Perceived processes of art therapy for adults experiencing psychosis: a reflexive thematic analysis

Section A

This review aimed to explore how service users with psychosis diagnoses experience arts therapies. Online databases including PsycInfo, Medline, and Social Policy and Practice were searched, yielding thirteen papers. The findings suggest most service users had positive experiences of arts therapies and there were overlapping themes across the different therapies. These included connecting with others in a group and developing positive relationships, self-expression, experiencing improvements in well-being and changes in experience of self, feeling supported in their recovery, hope for the future, and barriers. Quality of the papers varied. Clinical implications and further research recommendations are outlined.

Section B

This study used reflexive thematic analysis to explore the processes of art therapy from the viewpoint of both service users and art therapists. Twelve participants, six service users and six art therapists, were interviewed. From the analysis, a thematic map was created with nine themes, including safe space, supportive art therapist, power of art making, expressing and containing anything through artwork, image starting dialogue, connect with each other, changing experience of artwork and self, supporting recovery and challenges. The findings are examined alongside existing theoretical perspectives and research. Limitations, further research recommendations, and clinical implications are discussed.