59-05-032 Proceeding
320 Proceedings of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Congress FORWARDING ARTS THERAPY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA Jo Kelly, Amanda Levey and Ronald Lay Abstract : Over the past ten years, the profession of arts therapy has come a long way in Southeast Asia. As the first and truly only international professional association in the Asia-Pacific region, the Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association (ANZATA) is firmly positioned to effectively contribute toward the development of the arts therapies as a professional community in this area. In all countries where arts therapy has evolved, there have been significant challenges to establish and develop a credible professional identity. Such identity and recognition applies not only to how we view ourselves, but also importantly, to how we are viewed by the public, other professions and governments. A healthy and growing professional association is a vital component to an emerging profession, and develops in tandem with a dynamic and developing practice, rigorous standards of training with solid theoretical frameworks, adhering to ethical guidelines, as well as an evolving research culture. In addition, as arts therapy gains momentum across the globe, especiallywithin this geographical area, the profession is coming of age, providing exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration wherein differences and diversity are acknowledged, embraced and integrated. The link that connects us all is the healing power of the creative process and its vital importance to our lives and well-being. Introduction The interest in arts therapy has grown and developed extensively in Southeast Asia in the last ten years. This paper will consider the growth of the development of arts therapy particularly as it relates to Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. It addresses how the Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association (ANZATA) can contribute towards developing arts therapy as a recognised profession in Southeast Asia. In all three of these countries, as with all other countries where arts therapy is evolving, there have been significant struggles in order to establish and develop a credible professional identity. Such identity and recognition applies not only to a collective view of our identity, but also, importantly, to how we are viewed by the community-at- large and other professions. Arts for healing have been known formillennia. Since the 20 th Century inWestern countries the arts are once again being applied as a helping profession, focusing on well-being, health and education. There have been both challenges and opportunities as professionally trained arts therapists seek understanding and acceptance by others about who we are and what we do. As arts therapy gainsmomentumacross the globe and especially in this region, the profession is coming of age, providing exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborationwhile acknowledging our differences anddiversity.These opportunities involve developing culturally appropriate andperhaps region-specific theoretical frameworks in training and practice, interdisciplinary co-operation and collaboration in research, and deepening connections and partnerships with other professional
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