ABSTRACT
Chapter 16 looks at the arts therapist in different ways, in order to try to develop further understanding of their role. It explores the ways that the arts therapist brings the function and role of the artist to the therapeutic encounter. The chapter argues that arts therapists combines different roles within the transaction between client and therapist. This can be said of any therapist, but for the arts therapist there is a unique combination of traditions and roles, creating an innovative relationship between therapist and client. The chapter also addresses new challenges such as that identified by Talwar, to ‘push the boundaries of traditional knowledge cultures of art therapy’ in ways that are ‘committed to diversity and inclusion’ (2016: 118).
