Course info

This PhD course prepares students to conduct empirical studies on the effects and applicability of therapeutic interventions rooted in Creative Arts Therapies (CATs), specifically studies that aim to identify and evaluate well-being and mechanisms of change within the broader field of Arts and Health. Arts and Health is a growing research field, and there is mounting evidence for the role that different art forms have in improving health and well-being (Clift and Camic, 2016; Fancourt and Finn, 2019; Nitzan and Orkibi, 2020; Sonke et al., 2021; de Witte et al. 2021), whether as part of everyday life (not for health purposes but with a secondary health benefit), within arts programs designed to promote health, or as specific therapeutic interventions within educational, community, and healthcare settings. Creative arts therapies (CATs) are characterized by the clinical and evidence-informed use of the arts within a therapeutic relationship that relies on experiential and action-based interventions (De Witte et al., 2020c). This course prepares students to conduct empirical studies on the effects and applicability of therapeutic interventions involving CATs. Special focus will be placed on combining qualitative and quantitative measures (mixed methods), and cross disciplinary collaboration between arts, psychology, and health science in both clinical and nonclinical settings.

Lectures will be given on the following topics:

·        Theoretical foundations of CATs

·        Change process research

·        Conducting mixed method evaluations: tools, frameworks, research design

·        Ethical considerations in CATs

·        Evaluating wellbeing and change mechanisms

·        Hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives on well-being

Learning Objectives:

The purpose is for the PhD students to develop research competencies in relation to

conducting robust and ethical research studies across the field of Arts and Health, and

specifically with creative arts therapies in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Students

will become familiar with the challenges in conducting change process research in health

and well-being, and identify tools and methods to address these challenges in their research

practice and assessing CATs and other arts-based interventions. Students will develop

knowledge about different methodological approaches within the research environment

covering humanities and health research and learn how to implement these approaches in

their own research.

Teaching methods:

The course lasts 3 days and is a combination of lectures, creative engagement, hands-on

activities, case studies, and student presentations. Each day will begin with a hands-on,

creative activity, so please come prepared in comfortable clothing. Day 1 involves

presentations from students about their ongoing PhD research projects, and introduces the

core topics and concepts in the course. Students will present their own research

experiences and research designs, for discussion, feedback, critical reflection, and sparring.

Day 2 introduces the foundations and challenges in conducting mechanisms of change and

quality of life research in CATs within the field of Arts and Health, including standard

research methods and outcome measures for evaluating physical and mental health and

wellbeing. Day 3 considers focuses on change mechanisms, and introduces topics of ethics,

challenges, and benefits in participatory research. Students will have time to synthesise the

key takeaways from the course and their relevance for their research projects.

Organizers/Lecturers:

Elizabeth Jochum (IKP), Stine Lindahl Jacobsen (IKP), Susan Imus (Guest, Columbia College

Chicago), Shiri Lavy (Guest, University of Haifa), Ditte Egholm (IKP), Stevan Skov (IKP)

ECTS: 3

Required Literature:

De Witte M, Orkibi H, Zarate R, Karkou V, Sajnani N, Malhotra B, Ho RTH, Kaimal G, Baker

FA, Koch SC. From Therapeutic Factors to Mechanisms of Change in the Creative Arts

Therapies: A Scoping Review. Front Psychol. 2021 Jul 15;12:678397. doi:

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678397. (pdf)

Fancourt, D., and Finn, S. (2019). What Is the Evidence on the Role of the Arts in

Improving Health and Well-Being? A Scoping Review. World Health Organization. (pdf)

Huppert, F. A., & So, T. T. C. (2013). Flourishing across Europe: Application of a

new conceptual framework for defining well-being. Social Indicators Research, 110, 837-

861. (pdf)

Shafir T, Orkibi H, Baker FA, Gussak D, Kaimal G. Editorial: The State of the Art in Creative

Arts Therapies. Front Psychol. 2020 Feb 5;11:68. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00068. (pdf)

Recommended Literature:

Blatner, A. (1992). Theoretical principles underlying creative arts therapies. Arts

Psychother. 18, 405–409. doi: 10.1016/0197-4556(91)90052-C (pdf)

Clift, S., and Camic, P. M. (2016). “Introduction to the field of creative arts, wellbeing, and

health: achievements and current challenges,” in Oxford Textbook of Creative Arts, Health

and Wellbeing. International Perspectives on Practice, Policy, and Research, eds S. Clift

and P. M. Camic (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 4–9.

Gersch. Irvine & Susana Sao Joao Goncalves (2006) Creative arts therapies and

educational psychology: Let's get together, International Journal of Art Therapy, 11:1, 22-

32, DOI: 10.1080/17454830600674050 (pdf)

Imus, S. D. (2021). “Creating breeds creating,” in Dance and Creativity Within Dance

Movement Therapy: International Perspectives, eds H. Wengrower and S. Chaiklin (New

York, NY: Routledge), 124–140. (pdf)

Johnson, D. R. (1998). On the therapeutic action of the creative arts therapies: the

psychodynamic model. Arts Psychother. 25, 85–99. doi: 10.1016/S0197-4556(97)00099-

3 (pdf)

Kern ML, Benson L, Steinberg EA, Steinberg L. The EPOCH Measure of Adolescent Well-

Being. Psychol Assess. 2016 May;28(5):586-97. doi: 10.1037/pas0000201. Epub 2015 Aug

24. PMID: 26302102. (pdf)

Koch, S. C. (2017). Arts and health: active factors in arts therapies and a theory

framework of embodied aesthetics. Arts Psychother. 54, 85–91. doi:

10.1016/j.aip.2017.02.002 (pdf)

Orkibi, H. (2020). Creative Arts Therapies. The Society for the Psychology of Aesthetics,

Creativity, and the Arts - Division 10 of the American Psychological Association. (link)

Ryff CD. Psychological well-being revisited: advances in the science and practice of

eudaimonia. Psychother Psychosom. 2014;83(1):10-28. doi: 10.1159/000353263. Epub

2013 (pdf)

van Dierendonck D, Lam H. Interventions to enhance eudaemonic psychological wellbeing:

A meta-analytic review with Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-being. Appl

Psychol Health Well Being. 2023 May;15(2):594-610. doi: 10.1111/aphw.12398 (pdf)

Fee: DKK 1500 - only payable by students enrolled at foreign universities

Time: Nov. 20-22, 2023

Place: Musikkens Hus

Zip code: 9000

City: Aalborg

Number of seats: 12 (in person only, remote attendance not possible).

Deadline for Registering: October 15, 2023