Dr. rer. medic. Renate Oepen
Research Associate
RIArT Research Institute for Creative Arts Therapies
Phone: (0 22 22) 93 21 -1802 or -1800
CV
CV
Research Associate
RIArT Research Institute for Creative Arts Therapies
Qualifications
Teacher training for lower secondary education, Art and English, University of Bonn, First and Second State Examination
Teacher training for upper secondary education, Economics (Business Administration, Economics), specialized economics (Banking, Organization, Business Education), University of Cologne, degree in Business Administration
Art Therapy (Master of Arts), Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences, Alfter
Dance Therapy (DGT German Association for Dance Therapy)
Doctorate Dr. rer. medic., Witten/Herdecke University under Prof. Dr. Peter Heusser and Prof. Dr. Harald Gruber (Alanus University)
Current research projects: Creative Arts Therapies for obesity
Additional research focuses/publications/presentations: Art therapy in prevention and health promotion; research methods (especially qualitative (single-case) research); creative online therapy
Additional responsibilities: Seminars in the Master’s degree program in Art Therapy on methodology as part of the “Research Workshop” and “Academic Working Techniques” as well as on “Art Therapy in Prevention and Health Promotion” (practice and research)
Expert mandate of the BAGKT (Federal Working Group for Creative Arts Therapies) for the development of the guideline “S3 Obesity, Prevention and Therapy in Children and Adolescents”
Publications
First author
Oepen, R. & Henn, I. (2026). Do Creative Arts Therapies Work for Obesity? Results of a Qualitative Study Using Expert Interviews and a Case Report (submitted).
Oepen, R. (2025). Creative Arts Therapies to improve health and well-being in obesity? A systematic literature review of current research. Complement Med Res. Sep 1:1-17.doi: 10.1159/00054759
Oepen, R. (2025). Creative Arts Therapies for overweight and obesity – do they help? Results of a systematic literature review of current research. Adipositas 3/2025; 19:181.
Oepen, R., Roy, C., Gruber, H, Paul, E. (2025). Feasibility conditions and effects of online-based creative arts therapies and creative support for different target groups – a systematic literature review of current research results. GMS J Art Ther. 2025;7:Doc04. DOI: 10.3205/jat000044
Oepen, R. & Roy, C. (2025). Current research findings on creative online therapy and support: excerpts from a systematic review and an intervention as an example. In: Paul, E & Roy, C. (Eds.). Art therapy and social art in the digital space. Collected volume in the university press.
Oepen, R. & Gruber, H. (2024). Art-based interventions and art therapy to promote health of migrant populations – a systematic literature review of current research. Arts & Health. Vol. 16 (3), pp. 266-284. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2023.2252003
Oepen, R. & Gruber, H. (2023). Art-based interventions and art therapy to promote health of migrant populations – a systematic literature review of current research. Arts & Health. Online. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2023.2252003
Oepen, R. & Gruber, H. (2023). Creative arts therapy interventions for migrants – a systematic literature review of current research. Das Gesundheitswesen. Aug./Sep. 2023, Vol. 85, p. S822. DOI 10.1055/s-0043-1770645
Oepen, R. & Gruber, H. (2021). Single-case studies in health promotion and prevention. In: Niederberger, M., Finne, E. (Eds.) Research methods in health promotion and prevention. (pp. 481 – 506). Springer VS.
Oepen, R. (2020). Single-case art therapy research in prevention and health promotion. Book of abstracts (ebook), p. 157. German Congress for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Berlin, 18-20.03.2020.
Oepen, R. & Gruber, H. (2020). More health and well-being through positive emotions – an art therapy intervention concept to support stressed teachers. GMS J Art Ther. 2020;2:Doc03. DOI: 10.3205/jat000007. Available at https://www.egms.de/en/journals/jat/2020-2/jat000007.shtml
Oepen, R. & Gruber, H. (2019). “Inner spaces in art therapy: the influence of artistic activities on emotion regulation (a review).” Conference handbook Kreativtherapietage 2019, LVR Clinic Langenfeld, 14 and 15.11.2019. Rhineland Regional Association (LVR) LVR Department of Hospital Network and Network of Curative Education Support Services, 1st edition.
Oepen, R. & Gruber, H. (2018). The influence of artistic activities on emotion regulation: a narrative review. Book of abstracts (ebook), p. 76. German Congress for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Berlin, 21-24.03.2018.
Oepen, Renate (2018). Art therapy to promote teacher health. An exploratory study of a health day for Waldorf teachers. In H. Duncker, R. Hampe & M. Wigger (Eds.), Creative fields of learning. Creative Arts Therapies in cultural and educational contexts (Culture Art Therapy intellectual history and practice, original edition), pp. 304–318. Freiburg: Verlag Karl Alber.
Oepen, R., Gruber, H., Heusser, P. (2017). …to take medicine into the picture …art therapy and well-being – a pilot study in prevention and health promotion. BMC Complementary and Alterna-tive Medicine, 17(Suppl 1):333 P321.
Oepen, R. (2016). General and specific art therapy factors of effect: research and practice. In: Conference proceedings KreativtherapieTage 2015, The Third Element – The potential of the artistic medium in creative therapy, Rhineland Regional Association, Department of Hospital Network and Network of Curative Education Support Services, Cologne, pp. 105 – 109.
Oepen, R., Gruber, H., Heusser, P. (2015). Art therapy to increase well-being in Waldorf teachers – an exploratory study in the context of prevention and health promotion. Witten/Herdecke University (dissertation).
Oepen, R. (2015). Art therapy to increase well-being in prevention and health promotion. An exploratory study. Monograph. Berlin: EB-Verlag.
Oepen, R., Gruber, H., Heusser, P. (2015). An art therapy project day to increase well-being in Waldorf teachers – an exploratory study. Musik-, Tanz und Kunsttherapie, 26 (1), 13 – 16.
Oepen, R., Gruber, H., Heusser, P. (2015). Art therapy to increase well-being in teachers – An exploratory study in the context of prevention and health promotion. German Congress for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Berlin, 25.-28.03.2015. Poster Abstract P-070, book of abstracts, p. 142.
Oepen, R., Gruber, H., Heusser, P. (2014). Art therapy to increase well-being – an exploratory study. “ResearchSpaces of the Institute for Art Therapy and Research, University of Fine Arts in the Social, Ottersberg, 24.-25.10.14.
Oepen, R. & Gruber, H. (2014). An art therapy project day for health promotion among clients from burnout self-help groups – an exploratory study. Original article. PPmP – Psychotherapy · Psychosomatics · Medical Psychology, 64 (07), pp. 268–274.
Oepen, R., & Gruber, H. (2012). Art therapy interventions for burnout in prevention and health promotion – a single-case study, Musik-, Tanz und Kunsttherapie, 23 (3), 117 – 133.
Co-author
Martin, L., Oepen, R., Nottensteiner, A., Mergheim, K., Gruber, H. & Koch, S. (2018). Creative Arts Interventions for Stress Management and Prevention—A Systematic Review. Behavioral Sciences 8(2) 28.
Gruber, H. & Oepen, R. (2018). Emotion Regulation Strategies and Effects within Art-Making: A Narrative Synthesis. The Arts in Psychotherapy 59, 65-74.
Gruber, H. & Oepen, R. (2017). Research Perspectives in Transition: Emotion Regulation Strategies in Art Therapy. 14th European Arts Therapies Conference, 13 to 16 September 2017, Krakow, Poland.
