Art therapy in Great Britain

Great Britain is one of the places in the world where art therapy is well recognized and organized as a profession. This chapter first overviews the evolution of art therapy in Britain: first period (1930-1959), art as therapy in hospitals; second period (1960-1979), social change and the formation of the profession; third period (1980-1999), professional recognition and psychotherapeutic influences; and fourth period (2000 onward), contemporary adaptations. The chapter ends with a discussion on the current position and future prospects. The evolving relationship between the various bodies (Health Care Professions Council (HCPC), British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT), educational institutions/educators) around power, control, and consensus are areas of on-going dynamic tension. The rise of evidence-based practice and market-driven approaches are shaping adaptations to practice more toward a cognitive base. The challenge for art therapy in Britain will be to sustain its multifaceted and questioning character as it braves the current climate.