A landscape of art-based therapeutic practices in Iran

Abstract

This article examines a number of factors that influence how the use of art for mental health is practised in Iran. Historical and cultural causes as well as political upheaval, economic downturn, and scepticism of western values have meant that mental health services cater only to a small population. As a result, these issues have created disparate attitudes towards the role of art as a therapeutic means of healing. While art therapy is seen as a relatively new profession, art therapists in Iran have been striving to make it an impactful modality for treating mental health issues. This article demonstrates how western models of art-based practices have been applied with children in Iran. It concludes by highlighting the need for more culturally sensitive models of art-based therapeutic practices that serve to work with the existing cultures and beliefs of the Iranian people.