What IS CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY?

The creative arts therapies (CATs) include drama therapy and dance movement therapy. 

Like music therapy, these draw on elements of the arts to support, assess and advocate for people seeking support with health, wellbeing, and different aspects of functioning. Practitioners are able to assess participants, assist them in moving toward specific goals, and monitor their progress.

In these ways, the CATs differ significantly from art, dance or drama classes.

Creative arts therapy can take many different forms, spanning cognitive, motor, emotional, communicative, social, sensory, and educational domains.  Particularly in drama therapy and dance movement therapy, these are often accessed through the creative use of the body as it interacts with its environment. 

CATs can be found in a range of settings and specific healthcare applications, with some therapists choosing to specialise in a key area. Examples include:

• Disability services (e.g. individual therapy, day centres, inclusive groups, clinical supports)
• Schools (e.g. programs for students with disabilities or learning difficulties)
• Early childhood (e.g. developmental delay, early autism support) 
• Mental health clinics (e.g. anxiety, depression, trauma)
• Aged care (e.g. working with people with dementia)
• Hospitals and cancer centres (e.g. working with children and adults undergoing traumatic medical procedures)
• Palliative care/end-of-life settings
• Community settings (e.g. groups delivered in any of the above settings)

The approach and techniques used by CATs therapists vary depending on their specific discipline (dance or drama), the setting they are working in, and the purpose and objectives of their clients. 

CATs are used to provide support in areas such as: 

• Developmental delays
• Neurodevelopmental factors (including in relation to autism)
• Intellectual disabilities 
• Degenerative conditions 
• Neurological disorders (e.g. brain injury, dementia)
• Life-limiting illnesses (e.g. cancer)

Types of support needs that CATs work with include: 

• Psychosocial (e.g. combining emotional, cognitive, social and other dimensions of a condition or diagnosis)
• Cognitive (e.g. issues with attention, memory, expression, self-regulation or behaviour)
• Physical (e.g. motor skills, coordination, endurance and strength)
• Neurophysiological (e.g. understanding nervous system regulation patterns)
• Social (e.g. social skills, access to community participation, quality of life needs)
• Conditions requiring ongoing pain management (e.g. chronic pain conditions, cancer treatment)

The creative arts therapists on our team hold a Master of Creative Arts Therapy qualification with specialisation in either drama or dance, and are registered with ANZACATA or DTAA. They draw on an growing body of peer-reviewed research and are bound by a code of ethics that informs their practice.  

People can work as creative arts therapists without being registered; however, they are then not verified for the same level of training or standard of practice.

The form of a session depends on the therapeutic needs of the client and their abilities.  A session may involve a combination of elements such as

• Use of props (e.g. balls, scarves, puppets, art making materials) and/or music to invite creative engagement and body awareness
• Use of individually adapted therapeutic methods drawing on dance or drama processes
• Exploration of creative imagery to promote different ways of using the body
• Use of story to facilitate dramatic or movement-based play
• Verbal discussion and/or counseling as appropriate and relevant
• Inclusion of family members or support workers, as appropriate and relevant
• Adapted/supported learning of dance/drama skills of interest to the participant