Description of arts therapies practice with adults suffering from depression in the UK: Qualitative findings from the nationwide survey

There is growing evidence that arts therapies present a relevant treatment option for depression but, the experiences, methods, tools and ways of working of arts therapists with this client group remain unclear. Thus, this research study aimed to describe the specifics of arts therapies practice with depression. In 2011 all arts therapists registered in the UK were invited to complete an online questionnaire concerning their practice in general and in relation to depression. The Arts Therapies Survey received 395 responses. Arts therapists who work primarily with depression were identified and compared to those who do not work with depression on a range of factors. These quantitative results were presented elsewhere (Zubala, MacIntyre, Gleeson & Karkou, 2013). Analysis of qualitative material was guided by the strategy of grounded theory and findings were obtained through thematic analysis. The current paper introduces these findings, adding depth to the knowledge previously gained through quantitative analysis. Arts therapists worked across various settings with highly complex clients, but struggled with the tension of providing care according to guidelines, which they found inflexible and at times misguided. Therapists tended to vary the theoretical model of their therapeutic approach depending on individual client factors and often collaborated with other professionals using a variety of standardised tools to measure outcomes. The findings further offer a detailed understanding of the therapeutic process and describe the meaning of clinical practice within arts therapies.