The importance of psychological flow in a creative, embodied and enactive psychological therapy approach (Arts for the Blues)

Parsons, AS; Dubrow-Marshall, LJ; Turner, R; Thurston, SD; Starkey, J; Omylinska-Thurston, J; Karkou, V

Abstract

Psychological flow can be experienced in various occupational, recreational and creative domains and may confer increased well-being. Yet, very few studies have examined flow as a potential feature of creative arts therapies – particularly therapies which prioritise embodied/enactive processes. This study tested the acute effects of a 90-minute workshop (Arts for the Blues; A4B) on participants’ (N = 18) mood and personal goal attainment. Psychological flow was measured, and participants rated the importance of flow in relation to A4B’s psychotherapeutic aims. Results show significantly improved mood, increased goal attainment and substantial flow scores, suggesting that A4B processes may invoke flow. Participants’ importance ratings of different flow dimensions indicate that some were considered as more important than others. Results are discussed in relation to methodological limitations, helpful creative therapeutic factors that may enable flow, and implications for researchers and practitioners who wish to encourage flow in their practice.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 3, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Oct 12, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 12, 2022
• Deposit Date: Oct 21, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 13, 2023
• Journal: Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy
• Print ISSN: 1743-2979
• Electronic ISSN: 1743-2987
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Pages: 1-18
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17432979.2022.2130431
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/17432979.2022.2130431
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy on 12th October 2022, available at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/17432979.2022.2130431.