Description of arts therapies practice with adults suffering from depression in the UK: Quantitative results from the nationwide survey

• The Arts Therapies Survey was conducted in the UK in 2011; 395 arts therapists participated.
• Over 91% of respondents encounter client depression in their practice.
• Therapists, who work primarily with depression (D+), were compared to those, who do not (D−).
• Group D+: more psychodynamically oriented, older and experienced, often work with groups, adults and in health settings.
• Qualitative findings will follow to deepen the already gained understanding.

There is growing evidence that arts therapies may be under-used treatments for the ‘global burden’ of depression. However, the experiences of arts therapists, their methods, tools and ways of working with this client group remain unclear. Arts therapies in the UK are a form of psychotherapy. They use arts media alongside therapeutic relationship as means of therapeutic change and include four disciplines: Art Therapy (AT), Music Therapy (MT), Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) and Drama Therapy (DT). In 2011, all arts therapists registered in the UK were invited to complete an online questionnaire concerning their practice in general and specifically in relation to clients with depression. The Arts Therapies Survey received 395 responses. Arts therapists who work primarily with depression were identified and compared to those who do not work with depression on a range of factors, including preferred theoretical approaches and style of working. Arts therapists who specialise in depression tend to follow Psychodynamic principles more often, are more likely to be older and experienced, work with groups, in health settings and with adults more often than children or adolescents. These quantitative findings enable the description of most common practice of arts therapies with depression in the UK and are intended to serve as a reference for arts therapists themselves and other professionals interested in the treatment of depression. Qualitative data gathered in the survey will be presented in a separate paper, with the aim of deepening the understanding already gained.

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