‘Being attentive to them’: art therapy for adults with intellectual disabilities

Background: Today there is a greater emphasis on integrating people with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) into communities to enhance their quality of life. Nonetheless, this group still faces substantial emotional and mental health challenges. In recent years, growing evidence has shown that people with ID can engage in specific types of psychodynamic approaches. Art therapy enables the non-verbal expression and communication of conscious and unconscious mental content through the use of art materials to prompt clients’ creative processes. Aims: This study investigated the perceptions of art therapists who work with adults with ID to gain a deeper understanding of the main components of their therapeutic work. Method: A qualitative research design was employed, involving in-depth interviews and focus groups with 18 art therapists with extensive experience in working with adults with mild to moderate ID. A Grounded Theory approach was implemented for data collection and analysis, ensuring a participatory element by involving participants in the analysis process. Results: The findings revealed an overarching theme, where the therapists underscored the importance of being attentive to their clients’ specific needs. Five categories reflecting the dynamic components of the therapeutic process emerged: the participants’ therapeutic stances, clinical practice, challenges, ways of coping, and change processes. Conclusions: The findings suggest that when working with adults with ID art therapy should be aimed at the specific needs of the clients and that therapists should accept them holistically, while working toward change. Plain-language summary: This study examined the ways in which art therapists view their work with adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Whereas progress has been made in integrating these individuals into society and improving their lives, they still face emotional and mental health challenges. Art therapy, a method that allows for expression without words, is emerging as beneficial for people with ID. To better understand the key aspects of art therapy, 18 therapists took part in interviews and focus groups, using a method that let them contribute to the data analysis. While emphasising five key aspects of therapy, therapists in the study highlighted how crucial it is to really pay attention to the clients. Art therapy for people with ID needs to be customised to their specific needs, while also considering the factors that impact the clients, the therapists, their interaction, and the therapy itself.