In the scope of Training Needs Analyse of Adult Trainers, Focus Group Meetings have been held in all partner countries. You can find the more information below and partner’s national pages in this website

TURKEY

Focus Group was organized as online activity on 23^th October in order to reveal training needs of adult trainers on Art Therapy.

There were 40 participants in the focus group organized in virtual mode on October 23 whose profile includes: of teachers (PDR), Psychologists and Art Therapy practitioners.

During the meeting, main discussion topics were:

- existing awareness and competency of adult trainers on Art Therapy,

- Art Therapy topics that should be included in Training Curriculum.

FRANCE

Last October, the Association E-Seniors conducted a series of discussion groups focusing on the need for training in art therapy for professionals caring for seniors.

A total of 20 people were reached out, all of French nationality, over the age of 18 and occupying functions such as art therapists (confirmed and in training), psychotherapists, nurses, social workers and trainers for adults. Due to difficulties in finding suitable time slots for all participants, 4 meetings were organised in the evenings and were held both online and in person as some participants lived in different parts of the country. 

The discussions brought out some important points related to Art Therapy training for professionals caring for seniors such as training content, expected outcomes and online training.

In summary, art therapists are concerned about the lack of recognition of their profession in France, by the government as well as the other paramedical professions in relation to users who are less inclined to resort to art therapy. 

The lack of funding of art therapy activities and training, as well as the important workload of professionals of senior care staff especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, highlights the urge to provide further attention from local authorities and to raise awareness among the general public.

ITALY

Focus Group was organized as online activity on 26^th October.

There were 20 participants in the focus group organized in virtual mode on October 26, 2021, (4 male and 16 female) whose profile includes: trainers, psychologists, professional educators, experts in specific artistic forms.

The majority of the participants have (or have had) direct experience of working with the elderly.

All of them had previous knowledge of art therapy, in specific techniques.

The focus group was organized in 3 moments of reflection, linked to:

1. Motivations, contents, outgoing skills of the training program
2. Teaching methods
3. Profile of the participants in the training program.

PORTUGAL

The União de Freguesias de Gondomar (S. Cosme), Valbom e Jovim have conducted two focus groups, both composed by professionals working with the elderly in the care sector.

The first one took place in Associação Silveirinhos and was composed by 14 participants, 6 women and 7 men, aged between 25 to 40. The majority of them are Senior Educators.

The second focus group took place in União de Freguesias de Gondomar (S. Cosme), Valbom e Jovim with workers from the Universidade Sénior de Gondomar. This group was composed by 7 women aged between 27 and 60 years old. The majority of them are also Senior Educators.

In each group, after the participants have answered the questions, we angaged them on a productive discussion about their own answers what allowed them to exchange perpspectives about the application of art therapy in the care system.

ROMANIA

ATFCT has conducted three focus groups with professionals working with older adults and art-therapy educators and professionals, totally 30 participants:

14 October 2021 – professionals from Jimbolia Seniors’ Centre, 17 participants

15 October 2021 – professionals from Scwabenhause Seniors’ Centre, 8 participants

25 October 2021 - professionals from VivART, Centre Pufan, Association Kids’ Joy (art therapy professionals)