Welcome to the 21st WCP Virtual Congress Program Scheduling

Overview How has art therapy practice fared during the global pandemic? This symposium, hosted by the WPA Section for Art and Psychiatry, will examine not only the challenges to creativity over the last two years, but also how creativity has flourished. Objectives Presenters will examine how art therapy has fared in lockdown in the UK; how creative projects have flourished, such as the implementation of drawing project with children in Australia. The session will also address the mental health effects of the pandemic on university students in New York, USA. Methods There will be three 15-minute presentations. Conclusions The presenters in this symposium have highlighted how practitioners have harnessed new energy and creativity to implement projects over the last two years. Refreshingly the session explores how adaptability in art therapy practice has revealed some surprising results. Additionally, the session examines the effects of the pandemic on the mental health of young people, a global concern, revealing new understandings that are pertinent for the future mental health of university students.