| Abstract [eng] |
The theoretical analysis of art therapy comprehension, art therapist’s activity fields and functions, revealed the urgency of an art therapist’s activity in contemporary humanistic development system and health care sphere. Scientific studies prove and substantiate the effectiveness of art therapy process in health care, social and development areas, it presents the art therapy as an effective method for emotional upbringing and dealing with conflicts. Therefore, an assumption can be made, that art therapy offers a new, very different way to give psychosocial support for individuals with special needs and change attitude towards creative self-expression importance in the development process and everyday life. Hypothesis: By applying art therapy methods and fulfilling functions of education, intervention and correction, the art therapist can satisfy the special needs of pupils. The research was made in order to establish the activity fields and functions for an art therapist, who could provide psychosocial help for individuals with special needs in educational, health care and social institutions. The questionnaire method was used, and it is presented in statistic (descriptive frequency, the average etc.), factor and content analysis. In this research, 114 specialists were surveyed. Respondents work in educational, health care and social institutions, they apply or administer methods of art therapy in their activity. In the empirical part, the resources of art therapist services, the specialization, the motivation and need for additional studies are examined. Furthermore, the activity fields and functions of an art therapist are evaluated according to the effectiveness of applying art therapy methods. Most important empirical research conclusions: Art therapy methods are usually applied by educational area specialists, who work with individuals (aged from 7 to 18 years) not only in development, but also in health care, social help and recreational areas. Less than half of specialists have a university degree in art therapy. The majority gained art therapist‘s qualification in special courses, seminars, trainings. Specialists, who apply art therapy methods, notice following advantages: self-expression development, the attractiveness of art therapy methods and relaxation effect, the encouragement of self-discovery and social skills in individuals with special needs. The disadvantages in art therapy, according to specialists, are: not fully analyzed effect of the therapy, unclear attitude of participants, lack of information about opportunities for an art therapist, large material inputs. The activity fields and functions were identified, where the art therapist could provide psychosocial help for individuals with special needs. These fields are: education, health care, social help and recreation. Possible functions for an art therapist are: evaluation, consultation, correction, intervention, scientific research, development, education, coordination, management, ethical. The hypothesis that by applying art therapy methods and fulfilling functions of education, intervention and correction, the art therapist may satisfy the special needs of pupils was confirmed. |
