Dr Theresa Van Lith, along with her colleagues from Florida State University, Dr Nancy Gerber and Madeline Centracchio, have established a research community and strategic plan for art therapy research.
Dr Van Lith is the Associate Professor of Art Therapy in La Trobe’s School of Psychology and Public Health.
Dr Van Lith highlighted the importance of art therapy studies that exhibit a high impact, contribute to the growth of the profession, and lend legitimacy to the field through meticulous methodologies and practical evidence.
“Through our research community, we have collectively established a strategic plan that will act as a roadmap for conducting high-quality art therapy research, guiding researchers, practitioners and policymakers in identifying research priorities, establishing rigorous methodologies and promoting evidence-based practices.”
The strategic plan includes the desired mission, vision, goals, interventions and outcomes, with the ultimate objective of advancing the art therapy profession.
“Our next steps involve implementing the plan by, forming workgroups to address goals and action items, and building a community of art therapists committed to research. This ongoing engagement and implementation will further drive the growth and impact of art therapy in the future,” says Dr Van Lith.
Find out more about the Art Therapy Research Community Network.
