Arts therapy and residential addiction treatment in New Zealand : could an anthroposophical philosophy provide an arts-based treatment model for the future? / Gabriel Suggate
Publication details: [Auckland, N.Z. : Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design], 2010.Description: 79 pages ; 30 cmSubject(s):- Art therapy
- Anthroposophy
- Anthroposophy in New Zealand
- Substance abuse - Treatment
- Addiction - Treatment
- Residential treatment in New Zealand
- Mental disorders - Treatment
- Alcoholism - Treatment - New Zealand
- Drug abuse - Treatment - New Zealand
- Mentally ill - Residential treatment - New Zealand
- Māori (New Zealand people) - Health and hygiene
Item type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Book | Whitecliffe Library Dissertations | Dissertations | DISS 10-12 SUG (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Not For Loan | 0008734 |
"In partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Master of Arts in Arts Therapy, Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, 2010."
Keywords: Anthroposophy, Arts Therapy, Substance Abuse, Addiction, Residential Treatment, New Zealand, Holistic, Mental Health, Therapeutic Community.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-73).
The aim of this research was to investigate whether an arts-based approach to residential addiction treatment would benefit New Zealand. Research collated indicates that long-term residential substance abuse treatment appears to incur financial benefits that outweigh the costs of treatment. Service provision for women, Maori and those with mental health problems are identified as areas with potential for improvement in New Zealand long-term residential addiction treatment services. A shortage of literature regarding the use of Arts Therapies in New Zealand is identified. A variety of benefits for Arts Therapies interventions in addiction treatment is found in overseas research. Anthroposophical Arts Therapy in combination with Anthroposophical medical treatment is associated with significant improvements in depression and anxiety. Anthroposophy is both a body of knowledge and a holistic method of acquiring this knowledge that is inspired by phenomenology and places the human being as integral in world conceptions. The holistic and artistic approach to long-term residential addiction treatment inspired by Anthroposophy is explored and found to have differences to the treatment approaches currently available in New Zealand. Preliminary research available indicates that retention, which is associated with better treatment outcomes, could be better in such services. The conclusion is that an arts-based Anthroposophical residential addiction treatment service may contribute positively to meeting the addiction treatment needs of New Zealanders including women, Maori and those with mental illness.