ABSTRACT
To comply with social distancing policies due to the pandemic, art therapy training in Thailand has been transformed into an online format. After a year of offering art therapy courses online, a survey on the quality of learning experience was conducted and results showed that trusting relationships between students and instructors can be built during online classes. Although students are generally more conscious of their own vulnerabilities while sharing artwork, personal therapeutic material can still be disclosed at a safe distance. The study also found that the separateness of the individuals appearing on screen emphasizes individualism and facilitates individual learning, rather than group learning. The advantage of the online setting over a traditional studio setting includes a higher sense of safety, a distinct effect of the computer software that allows students to protect their feelings, and audio-visual devices connected to the machine that give access to detailed information. The disadvantage of online teaching programs concerns the inertia in the group formation process and the risk of having subgroups created through chats.
