The London Art Therapy Practice is dedicated to reflective practice within Art Therapy and committed to research and development across the profession. The research projects provide evidence-based material in critical areas of the developing field of Art, Psychology, Health and Social Anthropology.

Inter-Cultural Art Therapy Research Project

The Inter-Cultural Research Project has been developed by several UK based Art Therapists. Nathan Rendell is the Clinical Advisor and link with ATPRN. The project is being coordinated through the London Art Therapy Practice and is financially supported by the Art Therapy Trust (UK). The purpose of the Research Project is to develop a longitudinal study of the use of artefacts and creativity in health and treatment interventions in different countries, cultures and diverse communities in the area of mental health and to contrast traditional healing practices with the processes active in Art Therapy. The project aims are as follows : To generate the sharing of practice and experience across cultures with the aim to increase theoretical developments within a key area of Art Therapy practice To promote an inter-cultural exchange of social, psychological and arts based experience and expression of experience in the research population group To exchange treatment and therapeutic modes of intervention in the field of adult mental health To promote a cultural exchange through the publication of research outcomes and evaluation in related professional and research journals internationally

Nitya Ramchandran, Robina Griffiths and Gary Nash are currently working together in Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, developing research links and running Art Therapy groups in education and mental health settings.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS:

The Inter-Cultural Research Project: forming clinical and academic links with partners and care providers in South India, China and Taiwan in order to study Art Therapy interventions in non-western cultures. Object-Relations Theory and Practice: A study of key theoretical principles from Object-Relations Theory as evidenced in Art Therapy case material. Methodology Trials: A Longitudinal Research study into the use of images and non-verbal narratives as a valid ethnographic research toolused alongside cross-cultural comparisons data. Art Therapy Efficacy: Clinical Trials into efficacy and tracking therapeutic change using Standard Outcomes-based Assessment Methods to measure clinical efficacy across diverse cultural settings.

 

Inter-Cultural Research Project: The first field research project will take place from October 2005 – April 2006 in Tamil Nadu, South India. For interactive updates please visit inter-cultural.blogspot.com

 

Workshops and seminars will be held in India and London to reflect on the process and outcomes, concluding with a presentation at the Art Therapy Trust Annual Lecture in March 2007, see courses for details.