Research Article: The Meaning of a Group Facilitation Training to Creative Arts Therapists Working in the Public Education System
Abstract:
Many creative arts therapists who provide group therapy to children and adolescents in the Israeli education system do not feel they were sufficiently trained as group facilitators. Group facilitation training was provided over the course of two consecutive years by a regional support center to over 40 creative arts therapists and their clinical supervisors working in the Israel Ministry of Education. A two-stage qualitative research project examined the participants’ experiences during this training. Interviews were conducted regarding the therapists’ first-year experiences. A questionnaire was administered at the end of the second year. Both were analyzed according to the Consensual Qualitative Research method. The research findings pertain to the participants’ perceptions of group arts therapy in the Israeli education system and included the development of unique group models, the advantages and power of group therapy at school, and the intimidating and disruptive experiences of school settings. The participants also provided their impressions of the training course: their growing confidence and skills, and the many changes required in group arts therapy at public schools to provide more professional and efficient service. The discussion centers on the value of group arts therapy in the education system and the steps needed to enhance therapists’ confidence and efficiency in this field.
Introduction:
In recent years, there is a growing use of creative arts therapies in the educational system. Sometimes, due to a shortage of resources, school children receive therapy in groups; unfortunately, therapists facilitating these groups can encounter challenging working conditions and lack adequate training. This paper describes two-stage research, which examined the perceptions of creative arts therapists who participated in a unique group facilitation training at a regional support center (RSC) in central Israel.
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