Forwarding Arts Therapy in South East Asia Translated title: 在东南亚推动艺术治疗的发展

Abstract

Over the past ten years, the profession of arts therapy has come a long way in South East Asia. As the first and truly only international professional association in the Asia-Pacific region, the Australian and New Zealand Arts Therapy Association (ANZATA) is now firmly positioned as a professional community which contributes effectively towards the development of the arts therapies. In all countries where arts therapy has evolved, there have been significant challenges inherent in establishing and developing a credible professional identity. Such identity and recognition applies not only to how we view ourselves but also, importantly, to how we are viewed by the public, by other professions and by governments. A healthily developing professional association is a vital component of any emerging profession, and grows in tandem with a dynamic and developing practice, with rigorous standards of training within solid theoretical frameworks, with an adherence to ethical guidelines, and with an evolving research culture. As arts therapy gains momentum across the globe, specifically within this geographical area, the profession is coming of age – providing exciting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations where differences and diversity are acknowledged, embraced and integrated. The link that connects us all is the healing power of the creative process and the recognition of its vital importance to our lives and wellbeing.

Translated abstract

在过去十年里，艺术治疗作为职业在东南亚取得了很大的发展。新澳艺术治疗协会（ANZATA）作为亚太地区第一个唯一的国际专业协会已经有了坚实的立足之地，并以职业团体的身份出色地贡献于艺术治疗的发展。在艺术治疗有所发展的国家里，为它建立和发展一个可信的职业身份极具挑战性。这种身份和认可不仅作用于我们对自身的认定，也影响着广大群众、其他职业以及政府对我们的认定。对一个萌芽状态下的职业，一个强大而且持续发展的职业协会必不可缺。它的发展伴随着这个职业自身的发展、基于扎实理论框架的严格培训标准、对伦理道德方针的遵循，以及不断进化的研究氛围。随着艺术治疗在全世界的推广，它在亚太地区内逐渐变得成熟，给跨学科的合作提供了激动人心的机会，使得差异和多元化被承认、接受、结合。创造的过程所带来的疗愈和对我们生活和安乐中创造过程的重视是连接我们所有人的桥梁。