Potentials and Pitfalls in Using Digital Media to Create Art in Face-to-Face Art Therapy Sessions
Abstract
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: To present the use of digital technology as a medium for creating art in the process of art therapy, thus indicating the possibility of expanding the set of existing therapeutic tools.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: What concerns related to the adaptation of digital technology are observed in art therapy practice, and what are the potential benefits, especially in the context of visual therapy? In order to explore this issue, the method of scientific literature analysis and empirical research were used.
THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The argument outlines the changes taking place in the field of art therapy that result from the development of digital technology, which is becoming a new therapeutic modality. The analysis indicates both the potential benefits and challenges related to its use in the therapeutic context.
RESEARCH RESULTS: The complexity and ambiguity of the digital art therapy process are shown, and the need for in-depth empirical research on the implications of creative therapy using digital art-making is emphasized.
CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH:The use of digital media in art therapy requires not only knowledge of technology, but also an ethical and professional approach – both in working with clients and in training art therapists in digital competence.
References
Alberska, M. (2016). Wykorzystanie multimediów w pracy z uczniem z niepełnosprawnością intelektualną.W: A. Skoczek i A. Piestrzyńska (red.), Nowoczesne technologie w pedagogice specjalnej (s. 107–119). Wydawnictwo WAM.
Alders, A., Beck, L., Allen, P.B. i Mosinski, B.B. (2011). Technology in art therapy: Ethical challenges. Art Therapy, 28(4), 165–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2011.622683
Asawa, P. (2009). Art therapists’ emotional reactions to the demands of technology. Art Therapy, 26(2), 58–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2009.10129743
Austin, B. (2009). Renewing the debate: Digital technology in art therapy and the creative process. Art Therapy, 26(2), 83–85. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2009.10129745
Carlton, N.R. (2014a). Digital culture and art therapy. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 41(1), 41–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2013.11.006
Carlton, N.R. (2014b). Digital media use in art therapy. Academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/112510659/Digital_media_use_in_art_therapy
Choe, N.S. (2014). Anexploration of the qualities and features of art apps for art therapy. Arts in Psychotherapy, 41(2), 145–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.AIP.2014.01.002
Choe, N.S. (2016). Utilizing digital tools and apps in art therapy sessions. W: R. Garner (red.), Digital art therapy: Material, methods, and applications (s. 54–66). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Diggs, L.A., Lubas, M. i De Leo, G. (2015). Use of technology and software applications for therapeutic collage making. International Journal of Art Therapy, 20(1), 2–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/17454832.2014.961493
Gussak, D. i Nyce, J. (1999). To bridge art therapy and computer technology: The visual toolbox. Art Therapy, 16(4), 194–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.1999.10129478
Hacmun, I., Regev, D. i Salomon, R. (2018). The principles of art therapy in virtualreality. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 2082. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389
Kaimal, G., Carroll-Haskins, K., Berberian, M., Dougherty, A., Carlton, N. i Ramakrishnan, A. (2020). Virtual reality in art therapy: A pilot qualitativestudy of the novel medium and implications for practice. Art Therapy, 37(1), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2019.1659662
Kapitan, L. (2007). Will art therapy cross the digital culture divide? Art Therapy, 24(2), 50–51. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2007.10129591
Malchiodi, C. (2005). Expressive therapies: History, theory, and practice. The Guilford Press.
Malchiodi, C. (2009). Art therapy meets digital art and social multimedia. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/arts-and-health/200911/art-therapy-meets -digital-art-and-social-multimedia
Malchiodi, C. (2018). The handbook of art therapy and digital technology. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
McNiff, S. (2018). New media and their effects in art therapy. W: C.A. Malchiodi (red.), The handbook of art therapy and digital technology (s. 93–107). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Orr, P. (2006). Technology training for future art therapists: Is there a need? Art Therapy, 23(4), 191–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2006.10129329
Orr, P. (2012). Technology use in art therapy practice: 2004 and 2011 comparison. Arts Psychotherapy, 39(4), 234–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2012.03.010
Orr, P. (2016). Art therapy and digital media. W: D.E. Gussak i M.L. Rosal (red.), The Wiley handbook of art therapy (s. 188–197). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118306543.ch19
Parsons, S. i Cobb, S.V. (2011). State-of-the-art of virtual reality technologies for children on the autism spectrum. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 26(3), 355–366. https://doi.org/10.1080/08856257.2011.593831
Zubala, A., Kennell, N. i Hackett, S. (2021). Art therapy in the digital world: An integrative review of current practice and future directions. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 595536. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389
Copyright (c) 2025 HORIZONS OF EDUCATION
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain the copyright to their work while granting the journal the right of first publication. The work will be simultaneously licensed under a CC BY-ND license, which permits others to share the work with proper credit given to the author and the original publication in this journal.
- Authors may enter into additional, non-exclusive agreements for the distribution of the published version of the work (e.g., posting it in an institutional repository or publishing it in another journal), provided that the original publication in this journal is acknowledged.
We allow and encourage authors to share their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on personal websites) both before and during the submission process, as this can foster beneficial exchanges and lead to earlier and increased citations of the published work. (See The Effect of Open Access). We recommend using any of the following academic networking platforms:
