ABSTRACT Background The COVID-19 pandemic enforced a sudden change in practice and a move into online delivery for many art therapists in the UK, often with minimal guidance and little previous experience of remote delivery. Aims To explore ways in which practitioners adapted practice to ensure continuity of service and client safety at distance. Methods An online survey designed to explore practitioners’ perspectives and experiences of using digital technology in art therapy sessions with clients. Results Vast majority of 96 respondents reported having worked with clients online as a result of the pandemic. The respondents expressed concerns about safety of practice and their own confidence in delivering therapy remotely. Increased clinical supervision, specialist training, and support from colleagues were valued in the rapid transitioning to online practice. Conclusions A snap shot of art therapists’ responses to a need to adapt their practice due to the pandemic is presented, including approaches to working with technology and strategies that therapists employed to ensure their clients’ and own safety. Implications for practice/policy/future research Being able to offer a safe environment for clients is a priority for practitioners. Further research, guidance and training might offer the support needed for developing a suitably safe online practice. Plain-language summary Art therapists practice in the UK has until recently been primarily face to face, being in the same space with their clients while offering art therapy sessions and being able to observe how they use art materials to create artwork. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many UK-based art therapists needed to adopt creative approaches to make a rapid shift to delivering therapy online, often with minimal guidance and little previous experience of remote delivery. We have conducted an online survey to explore how art therapists have made changes in their practice and what has supported them in the process. 96 art therapists took part in the survey and shared their experiences and strategies that they have adopted to rapidly move to connecting with clients remotely. They have shared that safety of their clients was of key importance and showed how this concern has guided their transition into online practice. The respondents mentioned that clinical supervision and support from colleagues were helpful in ensuring safety of their clients and themselves. Since online art therapy is expected to continue beyond the pandemic, more research in the area is needed as well as guidance and training for art therapists that would increase their confidence in working with clients online.

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在线艺术治疗实践和客户安全：COVID-19 时期的全英国调查

摘要背景 COVID-19 大流行迫使英国的许多艺术治疗师在实践中突然改变并转向在线交付，但通常很少有指导，而且以前几乎没有远程交付经验。目的 探索从业者如何调整实践以确保远程服务和客户安全的连续性。方法 一项在线调查，旨在探讨从业者在与客户的艺术治疗课程中使用数字技术的观点和经验。结果 96 名受访者中的绝大多数报告说，由于大流行，他们曾在网上与客户合作。受访者对实践的安全性以及他们对远程提供治疗的信心表示担忧。增加临床监督，专家培训，在快速过渡到在线实践过程中，同事们的支持受到了重视。结论 展示了艺术治疗师对因大流行而需要调整其实践的反应的快照，包括使用治疗师用于确保客户和自身安全的技术和策略的方法。对实践/政策/未来研究的影响 能够为客户提供安全的环境是从业者的首要任务。进一步的研究、指导和培训可能会为开发适当安全的在线实践提供所需的支持。简明语言总结 直到最近，英国的艺术治疗师的实践主要是面对面的，与他们的客户在同一个空间中，同时提供艺术治疗课程，并能够观察他们如何使用艺术材料来创作艺术作品。由于 COVID-19 大流行，许多英国艺术治疗师需要采用创造性的方法来快速转变为在线提供治疗，而这通常只需要很少的指导和很少的远程交付经验。我们进行了一项在线调查，以探索艺术治疗师如何改变他们的实践以及在此过程中是什么支持了他们。96 位艺术治疗师参与了调查，并分享了他们为快速与客户建立远程联系而采取的经验和策略。他们分享了客户的安全至关重要，并展示了这种担忧如何引导他们过渡到在线实践。受访者提到，临床监督和同事的支持有助于确保客户和他们自己的安全。