Mechanisms of change within a dyadic model of Art Therapy for parents and their infants

This chapter brings the nascent research together and uses it to develop a framework for understanding this practice area and its potential benefits. It supports practitioners and provides a solid basis for future research. The chapter builds upon an integrative literature review undertaken in October 2018 looking at those papers where Art Therapy was being used dyadically with parents and infants. Then the chapter outlines each theme and its impact on the dyads and give a description of how this may look in practice, based on several years of developing parent–infant Art Therapy sessions. The central relationships in a child’s first years of life have been demonstrated to build their capacity to regulate affect, to relate to others and to develop their sense of self as well as affecting their future mental health and wellbeing.