From Therapeutic Factors to Mechanisms of Change in the Creative Arts Therapies: A Scoping Review

Empirical studies in the creative arts therapies (CATs; i.e., art therapy, dance/movement drama music psychodrama, and poetry/bibliotherapy) have grown rapidly last 10 years, documenting their positive impact on a wide range of psychological physiological outcomes (e.g., stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, pain). However, it remains unclear how why CATs effects, which therapeutic factors account for these changes. Research that specifically focuses and/or mechanisms change is only beginning to emerge. To gain more insight into influence outcomes, we conducted scoping review ( N = 67) pinpoint specific each discipline, joint CATs, generic common across all psychotherapy approaches. This therefore provides an overview empirical dealing with change, detailed analysis are grouped domains. A framework 19 domains proposed, three composed solely unique CATs: “embodiment,” “concretization,” “symbolism metaphors.” The terminology used process research clarified, implications future research, clinical practice, education discussed.