Introduction to the art therapies: Historical overview and perspectives of professional valorization in the Italian context
G. Carugno
This paper aims at providing an introductory outline on arts therapies, briefly tracing the steps of development of the main subjects in which these are specified: art therapy (in a strict sense), dance movement therapy, music therapy, theatre therapy and drama therapy. Then, it highlights how arts therapies have only recently found their own legal frame in the Italian system, with definition of a specific professional standard codified by Norma UNI 11592:2015. The provisions of the Norma are used as the lens through which observing the path of evolution of arts therapies, different and distinctive by the one of the health and educational practitioners, but in continuous dialogue with these latter, in both training and operative contexts.
Keywords
Art therapies, Norma UNI 11592:2015, history, professional development.