Patient groups in art therapies: A case study of the health care field in Latvia

¹ VSIA BKUS children hospital “Gaiļezers”, Latvia
² Rıga Stradiņš University, Latvia
³ Arts Therapies Centre, Latvia
⁴ Society “Dzintarkrasta service”, social care centre“, Latvia

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to introduce the reader with an example of the arts therapies work in a children hospital in Latvia in order to describe art therapies work similarities and differences in three different specializations. Comparison will take place of patient groups in the work of art therapists in each specialization (art therapy, dance movement therapy and music therapy). The question of the research is: with which patient groups’ a specialist from a particular arts therapies specialization has worked within a year in VSIA BKUS children hospital “Gaiļezers” during the time period from 05.2009 to 05.2010?The results were gained by comparing patient groups at the age from 2,5 to 17 years in the children hospital and they showed that the art therapists and dance movement therapist most frequently were working with patients who have behaviour and emotional disorders. However music therapists are working more frequently with patients who have mental retardation.