Interventions in the art therapy encounter: a multi-perspective exploration of the art therapy experience with young people

The study aims to explore the experience of young people in an Australian high school setting who engage in art therapy. It will also seek to examine and clarify the role of art therapists who work with children and young people, as well as the researcher’s own reflective and reflexive experience. Art therapy in Australia is a relatively new profession with small numbers. With a small research base in Australia, art therapy remains underutilised as a treatment option for mental health issues. To date, art therapy is an unregistered profession with an unprotected title. This has implications for the art therapist’s identity and can impact on their work. This naturalistic inquiry seeks to clarify the art therapy process from several perspectives, and it is anticipated that the investigation will focus on why it can be a successful intervention for high school students.