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Flowing towards freedom with multimodal creative therapy : the healing power of therapeutic arts for ex cult-members

Parsons, AS; Turner, R; Ingleton, H; Kefalogianni, M; Omylinska-Thurston, J; Karkou, V; Thurston, SD; Dubrow-Marshall, LJ

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Authors

R Turner

H Ingleton

M Kefalogianni

V Karkou



Abstract

Creative arts can play an important role for cult survivors in surviving, transcending and healing from their past realities. Flow – an empowering state of mind-body integration and skilful, intuitive action while engaged in a challenging yet enjoyable task (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997) – may be an important mechanism in arts therapies and may be especially impactful as an experience for cult survivors. Research reporting on arts therapies for cult survivors, Flow in cult survivors and Flow in arts therapies is currently severely lacking. This study reports on a multimodal creative psychological therapy, Arts for the Blues, piloted as a workshop with a small group of cult survivors. Results obtained from three participants show that they experienced Flow in their creative activities and increased attainment in a self-selected personal goal. Interviews with two participants reveal important considerations for working with cult survivors, the healing power of the arts, the attainment of Flow states in the process, and the impact of the Arts for the Blues approach. This study is the first of its kind to trial art therapies with ex cult-members, or to document participants’ views on Flow states during an arts therapy approach. Although limited by a small sample size, further research is warranted.

Citation

Parsons, A., Turner, R., Ingleton, H., Kefalogianni, M., Omylinska-Thurston, J., Karkou, V., …Dubrow-Marshall, L. (2021). Flowing towards freedom with multimodal creative therapy : the healing power of therapeutic arts for ex cult-members. Arts in Psychotherapy, 72, 101743. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2020.101743

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 27, 2020
Online Publication Date Dec 3, 2020
Publication Date Feb 1, 2021
Deposit Date Dec 7, 2020
Publicly Available Date Jun 3, 2022
Journal The Arts in Psychotherapy
Print ISSN 0197-4556
Publisher Elsevier
Volume 72
Pages 101743
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2020.101743
Publisher URL https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2020.101743
Related Public URLs https://www.journals.elsevier.com/the-arts-in-psychotherapy