ABSTRACT
The roots of mindfulness and the arts therapies can also be traced back through the ages to the use of the arts in ritual to enhance spiritual and religious practice, and promote healing and transformation. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) was developed by Marsha Linehan in the 1970s as a means of treating individuals with a complex set of clinical issues including treatment resistance and a propensity to commit acts of self-harm. She conceived this approach as a basic behavioral therapy treatment model to treat people with a history of multiple suicide attempts. Clark developed an art-therapy program that was informed by DBT principles and techniques. After a number of experiences, some successful and some not, she found five models of DBT-informed art therapy that were viable. According to Huckville and Learmonth, DBT is easily integrated into art therapy for patients with chronic mental illnesses.
