This work was supported by a grant from Shalem Fund
A literature review we recently conducted on the subject of art therapy with people with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD) describes the importance and contribution of art therapy to this unique population; however, it is clearly evident that there are very few publications in the field and most articles are not empirical. In the absence of sufficient research and theoretical conceptualization, art therapists working with clients with IDD often find themselves isolated while developing a praxis that is not disseminated as models for this population. The purpose of this study was to collect and document methods of working in art therapy with people with IDD and conceptualize the factors in the therapeutic process into a cohesive theoretical working model which can serve both clinic practice and research in the future.
Key words:
Developmental intellectual disability, therapy through art, semi-structured in-depth interview, focus groups, treatment diaries.