(A) study on the feasibility and future of digital art therapy

Abstract

Rapid growth in computer and digital-based technology has brought about changes in various human services including psychotherapy. This paper will look into one of these changes, focusing on a rising area of mental health therapy : Art therapy. Although development of art therapy is not so fast compared to other branches of psychotherapy, some art therapists are studying how to adopt and use it properly. Both art therapists and mental health experts have concluded that technology is a powerful tool despite its limitations and reservations. While some of them think that patients have benefited from the implementation of technology, others have felt concerns about the replacement of basic professional practices. The use of digital technology in the area of art therapy, however, continues to increase, encouraging patients to benefit from it in various therapeutic processes. This thesis therefore focuses on the analysis of literature related to digital art therapy published up to now. The following field study on Korean art therapists aims to examine the current practice of digital art therapy and discuss its feasibility and future. These two methods will contribute to enhancing the understanding of art therapy not only in theory but in practice and also suggest how digital art therapy may overcome limitations of conventional art therapy by exploiting its advantages. Furthermore, this study will present some clues on a possible new position of digital art therapy in the future. I hope that this analytical examination on digital art therapy will stimulate further discussion on digital art therapy and particularly encourage more interdisciplinary work between art therapy and digital technology.