The creative arts therapies and the climate crisis: Toward a framework for conscious engagement

Abstract

In the face of the deepening climate emergency, the field of creative arts therapies must intensify its engagement in and commitment to climate action. Creative arts therapists hold unique skills to promote positive social change, foster deep reflection and expression on the impacts of the crisis, facilitate creative problem solving, and inspire visioning and innovation for better futures. To help consider how these skills can be harnessed, the authors propose a framework that can be used across the creative arts therapies modalities and be adapted within different theoretical approaches to invite intentional climate reflection and suggest different types of action. This framework can help creative arts therapists to determine ways their professional practices can be more aligned with values of climate wellness, including their work with clients, roles as educators to participants in learning contexts, and their roles within their professional workplaces and greater communities.