The ERA research project is comparing group arts therapies with group counselling for clients within adult mental health settings. The project started with a pilot phase in 2019 and then took a long pause over the covid pandemic. The study restarted in 2021 and has now completed its clinical delivery phase.
Participants were shown videos and asked to make a choice of which arts therapies they would prefer. They were then randomised either to the arts therapy of their choice or to group counselling. All participants received 40 sessions of therapy in a resource and recovery oriented model.
The study was based at ELFT and ran across 4 NHS Trusts. As shown in our slide, a total of 429 clients were recruited and 43 groups were run – an incredible total of over 1700 therapy sessions were delivered, the majority within ELFT.
The research team will follow clients up for 1 year post intervention and we expect the findings to come through in late 2024.
Jennifer French clinical lead said:
“ERA is the largest study of group arts therapies conducted in adult mental health and what an amazing achievement it is to have completed the clinical delivery. We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed to making this possible, particularly our therapists and our participants, all the ELFT teams and services who referred clients into the study, and the leadership teams who have supported the project throughout.”