Description
Book SynopsisWhen 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.
Trade ReviewThis book provides new and much-needed perspectives on the value of creative arts therapies. It challenges assumptions that have led arts therapists to feel uncomfortable about the exchange of money for service. It does this by providing inspiring examples and business models that show why the time has come to significantly expand ways of providing services to the people whose health and wellbeing we care about. -- Professor Katrina McFerran, Head of Music Therapy at The University of Melbourne, Australia
For all arts therapies today it's a fact that funding comes and goes - seeking out new work demands new skills to stay afloat. Thomas and Abad in
The Economics of Therapy take these challenges head on, providing support and guidance to assist therapists' quality of care giving, survival and prosperity. -- Stephen Sandford MBA, Strategic Lead & Professional Head of Arts Therapies, East London NHS Foundation Trust
I would recommend this book to training arts therapists and practicing arts therapists. However, the book's usefulness is not limited to arts therapists as it would be useful reading for other practitioners wishing to build a business. [...] I have found some useful advice and plenty of food for thought for my own business. -- Christine Northey, Journal of Holistic Healthcare
Table of ContentsIntroduction. 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.
