A Narrative Account of an Arts Psychotherapies Service Response to the COVID-19 crisis: Challenges and Recommendations

Abstract

This chapter describes perspectives from the academic and practice arts psychotherapies leads within a large NHS Trust in the UK. This was written from the perspective two leads with experience in senior management, research and clinical practice. The first author is an art therapist and a consultant and the second author is a music therapist and Head of Profession. As part of the core psychological provision, the arts psychotherapies service employs arts psychotherapists, arts psychotherapies trainees and honorary professionals to deliver specialist care and treatment for patients across mental health services. The chapter is written during the time of crisis, when the peak has been reached but the end of the crisis and lockdown remains unclear. The authors take stock of the changes that have taken place to a community arts psychotherapies service during the COVID-19 crisis, making reference to the changes in staff provision and practice. During this time, clear lessons have already been learnt, observations made, and inquiries have resulted in broad recommendations which are relevant to health services where there may be similar events taking place. These recommendations relate to how at an operational level the clinical work, staff capability and capacity to adapt are kept in mind and responded to during and after a pandemic.