Art Therapy Informed Organizational Consulting: An International Survey Study

The purpose of this study was to explore and identify the frequency and manner in which art therapists are currently working as organizational consultants with individuals in a corporate environment. An online mixed-methods descriptive survey was developed to gather information from 14 English-speaking art therapists in 3 countries. In addition, a total of 3 respondents in 2 countries participated in a follow-up interview. The lack of published research in this area supported the need for further investigation into current practices by art therapists. Survey and interview respondents reported providing art therapy informed organizational consulting services for clients including workshops, corporate trainings, research, program evaluation, executive coaching, and reflective practice sessions. In addition respondents reported that the goals and objectives of the services they provided were related to areas such as promoting well-being; increasing support within communities; combating compassion fatigue; decreasing the effects of burnout syndrome and occupational stress; identifying individual and group strengths; improving interpersonal relationships, self-care, self-awareness, self-efficacy, communication, and ethical decision making; program evaluation; analysis of arts based data; and professional development. These results suggest that art therapy informed organizational consulting is a promising area of specialization especially because art therapist’s clinical skills, including their training in art therapy theory, processes, and techniques, are translational to their work as consultants.M.A., Art Therapy and Counseling -- Drexel University, 201