ABSTRACT
Palliative care is a well-established and valued part of the Irish health services. Largely funded by public donations, it has been an area of innovation where professionals work together holistically and think outside the box, to support and empower patients to play an active role in their health journey. In this chapter, the author interests in patient’s perceptions of art therapy and quantitative research in psycho-oncology has proved to be a valuable lens through which to view her work in palliative care. Nonverbal expression and communication is one of the great strengths of art therapy and is often a reason that an art therapist is seen as a valuable addition to a team. Very few patients come into palliative care settings looking for art therapy and this creates a dynamic where the therapist is entering their space and suggesting something that may be quite unfamiliar.
