Abstract Virtual reality (VR) therapies have been used in health and mental health care settings. The applicability of VR expressive tools has not yet been examined adequately in the creative arts therapies. This pilot qualitative study reports on 17 participants’ experiences with VR art-making tools to determine its relevance to art therapy practice and research. Findings indicate that VR-based self-expression is an embodied visual expression, generates novel artistic and imaginal responses, and requires a developmental trajectory in expression and mastery. The unique characteristics of art therapy in VR were identified as positive emotions, play and exploration, learning and mastery, access, and storage. VR has the potential to enhance psychological health and well-being through creativity, enhanced imagination, interactivity, and problem solving.

中文翻译：

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艺术治疗中的虚拟现实：新媒体和实践意义的试点定性研究

摘要 虚拟现实 (VR) 疗法已用于健康和心理保健环境。VR 表达工具的适用性尚未在创意艺术疗法中得到充分检验。这项试点定性研究报告了 17 名参与者使用 VR 艺术制作工具的体验，以确定其与艺术治疗实践和研究的相关性。研究结果表明，基于 VR 的自我表达是一种具身的视觉表达，产生新颖的艺术和想象反应，需要在表达和掌握方面的发展轨迹。VR 中艺术治疗的独特特征被确定为积极情绪、游戏和探索、学习和掌握、访问和存储。VR 有潜力通过创造力、增强的想象力、互动性、