The Vancouver hive at BC Cancer looks back at the origins of Internet art therapy and forward to the tools that now support online therapy groups.
Internet art therapy
This video documents the early development in the 1990s of technology and clinical guidelines for Internet art therapy. Kate Collie and Davor Cubranic at the University of British Columbia collaborated to create a computer system for group art therapy using voice communication and shareable computer art. The clinical guidelines are still used today.
Kate Collie, MFA, PhD, artist, art therapist and health researcher. Kate spent much of her career developing arts based psychosocial services for people who are marginalized or hard to reach, and did pioneering work in online art therapy. See the Canadian Art Therapy Association.
Using a chat room to host art therapy groups for people with cancer
In 2012, Sara began collaborating with Kate Collie and other art therapists and researchers to develop new methods for using digital technology in art therapy. They formulated a way of using a chat room to host art therapy sessions for cancer patients, which is still in use.
Sara Prins Hankinson, RCAT, art therapist at BC Cancer, who designs websites and digital tools and leads online art therapy groups for people with cancer
Prototypes for online art therapy tools
As a student in human computer interaction, Brennan took part in the trial online art therapy groups hosted by Sara and Kate Collie. He used the feedback gathered from participants to design tools that art therapists could use to host online groups.
Brennan Jones, PhD student and researcher in human computer interaction and computer science, with studies at the University of Calgary and Simon Fraser University, and Sara Prins Hankinson
Traversing borders and arts based media in live online art therapy training
Bridging distance with an art therapy training cohort using live online learning platforms is feasible, innovative, necessary for a growing number of students, and at times more powerful than face to face learning. The presenter details the vision, curriculum obstacles and solutions, and a case study from a recent class that explored collaborative digital art making.
Michelle Winkel, MA, MFT, ATR, REAT, clinical director of the Canadian International Institute of Art Therapy and research chair of the Canadian Art Therapy Association
Therapeutic reflection with digital media
In the world of instant messages and short forms, is it possible to use technology for self reflection and therapeutic purposes? A presentation and discussion about using a practical application for self discovery and connecting with a group.
Andrea Falco, MEd, DVATI, art therapist and recent graduate of the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute
Back to the program
See how the Vancouver hive sits within the full day, or read the summary of the symposium once it closed.