Art therapy in the postmodern world: Findings from a comparative study across the UK, Russia and Latvia

Abstract

This research study investigates the development of art therapy in Latvia taking in account the art therapy's organizational model partly deriving from the UK and partly from strong influences of traditions from Russia. Following a discussion of the development of art therapy in Latvia, this paper provides an opportunity for empirically based comparisons between the general characteristics of practice in particular comparison of working environments in three countries, namely Latvia, the UK and Russia.Mutual interactions are also considered.

Dance movement psychotherapy practice in the UK: Findings from the Arts Therapies Survey 2011

“…Since dance movement therapy is a young and fast growing profession, a repetition of the survey in the future could likely provide a larger number of responses and explore the directions in which the DMP practice in the UK develops. Additionally, further comparative studies in other parts of Europe currently underway (Karkou et al, 2011) would potentially allow for a more universal understanding of the field.…”

“…These statements were grouped into six factors through prior factor analysis and were labelled: humanistic, psychoanalytic/psychodynamic, developmental, artistic/creative, active/directive and eclectic/integrative. Each of the six factors presented acceptable internal consistency (a ranging from 0.56 to 0.71) and were seen as capturing some of the complex aspects of arts therapists' practice in the UK (Karkou & Sanderson, 2006) and across Europe (Karkou, Martinsone, Nazarova, & Vaverniece, 2011).…”

Effect of Cultural Differences in Reaction of Students to Ambiguous Art Stimulus

“…Cultural differences in perception of aesthetic stimuli, if known, can help develop creativeness of students, teachers and, subsequently, their pupils. A study on this theme was published by Karkou et al [17]. They monitored groups from Great Britain, Russia and Latvia.…”

Aspects of Theory and Practice in Dance Movement Psychotherapy in the UK: Similarities and Differences from Music Therapy

“…In MT, Pavlicevic (1997) makes references to postmodernism, while similar discussion can be found in the wider arts therapies literature (e.g. Byrne 1995; Karkou and Sanderson 2006;Karkou, Martinsone and Nazarova 2010). Within a postmodern framework, being flexible and in flux is an expected state.…”