Therapy in Institutional Contexts and Scientific Evidence Twenty Years of Art Therapy in Western Andalusia

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a secondary research study, formatted as a comprehensive review, which critically analyzes (in relation to their respective theoretical frameworks) three art therapy programs developed in the region of Western Andalusia. These programs were selected based on the following criteria: 1) they consist of interventions evaluated using a mixed-methods approach, 2) they are longterm (lasting at least one uninterrupted year), 3) they are part of research projects with external funding, 4) they target institutionalized groups at risk of social or health-related issues, and 5) they have been adequately documented in relevant publications.

The intervention programs reviewed here are: Art Therapy for children in protective care at the Ciudad de los Niños center in Huelva; Art Therapy for elderly individuals with late-onset dementia, primarily Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), residing at the San Joaquín y Santa Ana Nursing Home in San Juan del Puerto, Huelva; and Art Therapy for first-degree prisoners at the Huelva Penitentiary Center. The focus is placed on institutionalized individuals, as they face not only specific social or health risks but also social exclusion and the consequences that stem from it.

This comprehensive review is conducted in two phases: one contemporaneous and one follow-up. Phase 1: the theoretical framework for comparison and evaluation is based on the state of the art at the time of publication of the reports for each program. Phase 2: the documentary framework encompasses publications released since the original reports, allowing for an assessment of the scientific impact.

The ultimate objective is to contribute to the consolidation of an evidence-based, visible, and scientifically-aligned art therapy practice. As demonstrated by the three programs compiled here, art holds part of the answers that institutionalized groups seek from society.