The combined arts therapies team: Sharing practice development in the National Health Service in England

Abstract

The complex nature of many arts therapies interventions indicates a richness in practice development and the number of potential applications in the clinical, social and cultural sectors. There is greater opportunity to consider the overlap of shared models, skills, techniques and approaches in the arts therapies, and in a combined arts therapies team in the National Health Service (NHS) some early examples of interdisciplinary practice sharing have emerged. A number of practice-based examples are used to illustrate the work of a combined arts therapies team in the NHS in England. Combined practice developments are described, including shared therapeutic levels, shared observations, shared techniques and shared therapeutic work. It is hoped that these areas of shared development within a clinical context will lead to practice developments that support improved outcomes for clients.