Arts therapies are characterised by the fact that they mainly use creative media as means of expression and communication within a therapeutic relationship, which is why they are sometimes called "pre-linguistic" or "non-verbal" therapies. Theatre or drama therapy, of course, also uses language as a creative medium. 

 

Unlike occupational therapy, in which creative media are mainly used, for example, to train certain manual and cognitive skills, promote concentration or achieve a general strengthening of self-esteem, arts therapies use pre- and non-linguistic communication. They also pay close attention to what is communicated through the creative process itself. The free self expression makes it possible to regulate and restructure thinking, feeling and behaviour. Wherever possible, process and product are reflected on together with the client/patient. These are therefore independent or complementary psychotherapeutic processes with specific objectives for each individual/group, where treatment at the linguistic level alone is not possible or not effective.

 

Arts therapists are therefore not psychotherapists who use artistic means, but therapists who use the psychotherapeutic potential of artistic means.

 

Arts therapies are practised on the theoretical background of different psychotherapeutic approaches and orientations: psychodynamic, behavioural, gestalt, humanistic-client-centred, systemic and integrative.

 

Arts therapies can take place as individual, group, couple or family therapy, e.g. during clinical or day-clinical psychiatric or psychosomatic treatment, but also in institutions for the disabled, old people's homes, rehabilitation centres, in prison to support resocialisation measures, or on an outpatient basis in a private practice.