A vibrant watercolor illustration featuring numerous abstract human profile silhouettes in varying shades of deep blue, indigo, and purple, densely packed together. A single, luminous orange-yellow silhouette is prominently featured in the center-right, facing left into the group. Above the heads is a pale blue and white watercolor sky. White text at the bottom left reads: 'The Effectiveness of Online Art Therapy in the COVID-19 Pandemic.' The imagery suggests individuality or a focal point within a larger collective, possibly related to mental well-being during a crisis.

The Effectiveness of Online Art Therapy in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Elaine Iwanski

A young woman with long, straight dark hair parted down the middle, smiling broadly. She wears subtle eye makeup, blush, and lipstick. She is dressed in a black top with a square neckline and a simple pearl necklace. The background is a plain light gray wall.

Biography

Elaine Iwanski is an X University 4th-year Professional Communication student minoring in public relations.

Before attending X University, Elaine visioned a career in visual arts. She completed Sheridan College’s Art Fundamentals program in 2016, and upon gaining her certificate, she began to develop a strong passion for building meaningful connections. Throughout her undergrad experience, Elaine has built a passion for writing, brand development, online marketing, and design. When she is not working on assignments, Elaine is working on her art portfolio, spending time with friends, creating fun makeup looks, and working out. As she approaches her graduation, Elaine hopes to explore internship options to begin her professional career and continue to grow her art portfolio.

Research Summary

This research study investigates how well art therapy performs in an online setting. The COVID-19 pandemic became a challenging obstacle for all mental health institutions to transition online to support the well-being of patients, including the discipline of art therapy. Art therapy uses hands-on creative practices to guide individual expression through visual art to help a patient’s well-being. There is currently minimal research on the effectiveness of online art therapy. With this idea in mind, it begs the question(s), what are the challenges and the benefits of conducting online art therapy? Is creating digital artwork just as effective? Are there ethical implications to online art therapy? I interviewed five art therapists, one art student, and one expressive arts practitioner to hear their professional opinions and insights on this topic.

Tags

art; art therapy; mental health; healthcare; covid-19; pandemic

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