Digital. Remote. Connected: The future of art therapy in the Scottish Highlands?

In this video, we will consider whether and how art therapy could make use of digital technology to reach clients living remotely and in what areas, if any, innovation might extend the tool box of art therapists. We will introduce the work of the Digital Health academic team in the Scottish Highlands and present an essence of the findings of our scoping review documenting the growing research evidence around the use of technology in art therapy. Recurring themes in the literature will be discussed, including the reasons behind the common resistance towards digital media. We will explore the technological innovations that could make some of the challenges redundant and indicate how they might be utilized in therapy. Potential risks and ethical challenges will be also highlighted. Building on this work, we will outline a feasibility study aiming to explore the views of arts therapists practicing in remote areas and their clients. Finally, we will invite conversation to explore ways in which to further connect technology and therapy for the benefit of clients, therapists and the ageing populations living remotely.