Developing a Protocol-Based Expressive Therapies Continuum Assessment Profile (ETC-AP): Current Achievements and...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Art Therapy
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• The Expressive Therapies Continuum (ETC) is a framework for understanding art-making processes.
• Current ETC-informed assessment often lacks transparency due to implicit clinical reasoning.
• This limits interdisciplinary communication and analytical clarity in art therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the developmental stage of a protocol-based assessment tool: the Expressive Therapies Continuum Assessment Profile (ETC-AP).
• To enhance transparency and consistency in art therapy assessment.
• To support trauma-informed, regulation-oriented clinical hypotheses.

Main Methods:

• Development of a protocol-based assessment: the ETC-AP.
• Combines a uniform three-task, non-directive administration with post-task inquiry.
• Utilizes criteria-guided coding of observable features and descriptive profile indicators (0-100).

Main Results:

• The ETC-AP differentiates activation and inhibition patterns using a five-step interpretive sequence.
• It supports within-case pattern description and professional dialogue.
• An illustrative case vignette demonstrates its utility in generating clinical hypotheses.

Conclusions:

• The ETC-AP provides a structured, protocol-based method for art therapy assessment.
• It enhances analytical clarity while respecting the non-directive nature of art therapy.
• Further research is needed on reliability, feasibility, and sensitivity to change.