Arts for the blues – a new creative psychological therapy for depression. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Parsons, Ailsa; Omylinska-Thurston, Joanna; Karkou, Vicky; Harlow, Julianne; Haslam, Shelly; Hobson, Jessica; Nair, Kerry; Dubrow-Marshall, Linda; Thurston, Scott; Griffin, Julia
• Is Part Of: British journal of guidance & counselling. Volume 48:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 5
• Page End: 20
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Psychotherapy -- depression -- pluralistic -- arts therapies -- creative approaches; Educational counseling -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Vocational guidance -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 371.4
• DOI: 10.1080/03069885.2019.1633459
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-9885

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Routinely prescribed psychological therapies for depression are not always effective. Arts therapies, particularly Dance Movement Psychotherapy, may offer additional therapeutic mechanisms for depression. Therefore, client-reported helpful factors from various therapy types, along with client preferences, are key in devising new therapeutic interventions. We present a framework for a new pluralistic "meta-approach" of therapy for depression, based on an interdisciplinary thematic synthesis (Thomas, J., & Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8 [1], 45) of active ingredients from both talking therapies and creative approaches. Lastly, we offer an illustrative group therapy workshop based on this approach, to be piloted with clients and practitioners within an NHS mental health service. Further research is required to evaluate this pilot and to devise a full treatment for trialling within the service.