Shifting to tele-creative arts therapies during the COVID-19 pandemic: An international study on helpful and challenging factors

• Published in: The Arts in psychotherapy 2022-04, Vol.78, p.101898-101898, Article 101898
• Main Authors: Feniger-Schaal, Rinat, Orkibi, Hod, Keisari, Shoshi, Sajnani, Nisha L., Butler, Jason D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Corona COVID-19, tele-creative arts therapies; Coronavirus; Creative arts therapies; Creative self-efficacy; Tele-therapy
• ISSN: 0197-4556; 1873-5878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aip.2022.101898

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented shift to online treatment. For the creative arts therapies (CATs) – a healthcare profession that involves the intentional use of the visual art, drama, music, dance, and poetry within a therapeutic relationship – this shift has been highly consequential for practice. This study examined (a) how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted clinical practice in the CATs, and (b) the features characterizing online practice in an international sample of 1206 creative arts therapies aged 22–86 (92% female). It aimed to identify changes in the use of the arts in therapy, resources that contributed to the delivery of therapy, and the role of therapists’ creative self-efficacy in adapting to these changes. Respondents completed close and open-ended questions providing examples of what does and does not work in online practice. The results indicate that creative self-efficacy plays a meaningful role in buffering the impact of therapists’ computer comfort on their perceived difference in online clinical practice; confidence in one’s abilities positively contributed to their adaptation to online practice. The qualitative analysis yielded four main categories: the challenges of tele-CATs, continuing the therapeutic process through tele-CATs, adaptations for tele-CATs, and future directions. Overall, the results present a timely report on the inevitable transition of the CATs to online practice. •COVID-19 forced creative arts therapies to shift to tele-psychotherapy.•Survey data were collected from 1206 creative arts therapies worldwide.•Helpful and changing factors were identified.•Therapists’ creative self-efficacy eased the transition.•Qualitative data shed light on therapists’ experience.