What are art, music and dance therapies?
In each form of therapy art, music or dance is used to help the person undergoing treatment (often called a client) to communicate and/or express themselves in a way that they have not been able to before. The therapies do not rely on the client having any experience or skill in the medium (i.e. art, music or dance) they are using for treatment. This is because the therapies do not aim to teach the person how to be an expert or successful artist, dancer or musician. Instead, they aim to allow the person in therapy to use the medium to overcome difficulties that they may have, within a safe environment. Often, each of the therapies will be one part of a wider multi-disciplinary mental health team that may include other health professionals such as psychologists, nurses and occupational therapists.
