapy: Inscape is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/17454832.2026.2633428 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 15 StartPage: 159 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Health services accessibility Type: general – SubjectFull: Decision making Type: general – SubjectFull: Research methodology Type: general – SubjectFull: Art therapy Type: general – SubjectFull: Experiential learning Type: general – SubjectFull: Work Type: general – SubjectFull: Psychotherapists Type: general – SubjectFull: Risk assessment Type: general – SubjectFull: Art therapists Type: general – SubjectFull: Psychotherapist attitudes Type: general – SubjectFull: Interviewing Type: general – SubjectFull: Judgment sampling Type: general – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: Phenomenology Type: general – SubjectFull: Data analysis software Type: general – SubjectFull: Psychosocial factors Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Practitioners' experiences of holding when delivering art therapy, compared with arts-for-health activities. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Wrigley, Gemma IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 06 Text: Jun2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 17454832 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 31 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: International Journal of Art Therapy: Inscape Type: main |
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