TY - JOUR
T1 - The Importance of Psychological Flow in a Creative, Embodied and Enactive Psychological Therapy Approach (Arts for the Blues)
AU - Parsons, Ailsa
AU - Dubrow-Marshall, Linda
AU - Thurston, Scott
AU - Starkey, Jenny
AU - Omylinska-Thurston, Joanna
AU - Karkou, Vicky
PY - 2022/10/12
Y1 - 2022/10/12
N2 - Psychological flow (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990; 1997) can be experienced in various occupational, recreational and creative domains and may confer increased wellbeing. Yet, very few studies have examined flow as a potential feature of creative arts therapies – particularly therapies which prioritise embodied/enactive processes. This study tested the acute effects of a 90-minute workshop (Arts for the Blues; A4B) on participants’ (N = 18) mood and personal goal attainment. Psychological flow was measured, and participants rated the importance of flow in relation to A4B’s psychotherapeutic aims. Results show significantly improved mood, increased goal attainment and substantial flow scores, suggesting that A4B processes may invoke flow. Participants’ importance ratings of different flow dimensions indicate that some were considered as more important than others. Results are discussed in relation to methodological limitations, helpful creative therapeutic factors that may enable flow, and implications for researchers and practitioners who wish to encourage flow in their practice.
AB - Psychological flow (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990; 1997) can be experienced in various occupational, recreational and creative domains and may confer increased wellbeing. Yet, very few studies have examined flow as a potential feature of creative arts therapies – particularly therapies which prioritise embodied/enactive processes. This study tested the acute effects of a 90-minute workshop (Arts for the Blues; A4B) on participants’ (N = 18) mood and personal goal attainment. Psychological flow was measured, and participants rated the importance of flow in relation to A4B’s psychotherapeutic aims. Results show significantly improved mood, increased goal attainment and substantial flow scores, suggesting that A4B processes may invoke flow. Participants’ importance ratings of different flow dimensions indicate that some were considered as more important than others. Results are discussed in relation to methodological limitations, helpful creative therapeutic factors that may enable flow, and implications for researchers and practitioners who wish to encourage flow in their practice.
KW - psychological flow
KW - mood
KW - creative arts therapies
KW - dance movement psychotherapy
KW - Arts for the Blues
U2 - 10.1080/17432979.2022.2130431
DO - 10.1080/17432979.2022.2130431
M3 - Article (journal)
SN - 1743-2979
JO - Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy
JF - Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy
ER -