Main description:

When you think of arts therapy, you don't often associate the practice with profit; however, ethical economic models are essential in allowing clients the most access to arts therapy services. Art therapists don't generally have formal training in economics, which can be challenging when developing their professional services. This book offers the fundamentals of micro and macro economics that apply to creating a sustainable and ethical business model that supports the development of the arts therapies profession worldwide.

Through economic theory and international case studies, the authors consider the business side of therapeutic arts service with recommendations for developing an ethical and sustainable practice. With key insights and informative examples, this book will serve as a guide for small business owners looking to develop their arts therapy practice.

Contents:

Introduction. Daniel Thomas, UK, Vicky Abad, University of Queensland, Australia, Editors. 1. The Economics of Therapy - Caring for clients, colleagues, commissioners and cash-flow. Daniel Thomas and Vicky Abad, Editors. 2. Commissioners and Service Development. Dr Alison Ledger, PhD, Lecturer - Clinical Education and Research, Leeds Institute of Medical Education, UK. 3. RAILE - Using core clinical skills to grow arts therapy businesses. Vicky Abad and Daniel Thomas, Editors. 4. The Dilemma for arts therapists - fee-setting and demanding money. Elena Fitzthum, Dr Sc. Mus. Co-founder and head of the Viennese Institute of Music Therapy, and the Austrian representative of the EMTC. Monika Geretsegger, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Grieg Academy Music Therapy Research Centre, Uni Research Health, Bergen, Norway. Thomas Stegemann, Dr. Med, Dr. Sc. Music, Head of the Department of Music Therapy at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, Austria. 5. Ethics & Transparency. Stine Lindahl Jacobsen, PhD, Assistant Professor, Head of Music Therapy Programme, Aalborg University, Denmark. 6. Therapy and business skills teaching within therapy training courses. Dr. Petra Kerm, MT-DtMT, MT-BC, MTA, NICU-MT, Owner Music Therapy Biz. 7. The American Perspective. Dr. Rebecca Zarate, PhD, MT-BC, LCAT, AVPT, Lesley University. 8. Case Study - Developing an Arts Therapy Practice. Elaine Matthews Venter. 9. Case Study - Managing Business Growth from the Bottom Up... Turning your small and niche passion into a business. Vicky Abad, Editor. 10. Case Study - Independence, Passion and Resilience: Learning to think big from the start. Daniel Thomas, Editor. 11. Case Study - Striking a Balance: Music Therapist vs Businessman in Hong Kong. Kingman Chung. Index.