The Therapeutic Presence of the Art Therapist

This study examined how a sample of art therapists (N = 14) describe their experience of therapeutic presence in the art therapy triangular relationship formed among the therapist, the client, and the artwork. Qualitative data were collected in semistructured interviews and analyzed using a grounded theory method. Component themes of therapeutic presence were identified as attentive focus, joining, movement, uncertainty, and sense of completeness. Preparation was found to be important to the art therapists' therapeutic presence, as were the influences of clients, time, art materials, accessibility, and external factors. Results highlight the role of art in all main areas of the art therapist's therapeutic presence.