Work of the art therapist

Abstract

This is a qualitative study of the work of art therapists. Eleven art therapists were interviewed and/or observed within their professional systems and the interactions between their theories and their actual practices were explored. The research questions focused on the art therapists' relationships within their systems, their perceptions of what constituted their work, the interactions between their theories and their practices, and reflections of what they said they did compared to what they actually did during their own work. Interactionism was used as the theoretical framework. Systematic observation and interviews were used to gather the data, using a grounded theory approach. Five art therapists were chosen for observation; each was followed and observed during his or her work day, for no more than one week each. Six additional art therapists participated in open-ended interviews.

One component of this study explored various ways in which the systems influenced the art therapists' work. It was found that the participants' systems were comprised of: where they worked; the institution from where they received their degrees; the teachers and peers with whom they interacted within their respective institutions; state and national regulatory bodies; national and state associations; those they considered heroes of the field; other art therapists; and facilities in which they worked before. This study revealed how the art therapists communicated within and between systems, the systemic negotiations that occurred, and the importance of personal and professional heroes. Routinization and conventions also became key components to understanding the practices of the art therapists. Much of what the art therapists actually did during the course of their days was not always easily articulated, but rather was instinctual and routinized.

This study also revealed that despite the art therapists' beliefs that practice took precedence over theory, theory and practice actually coevolved. The cycles created between the art therapists' theories and practices, and the manner in which the systems informed the theories and practices provided concrete examples of how information is transferred within an open organization.